OMFS externship location

[dogecointothemoon]

I am a current D3 about to go on my first externship this month. I have heard that going on an externship to a place that you are interested in matching is a bad idea because the chances of a place liking an extern after an entire week or two is pretty low. In a podcast I listened to awhile back it said the same thing. Anyone have any insight on this matter? I already lined up two externships to places that I am pretty hyped on so if this is true it would be kind of a bummer.

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[piratewow]

Everywhere I externed I got an interview at and at all of the places at least a couple attendings/residents remembered me. I heard some places only interview externs, and other places show preference for those that externed. I would extern for the following reasons: 1. Learn more about OMFS in general/ show commitment to the specialty 2.Show that I am interested in a particular region or willing to leave my home region 3.Show that I am interested in a particular program 4. IMO the most important, to learn if the programs I am interested in are truly a good fit for me- you can get a good idea of the pros/cons of a program when you spend a week there. Every program says they have broad scope, good resident culture, good autonomy etc. but seeing things in person definitely made me re-evaluate.

I think there was a journal article that said roughly 50% of matched applicants go somewhere they externed at- for better or for worse many people end up choosing the devil they know rather than risk gambling it on what is promised on the interview day. This applies to programs too. Nonetheless, no program is perfect, and there are many great programs out there, externing is just a way to get more information in a less formal manner.

 

[dogecointothemoon]

Everywhere I externed I got an interview at and at all of the places at least a couple attendings/residents remembered me. I heard some places only interview externs, and other places show preference for those that externed. I would extern for the following reasons: 1. Learn more about OMFS in general/ show commitment to the specialty 2.Show that I am interested in a particular region or willing to leave my home region 3.Show that I am interested in a particular program 4. IMO the most important, to learn if the programs I am interested in are truly a good fit for me- you can get a good idea of the pros/cons of a program when you spend a week there. Every program says they have broad scope, good resident culture, good autonomy etc. but seeing things in person definitely made me re-evaluate.

I think there was a journal article that said roughly 50% of matched applicants go somewhere they externed at- for better or for worse many people end up choosing the devil they know rather than risk gambling it on what is promised on the interview day. This applies to programs too. Nonetheless, no program is perfect, and there are many great programs out there, externing is just a way to get more information in a less formal manner.

Thank you. I appreciate your honesty and the nice perspective that comes from true personal experience.

 

[avangusva]

I ended up ranking the program I externed at first #1 and matched. I've seen many, many externs come and go. Most are forgettable but some are memorable. We've had quite a few externs who come to our program twice, which shows huge interest and assuming they're good externs reflects well on them.

I don't agree with the philosophy that you shouldn't extern at the program you want to match at. You absolutely should get an idea of what that program is like behind the scenes. Besides, what do you have to hide? If you really hate it there, or you feel like you don't fit in, you just saved yourself potentially 4-6 years of agony.

I went to Parkland for my first externship, which is the program I wanted to go to and eventually matched at. I heard from countless people to only visit your top program(s) last so you can be impressive. What most people don't realize is we truly do NOT expect externs to know everything, have had done procedures like I and D, lacs or extractions before/be competent. Instead, come prepared, read before cases, understand hierarchy and most of all just don't be annoying. I'm now in my 6th year and have seen many average externs, a few studs and a few duds.

My best advice from a strategic perspective is try and do an externship in different geographic areas, assuming you'd want to match into a program in that area. For example, I did LSUNO, Parkland, and UAB. I wanted to train at a southern program that offered a full scope and thus sought out three of the larger programs that fit that description. I was able to leverage this at the interviews I attended because I was able to explain that I was willing and able to get away from home to seek a specific type of training program. Just my experience and two cents.