Question about dilemma

[kakashi1992]

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I have a question for you all about a dilemma that I am facing.

As background: I took a year off of school (2020-2021 academic year) because of a worsening of the illness which took me out of school previously when I was doing ObGyn rotation, which I had to make up. I'm now returning to the curriculum aka 4th year of medical school.

The dean wants me to take some clinical electives during the free periods I have in my schedule even though I've already completed my elective requirements. So doing the electives would be extra work (and more tuition that I have to pay, to boot). The dean's rationale is that it'll help acclimate me to clinical rotations in time for my sub-internship. Like a warm-up, sort of.

I'm not particularly enthused about this. But I don't do what she says I don't know what will happen. I mean... I can't say that I don't want to do it because then I would get into an argument with her and it makes me look like a slacker. On the other hand it's a lot of work for me if I am pressured into doing these electives.

So my question to you all is... is she allowed to do this? And, what are my options here? There is a power dynamic at play here. Do I just blindly do what she says? Or can I just ignore her suggestion/recommendation and take the time off as break?

What do you think?

 

[Redpancreas]

OP you have been out of medicine for a year. I personally would be writing to admin asking for an elective before my Sub-I. I understand the tuition credits will add costs but you may need it. Yeah, it could all be for naught but then suppose there’s an issue...it’s going to be seen as you not doing what was recommended. Do you really feel ready to jump right into medicine after a year off? Take the opportunity to do an elective in something very similar to your subI so you can kill your subI when the time comes.

You can maybe ask the "dean" directly whether this is a suggestion or requirement and gauge the response. You can bring it up respectfully like “I am very grateful to have your guidance in this situation. While considering my finances, I know doing these rotations would add extra tuition which I would prefer to avoid. Is there any informal way to reacquaint myself to clinical medicine? If you feel this is absolutely needed, I will talk with my advisors and find the elective best suitable to prepare me." and see what he/she says. You can also ask if there’s any way tuition can be waived for the elective given the circumstances. Ultimately, OP, I think the "dean" means well and you should take that advice.

 

[Lem0nz]

Do the electives. Put in the extra work to make up for the time off. Talk about how you put in the extra time and work and effort when you're interviewing for residency in spite of taking the time off and how that's made you even more prepared than the average medical student and why they should pick you.

Cost should not really factor in. You already have loans. More loans is monopoly money. The investment is worth it. You shouldn't really be afraid of doing more work at this point in your career, particularly if you just took off a whole year.

 

[operaman]

Agree with above. Despite all the threads here that frame things as admin vs students, they really do care and want you to succeed. The advice they’re giving also happens to be spot on.

Jumping directly into a sub-I in your chosen field can lead to subpar letters and possibly even a lower grade which may impact your match substantially. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed so you aren’t posting in the fall asking how to explain a low pass sub-I grade on your ERAS.

 

[Tenk]

I’m always baffled how some of the smartest people on the planet have little to no common sense.

Yes, you do whatever your Dean says because they have the power to grind your entire career into a screeching halt.

 

[Lem0nz]

I’m always baffled how some of the smartest people on the planet have little to no common sense.

Yes, you do whatever your Dean says because they have the power to grind your entire career into a screeching halt.

Haha. Yea. It seems to get progressively worse each year. I like the medical students on Reddit who post like "ur dumb i hate u" like a twelve year old found a keyboard on Call of Duty for the first time.

Americans are dumb.

 

[kakashi1992]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[OraclePL]

Yes. Do the extra work.

1) As noted above...she's the Dean
2) She happens to be correct

I'm all about fiscal responsibility but investing a few more thousand dollars to potentially increase your chances of matching (the entire point of all of this and the only conceivable way to pay your loans back) is a no brainer.

 

[candbgirl]

Yes. Do the extra work.

1) As noted above...she's the Dean
2) She happens to be correct

I'm all about fiscal responsibility but investing a few more thousand dollars to potentially increase your chances of matching (the entire point of all of this and the only conceivable way to pay your loans back) is a no brainer.

This!!! Why on earth would you question/fight the Dean? You feel there is a “power dynamic at play here”. Of course there is and the Dean has all of the power . Go ahead and tell her NO and see how that works out (let us know too). Deans want students to be successful. If she feels this will help you then do it . I’m not sure you are qualified to make the decision to not follow the Dean’s recommendation. If you don’t and then flounder it won’t be good for you. After a year away I think it’s a very good idea.

 

[Goro]

I have a question for you all about a dilemma that I am facing.

As background: I took a year off of school (2020-2021 academic year) because of a worsening of the illness which took me out of school previously when I was doing ObGyn rotation, which I had to make up. I'm now returning to the curriculum aka 4th year of medical school.

The dean wants me to take some clinical electives during the free periods I have in my schedule even though I've already completed my elective requirements. So doing the electives would be extra work (and more tuition that I have to pay, to boot). The dean's rationale is that it'll help acclimate me to clinical rotations in time for my sub-internship. Like a warm-up, sort of.

I'm not particularly enthused about this. But I don't do what she says I don't know what will happen. I mean... I can't say that I don't want to do it because then I would get into an argument with her and it makes me look like a slacker. On the other hand it's a lot of work for me if I am pressured into doing these electives.

So my question to you all is... is she allowed to do this? And, what are my options here? There is a power dynamic at play here. Do I just blindly do what she says? Or can I just ignore her suggestion/recommendation and take the time off as break?

What do you think?

When your Dean is recommending something, that's a polite way of saying "I'm telling you to do something".

Always best to listen to your Dean.

 

[mrbreakfast]

The dean's rationale is that it'll help acclimate me to clinical rotations in time for my sub-internship. Like a warm-up, sort of.

Not to pile on as all commentators seem to be of the same mind, but a cautionary example: there was a person in my class in a similar situation who did not follow the dean's advice. This person went on to do their required sub-I as an away rotation, which they failed hard. They had to withdraw from the match. Play it safe.

 

[LondonVibes]

I’m always baffled how some of the smartest people on the planet have little to no common sense.

Yes, you do whatever your Dean says because they have the power to grind your entire career into a screeching halt.

This is generally reserved for IA-like offenses though right?

 

[Tenk]

This is generally reserved for IA-like offenses though right?

No. It’s reserved for everything you do in life. When someone in a ridiculously higher position of power than you gives you a “suggestion,” you should really consider that more of an order.

 

[operaman]

When your Dean is recommending something, that's a polite way of saying "I'm telling you to do something".

Always best to listen to your Dean.

I would add that this continues well into one’s career. Notice how we don’t see posts from faculty saying “my chair/dean suggested XYZ but I don’t really want to do that. Do I really have to?”

Plus in this case the dean gave really really really good advice and OP would be exceptionally stupid to discount those recommendations.

 

[LondonVibes]

I would add that this continues well into one’s career. Notice how we don’t see posts from faculty saying “my chair/dean suggested XYZ but I don’t really want to do that. Do I really have to?”

Plus in this case the dean gave really really really good advice and OP would be exceptionally stupid to discount those recommendations.

Well that’s why you open your own practice lol.

 

[LondonVibes]

But agreed, discounting a superior in any field is generally a bad idea.