no away rotations?

[johnny3022]

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Hey yall MSIV here with a question about away rotations. So far I have not scheduled any aways because a) there is no program I am dying to go b) I don't adjust well to new settings and I think an away will probably hurt me more than help because on paper my stats are solid. I will be doing my anesthesiology sub-i at my home institution and did some anesthesia during my surgery clerkship. Is this going to hurt my chances of getting interviews? The only reason I am worried is because a large number of students in my class are going into anesthesia and many have scheduled aways at many of the top/desirable residencies. Whats everyone's 2 cents?

 

[MrBurns10]

So I didn't apply anesthesia (my husband, who posts here, did), and I'm putting in my 2 cents because I'm bored and procrastinating going to bed. Anyway, I think away rotations in general are of limited use. They'll usually get you a courtesy interview, and if you're outstanding in person it can help you match there, but remember that the vast majority of applicants who interview and match did so at programs they didn't do aways at. This was true for the specialty in which I matched as well (and statistically, for every specialty).

My husband, for example, had solid stats and did very, very well on interview invites and matched at his #1 (probably one of your stated "top" residencies). He and another classmate of his both matched at this program over a classmate who had done an away there (and this student is a nice, smart guy). N=1, take it as you will. And of course, I defer to the people who actually belong in this forum...

 

[pgy13]

Hey yall MSIV here with a question about away rotations. So far I have not scheduled any aways because a) there is no program I am dying to go b) I don't adjust well to new settings and I think an away will probably hurt me more than help because on paper my stats are solid. I will be doing my anesthesiology sub-i at my home institution and did some anesthesia during my surgery clerkship. Is this going to hurt my chances of getting interviews? The only reason I am worried is because a large number of students in my class are going into anesthesia and many have scheduled aways at many of the top/desirable residencies. Whats everyone's 2 cents?

If your application is otherwise solid, you absolutely do not need an away rotation.