M4 Away rotations and application improvement?

[allseasons]

Hi guys, I am an M4 at the beginning of my year. We start rotations in mid June, and I wanted some feedback for what I should do next. The problem I am running into online is that most questions and interest in rad onc is pre-2019, when the field was far more competitive. I am not entirely sure how strong my application is for the current field.

I am at a T20 (between 10-20). I have 7 publications, all in the field of Surgery. I have a few leadership positions. My background is Data Science and CS. I haven't really done anything wildly impressive.

Just last month, I decided I wanted to pursue Rad Onc. I have a Rad Onc rotation scheduled in July. I'm expecting/hoping for a step score between 250-260 based on my current performance. My Rad Onc PD says there's no need for me to do away rotations, and seems to lean slightly against them. Most of the residents I talk to advise away rotations though. I have spent my entire life in a major West Coast city until med school, and I have spent med school in a major East Coast city. I hope to match to either coast.

From now through September, what should I do to match the best Rad Onc possible? And how competitive do you think I am now? Do you advise away rotations?

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[Ray D. Ayshun]

Hi guys, I am an M4 at the beginning of my year. We start rotations in mid June, and I wanted some feedback for what I should do next. The problem I am running into online is that most questions and interest in rad onc is pre-2019, when the field was far more competitive. I am not entirely sure how strong my application is for the current field.

I am at a T20 (between 10-20). I have 6 publications, all in the field of Surgery. I created a medical product that I pitched at multiple competitions and completed the NSF i-CORPS regional program, currently in Nationals. I have a few leadership positions. My background is Data Science and CS. I haven't really done anything wildly impressive.

Just last month, I decided I wanted to pursue Rad Onc. I have a Rad Onc rotation scheduled in July. I'm expecting/hoping for a step score between 250-260 based on my current performance. My Rad Onc PD says there's no need for me to do away rotations, and seems to lean slightly against them. Most of the residents I talk to advise away rotations though. I have spent my entire life in a major East Coast city until med school, and I have spent med school in a major West Coast city. I hope to match to either coast.

From now through September, what should I do to match the best Rad Onc possible? And how competitive do you think I am now? Do you advise away rotations?

if there's a place you'd like to do residency, you should do a rotation there.

 

[udrag14]

if there's a place you'd like to do residency, you should do a rotation there.

Dual edged sword here. If you do well, you will match 100 percent. If you do okay or don't fit, you won't match.

Sometimes doing an away rotation in the region and getting good letters is more powerful.

 

[allseasons]

Dual edged sword here. If you do well, you will match 100 percent. If you do okay or don't fit, you won't match.

Sometimes doing an away rotation in the region and getting good letters is more powerful.

Is it worth doing an away rotation outside of Harvard/Sloan/Anderson that's in the region I want to match? It's a little late, so I'm not sure if I can get an away at one of those three.

 

[udrag14]

Is it worth doing an away rotation outside of Harvard/Sloan/Anderson that's in the region I want to match? It's a little late, so I'm not sure if I can get an away at one of those three.

Some of the top tier places have you with 1 attending the entire rotation so it can be hit or miss. You dont need to rotate at a top tier place.

 

[drowsy12]

Be friendly in your interviews and you’ll match well, without needing aways. You have a strong application.

 

[yesmaster]

If you’re the type of student that does well with rotations, I would do rotations. I would not bother with rotating at any programs in the middle of the country if you want to be on the east or west coast. Personally I would aim to match at a program in the location that you’d like to settle down in, if you have any interest in community/private practice. In academics I believe going to the best residency allows you to go anywhere regardless of the residency’s location.

 

[pikachu]

Hi guys, I am an M4 at the beginning of my year. We start rotations in mid June, and I wanted some feedback for what I should do next. The problem I am running into online is that most questions and interest in rad onc is pre-2019, when the field was far more competitive. I am not entirely sure how strong my application is for the current field.

I am at a T20 (between 10-20). I have 7 publications, all in the field of Surgery. I have a few leadership positions. My background is Data Science and CS. I haven't really done anything wildly impressive.

Just last month, I decided I wanted to pursue Rad Onc. I have a Rad Onc rotation scheduled in July. I'm expecting/hoping for a step score between 250-260 based on my current performance. My Rad Onc PD says there's no need for me to do away rotations, and seems to lean slightly against them. Most of the residents I talk to advise away rotations though. I have spent my entire life in a major West Coast city until med school, and I have spent med school in a major East Coast city. I hope to match to either coast.

From now through September, what should I do to match the best Rad Onc possible? And how competitive do you think I am now? Do you advise away rotations?

If you are able to do it and interested, I think it's a good idea to experience clinic/culture in another department, especially since so many interview days are now online. I don't think it has to be one of the 'big three'. Some PDs may also see it as a sign of interest in the field which can help your application and distinguish you from the legions of students who are applying as a back up to rads or derm or what have you. But in the current climate, you will probably match regardless.

 

[ivybme]

Recent grad and current resident. I did a total of 3 away rotations, 2 on one coast and 1 on the other. This really helped unlock interviews on both coasts for me, as I didn't have many geographic ties. The most important thing is to take a hard look at yourself and figure out whether you think an away rotation is going to help you or hurt you (aka, are you a people person? did you get stellar reviews on your core rotations?). I think you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so if you really want to be at a place, you should do an away there if you think you can prove to them that you're a stellar applicant. I think if you're aiming for the big 3 or top 10 program on either coast you should definitely try to do a rotation there. If you're okay with a mid top tier and geography is more important, then doing a rotation in the geographic region takes priority.

 

[medgator]

Can we be honest here.... US MD student with a Step 1/2 pass and a pulse? You're probably going to match somewhere, amirite?

 

[allseasons]

If you are able to do it and interested, I think it's a good idea to experience clinic/culture in another department, especially since so many interview days are now online. I don't think it has to be one of the 'big three'. Some PDs may also see it as a sign of interest in the field which can help your application and distinguish you from the legions of students who are applying as a back up to rads or derm or what have you. But in the current climate, you will probably match regardless.

...is that a common occurrence?? I'm not aware of people applying rad onc as a backup to rads or especially derm.

 

[pikachu]

...is that a common occurrence?? I'm not aware of people applying rad onc as a backup to rads or especially derm.

Perhaps "legions" is an exaggeration but it certainly happens. From the 2024 NRMP data, 106 US seniors are included in the "rad onc as preferred specialty" group. 103 matched and 3 did not. There were 127 US senior MD applicants to rad onc that year. I interpret this to mean that about 17% of applications were backup for another specialty. In 2022, the corresponding numbers were 80 and 111 (28% backup). The "charting outcomes" reports that provide details about preferred specialties in the Match are only released every other year, so we don't have 2023 or 2025 data points.