Question about application process

[joshua_msu]

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Hello all. I am in the process of scheduling my electives for my fourth year of medical school. I know that a lot of people have all of thier application materials in around Sept or Oct of their fourth year. I would like to get in at least two Gas rotations since I will be needing letters and I wasnt able to get any in during my third year.

Is it safe to say I should have at least both of my rotations done before Oct of my fourth year? Will it hurt me if I cant get both in until Dec of my fourth year? How did you all do it?

Thanks. Josh

 

[j fizz]

Hello all. I am in the process of scheduling my electives for my fourth year of medical school. I know that a lot of people have all of thier application materials in around Sept or Oct of their fourth year. I would like to get in at least two Gas rotations since I will be needing letters and I wasnt able to get any in during my third year.

Is it safe to say I should have at least both of my rotations done before Oct of my fourth year? Will it hurt me if I cant get both in until Dec of my fourth year? How did you all do it?

Thanks. Josh

You can submit your application before all of your letters are in. My opinion: get one gas rotation done by Sept., and if you want to do a second try and fit it in by November at the latest. December seems like it would be a little late to help your app in general, although you could help your standing at that program where you rotate. If you can't do the rotation until December, it may be better than nothing. But this is the heat of interview time, so you'd hopefully be taking a bunch of time off from your elective - ok but not ideal.

In general I think if there is any chance you may not like gas (e.g., you like the idea of it but haven't done it) then you should try and rotate early (summer) to make sure you like it, while you would still have plenty of time to change course.

 

[IlianaSedai]

Hello all. I am in the process of scheduling my electives for my fourth year of medical school. I know that a lot of people have all of thier application materials in around Sept or Oct of their fourth year. I would like to get in at least two Gas rotations since I will be needing letters and I wasnt able to get any in during my third year.

Is it safe to say I should have at least both of my rotations done before Oct of my fourth year? Will it hurt me if I cant get both in until Dec of my fourth year? How did you all do it?

Thanks. Josh

First of all, dude -- you are asking this question SO early. Here's how my timeline played out:

MS-2, June - Took Step I. Results came back in July. That left plenty of time to ponder whether I should take Step II early or not.

MS-3, November - Chose three electives to try in two-week and four-week increments. Did first anesthesia rotation and liked it more than I thought. Asked for first LOR.

MS-3, December - Eliminated my specialty choices down to two (EM, anesthesia). Began to research both EM and anesthesia electives. Chose 3 institutions that I was interested in doing aways at. At this time, I did NOT have a specialty choice! Just locations and institutions.

MS-3, Jan/Feb - Gathered materials and sent in applications to do aways in TWO different specialties since I still hadn't decided which one was final. I would suggest choosing your aways and preparing their applications in January (which is early with plenty of time to spare). Some require ridiculous things that take extra time, such as transcripts (gahh!) and LORs (gah!). But don't over-apply. At this time of year, there's not much competition. I only applied to two places and got what I wanted both times. Tip: Email the rotation coordinator to ask whether spaces are available at the time you want BEFORE you send in applications, particularly if it costs money to apply. I emailed to ask and one secretary RESERVED my spot right away, and told me to send in my application "when it's finished." Better not to send in the application fee, if there is one, if you know you won't get a spot anyway.

MS-3, March - Chose my specialty. Also heard back from my aways (I was "accepted" to all of my first choices -- it was so early I doubt they'd filled at that time). CANCELLED the EM rotations.

MS-4, July - Did first away. Asked for second LOR.
MS-4, July - Asked for third LOR.
MS-4, August - Did second away.

MS-4, September 6 - Application submitted to ERAS with a bunch of programs selected. Two letters were uploaded on the first day.

MS-4, September 20ish - Added more proggies. Last letter finally uploaded (but LOTS of people seemed to be still asking around for letters at that time, so I was early on that too).

MS-4, October 31 - Added last proggy.