Planning USCEs for neurology

[Gravel&Porphyry]

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Hi everyone.

International student here trying to figure out the best way to structure my US clinical experiences for a strong application to neurology. This would be for 2022/23, but the red tape and difficulty of securing clerkships as a foreigner necessitate forward planning. Officially my school will only credit two months of overseas electives, but I’m prepared to do more during the holidays between the last two years and in the couple of months between final assessment and official graduation (assuming I won’t need any remediation).

Firstly, what proportion of my US electives should be in neurology? Would the ideal be to do them all in the specialty I have my heart set on, or would this look imbalanced? Foreign students have limited options for clinicals in the States, but there are still excellent opportunities. Sadly, neurology seems especially restricted. If I were only able to secure 1 or 2 neurology placements, how would extra US experience in other specialties affect my application to residencies? How would it reflect on my dedication to neurology?

I think there’s a fair chance of securing two electives in neurology and an internal medicine sub-internship, all in different hospitals. Would it be beneficial to complete more US rotations even in specialties like cardiology, psychiatry, neuroradiology etc.? Is it best to rotate through as many hospitals as possible, or is it ok to do a couple of rotations at the same place if they’re in different specialties?

Also, I plan on completing an internship at home so that I’ll still have registration here. In that case, I would be applying for residencies and prelims the year after my USCEs. If any of my supervisors felt comfortable writing a strong LOR, is it usually acceptable to ask them to hold on to it for a year then update and submit it in the next application cycle, or would this be inconvenient? Alternatively, would I get an ERAS token in the first instance just for uploading documents and carry them forward in the year I actually apply? Is a letter dated one year prior too stale?

I have many more questions, but I’ll give you all a break for now. Thank you to anyone taking the time to consider my queries.

 

[firstcontact]

-You should have ideally 2-3 LORs from Neurology remember the only purpose of your rotation is to get an LOR from an american attending 2 Neuro and maybe 1 IM is okay but the more in Neuro the better
-Some programs ask for 2-3 months of USCE others ask for 6 months of course the more USCE you have the better for interviews as more programs would be wiling to interview you but the bare minimum is at least 2 months for an IMG
-It all depends on your letter writer it dosent matter when they upload your letter the letter will say when you did the elective so it wont matter when they upload the LOR. Having more lors closer to the time you plan to apply is ideal but this may not be a possibility for every IMG so do the best you can.
-First take Step 1 and apply to as many programs as possible for Neuro electives. All the best.

 

[Gravel&Porphyry]

-You should have ideally 2-3 LORs from Neurology remember the only purpose of your rotation is to get an LOR from an american attending 2 Neuro and maybe 1 IM is okay but the more in Neuro the better
-Some programs ask for 2-3 months of USCE others ask for 6 months of course the more USCE you have the better for interviews as more programs would be wiling to interview you but the bare minimum is at least 2 months for an IMG
-It all depends on your letter writer it dosent matter when they upload your letter the letter will say when you did the elective so it wont matter when they upload the LOR. Having more lors closer to the time you plan to apply is ideal but this may not be a possibility for every IMG so do the best you can.
-First take Step 1 and apply to as many programs as possible for Neuro electives. All the best.

Thank you for replying. Your info is very helpful.

I was thinking an IM rotation & letter might be helpful for the prelim year application?