OB 4th year electives

[tmm003]

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Hello!

I am excited to get started with my 4th year in a few months. Do you have any great ideas on a strategy to do electives? Here are a few ideas I've heard:

1) Do as few OB/GYN electives as you need to just to get good letters of rec. Then diversify your skills in other specialties since residency will teach you everything you need to know the way it should be done at the particular institution.

2) Do all the electives you can at different institutions to get recognized and improve your chances. I've heard this is the way to go if you have below average board scores which is true in my case.

Thanks for all the help!

Tyler

 

[inspector]

Tyler,

I would definitely recommend doing rotations at the one or two places that you are the most interested in....and then work your butt off while you are there. It lets the program get to know you and also lets them know that you are highly interested in them.
As far as other rotations go, I don't think it matters much...I would recommend an emergency month and an ICU month...but just try to enjoy your fourth year as much as possible.

Good luck!

 

[dankatzzz]

Those are good suggestions. I definitely agree with doing a rotation or two away at the place you are considering most. Also, good 4th year electives are surgical ICU, dermatology, infectious disease, ob anesthesia if you have that. If you go to www.aocg.org and go to the residency info (CREOG) under Technical Issues there is a page with advice for people going into OB/GYN. It also has a little paragraph with recommended electives.
Dani

 

[Diane L. Evans]

I would recommend doing a rotation in Oct/Nov in the residency programs you are most interested. In Nov. most places will offer to interview you during your rotation ( a good way to secure an interview at an exremely competitive residency).


I actually ended up doing 5 OB/Gyn rotations two in general OB (including my 3rd yr) one in gyn/onc, one in MFM, and one in research. I had no probelm during my interviews convincing directors that I was indeed interested in OB/Gyn. this is a major concern for most programs for there are a lot of people that start and then realize that the profession is too demanding etc...

******I would also join ACOG as a student member and take time off to attend one of their meetings in a district you may like to go to residency in geographically. ************

You also can start contacting residency programs now and ask for this yrs brochure they have lots around. If you like what you see ask to visit their program or try and do an elective there. While an elective in general OB is ok perhaps choose a subspecialty where you will be working with upperclass residents and most likely program directors.

I hope this helps. Feel free to email with further ?
🙂 Diane

 

[tmm003]

Dear All,

Thanks very much for the information above! In the meantime I've been putting together a schedule for 4th year with the above advice in mind. I was planning on doing two months of MFM, one month of REI, general out-patient GYN sub-i, an inpatient breast surgery sub-i, EM, Neurology, and some research.

Diane I was curious to know about your experience going to an ACOG meeting. I am a member of ACOG and saw that the national conference in New Orleans is free registration for medical students. My question is if this would be a good experience to go even though I would not be presenting a poster or the like. As a participant I think it would be great exposure and at the very least I could meet some folks!

Anyone who has been to an ACOG meeting I'd like to know how you have enjoyed them.

Thanks,

Tyler

 

[Diane L. Evans]

I would switch to 1 MFM and consider DERM.

As far as acog attendance I went to local mtgs but never made it to a national meeting I decided to go to ASIM conference for they had hands on workshops ie breast exam gyn exam, male exam etc... very interesting and beneficial plus I attended their 2 day seminar on ACOG updates.

Anyway going to a national conf you can go to the poster sessions and talk with residents check out the prog listings and see if prog you are interested in are presenting. It is a good way to make contacts and to find out what helped them match.

In your personal statement I would mention doing #ob electives as well as any future conf attendance or local meetings.
I used 3/4 of my letters of recommendation from OB's. But get letters from everyone you rotate with ask them to send you a copy and pick and choose. Erikson's getting into residency has an awesome checklist that writers could include. Also ask them if they could write a 3pp letter first pp- rotation and dates. 2nd pp examples rotation participation. 3rd pp concl recommend to specialty.



good luck
🙂 Diane

 

[Naijagirl]

Any new input to this old thread? what specific elective can I take since I am thinking of going into OB?

 

[nykka3]

Any new input to this old thread? what specific elective can I take since I am thinking of going into OB?

check this out. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=426817&highlight=ob+electives

there are also your standard MFM, gynonc, REI electives if you can take those during 3rd year.

 

[BayAreaOB]

Do 1-2 OB/GYN away rotations. Fill the rest of your year with Derm, ID, ER, ICU. I did an endocrine consult/outpatient rotation (not REI) that was really great. Breast is also good if your surgery department offers it. Do whatever interests you. . .I also did a cardiographics rotation where we read EKGs with the cards fellows in the morning and went home by 2pm

I would also caution about doing too many away rotations during the interview season. It is a little tacky if you have to miss several days of your away rotation to go interview somewhere else!

Enjoy 4th year!