Question For All Those Out There in Residency-Land

[ramona223]

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[peppy]

Unless you are going for an extremely competitive field where away rotations at the place you want to go are critical, I don't think it will actually matter that much as long as you can use at least one of those months for a rotation that will give you time for interviews. Obviously you would not want to leave an away rotation at a program you want to impress to go to interviews elsewhere. The only problem with doing aways so late in the game is that it could be very awkward if you do an away at a reach program that had already decided not to interview you before you get there. For that reason I would probably be more inclined to do aways at places you think you have a good chance at and just want to solidify your chances at than a reach program, but that's me.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Away rotations are seriously overrated. Most residents match into programs without ever having been there (except on the interview, of course). An away rotation is actually more useful to assess whether you like the program, rather than the other way round.

 

[Ludicolo]

Away rotations are seriously overrated. Most residents match into programs without ever having been there (except on the interview, of course). An away rotation is actually more useful to assess whether you like the program, rather than the other way round.

Much as I dislike doing so, I have to disagree with aPD. I think this is specialty and program size dependent. The away/audition rotation can be used by some programs to evaluate what it would be like working with someone for 3-4 years. It’s not the end-all/be-all of course, but it does carry weight.

In my field (PM&R), we often work very closely alongside our residents. Often a one to one attending/resident ratio, often rotating with them more than once during their residency. We all tend to let our guard down after a while, and a 2-4 week rotation gives us a more honest assessment whether or not an applicant is a good fit academically and personality wise for our program. If you shine on our rotation, we definitely take that into strong consideration come rank time. It’s nice to know what you could be getting.

 

[dragonfly99]

I agree with Ludicolo.
I think away rotations tend to be in medicine (my field), especially if the applicant would be otherwise competitive at a program. However, if you are going for a "reach" program, or into a specialty that expects that away rotations will be done, it seems like they can be more important. For example, when I was a med student it seemed like people trying to match ortho and neurosurg. always went and did away rotations.

It seems like your school has a weird schedule...I mean it seems like bad planning to give some students electives August-Nov and others Dec-March. Potentially a later away rotation could help you in the Match, but only if the place has already decided to interview you. It seems that you have another elective month anyway that is earlier...my school had none during 3rd year. You seem like you have plenty of time for electives, including away ones, given this extra month.

What field are you going in to?

 

[ramona223]

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[ramona223]

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[Law2Doc]

Away rotations are seriously overrated. Most residents match into programs without ever having been there (except on the interview, of course). An away rotation is actually more useful to assess whether you like the program, rather than the other way round.

I guess it depends on the field, but this is simply wrong for a lot of specialties. Folks who do away rotations can get a big leg up if they are well liked, especially in smaller programs. Tv statement that most residents match without doing an away misses the point that those who do an away tend to have better luck at the places they auditioned.

 

[smq123]

I guess it depends on the field, but this is simply wrong for a lot of specialties. Folks who do away rotations can get a big leg up if they are well liked, especially in smaller programs. Tv statement that most residents match without doing an away misses the point that those who do an away tend to have better luck at the places they auditioned.

IF they are well-liked being the key phrase.

While I agree that away rotations can be useful, I had been told by many PDs (particularly in the surgical specialties) not to do them. For instance, many senior residents and attendings in the ENT forums here say not to do aways, because it is so rare for a visiting student to be impressive enough.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I guess it depends on the field, but this is simply wrong for a lot of specialties. Folks who do away rotations can get a big leg up if they are well liked, especially in smaller programs. Tv statement that most residents match without doing an away misses the point that those who do an away tend to have better luck at the places they auditioned.

It's hard for me to turn off my IM blinders. In IM, aways are not necessary. I agree that in some other fields, especially those with a very small number of slots where the difference between bing #2 and #3 on the rank list can make all the difference, they may be very helpful.