scheduling away rotations

[saiyagirl]

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I used to wonder why fourth years at my school never seemed to go on more than one or two away rotations. After all, we are given credit for three months worth, and you can of course keep going without credit if you want after that. So why not go for all three opportunities?

Now I understand. It is freaking impossible to schedule these things! Why do they force you to choose between the most conflicting dates possible? I have managed to schedule one away at my first choice, but it leaves me with little leeway to schedule electives in September or November at any of my other highly ranked choices.

For ophtho people: when is NOT a good time to be on an away rotation? When do the interviews begin to roll in...(assuming i get them!). Late November? Early December? Is scheduling an away at a highly ranked place that runs from November to early December a bad idea?

Thanks for the input 🙂

 

[eyedr]

I used to wonder why fourth years at my school never seemed to go on more than one or two away rotations. After all, we are given credit for three months worth, and you can of course keep going without credit if you want after that. So why not go for all three opportunities?

Now I understand. It is freaking impossible to schedule these things! Why do they force you to choose between the most conflicting dates possible? I have managed to schedule one away at my first choice, but it leaves me with little leeway to schedule electives in September or November at any of my other highly ranked choices.

For ophtho people: when is NOT a good time to be on an away rotation? When do the interviews begin to roll in...(assuming i get them!). Late November? Early December? Is scheduling an away at a highly ranked place that runs from November to early December a bad idea?

Thanks for the input 🙂

Most of your interview offers will arrive in late September through mid November via email, snail mail and phonecall (in decreasing order of frequency). A few programs interview during late October, most throughout November and December. It was my feeling that most of the east coast programs, particularly New York interviewed mostly in the first two weeks of December.

In terms of when to schedule the away rotation...i cant really give you solid advice. Obviously its best if you can complete aways before October with a solid performance. My take on creating your schedule is to take an easy rotation during interview season so you can have flexibility in scheduling and making travel arrangements. If you schedule an away during peak interview season, the likelihood is that you may not be there most days to make a good impression...so i'm not sure what you will accomplish.

 

[rubensan]

For ophtho people: when is NOT a good time to be on an away rotation? When do the interviews begin to roll in...(assuming i get them!). Late November? Early December? Is scheduling an away at a highly ranked place that runs from November to early December a bad idea?

Thanks for the input 🙂

excellent advice from above. the only other thing i would add is,
find out when the 2007 AAO (american academy of ophthalmology) annual mttg is. it usually happens late october/early november. most faculty take the whole week off. thus, i would try to avoid a rotation during that week.

 

[saiyagirl]

Thanks for the input guys. So, here's what I am looking at....my first choice is booked July - September with students from that institution, who they give scheduling priority. But I was able to get a rotation the full four weeks of October. That's the earliest I could do.

I am hoping to do a rotation at my home institution in July. I would have August and September free. That being said, most of the programs I am looking at have four week blocks that split August and September.

Which leaves me 1-2 weeks between each rotation. Is that how it normally goes for people? I might be able to squeeze in a 2 weeker at Bascom Palmer...it would just be for the experience, since I'm not sure 2 weeks will signifcantly raise my chances for an interview...has anyone done the two week rotation before?

 

[eyedr]

Thanks for the input guys. So, here's what I am looking at....my first choice is booked July - September with students from that institution, who they give scheduling priority. But I was able to get a rotation the full four weeks of October. That's the earliest I could do.

I am hoping to do a rotation at my home institution in July. I would have August and September free. That being said, most of the programs I am looking at have four week blocks that split August and September.

Which leaves me 1-2 weeks between each rotation. Is that how it normally goes for people? I might be able to squeeze in a 2 weeker at Bascom Palmer...it would just be for the experience, since I'm not sure 2 weeks will signifcantly raise my chances for an interview...has anyone done the two week rotation before?

I would also add that everyone else is in the same boat that you are. Although programs may say they dont have availability now to accomodate your request, things will change dramatically as August/September are approaching. I would stay on top of things and call them to see if more desirable times frames are available to you. i.e. I got a phonecall from a program the day before the start of the away rotation...needless to say I had to decline because of the short notice, but definitely stay on top of it

 

[GuP]

Would you guys say it is better to do one during the month of July (i.e. July - Aug) or one from Sept - Oct? I am guessing it is July-Aug but just wanted to be anal and confirm. Thanks.

 

[rubensan]

i don't think it makes too much of a difference if you already have your LORs. if you are expecting to get a LOR from an away rotation, then it would be better to do the rotation earlier.

GuP, i hope you didn't take my last post to you in a previous and now closed thread to be a personal attack. i'm sorry if it came off harsh.

Good luck!

Would you guys say it is better to do one during the month of July (i.e. July - Aug) or one from Sept - Oct? I am guessing it is July-Aug but just wanted to be anal and confirm. Thanks.

 

[GuP]

i don't think it makes too much of a difference if you already have your LORs. if you are expecting to get a LOR from an away rotation, then it would be better to do the rotation earlier.

GuP, i hope you didn't take my last post to you in a previous and now closed thread to be a personal attack. i'm sorry if it came off harsh.

Good luck!

Thanks man! No way about the personal attack - I know you well enough to know that you are a great person and would never mean something in a personal way. Truly appreciate you helping me with my personal stuff and your contribution to this board is an assett.

 

[koolkatmd]

Because of unavailable time slots in july, i was wondering if i did an away rotation in the month of august (with the intention of getting a letter from that school), would this be too late? are you allowed to turn in your application with 2 letters and then update it later with the 3rd or do programs look at this as not complete?

Thanks for any responses!! Your advice is always appreciated=0)

 

[GuP]

Because of unavailable time slots in july, i was wondering if i did an away rotation in the month of august (with the intention of getting a letter from that school), would this be too late? are you allowed to turn in your application with 2 letters and then update it later with the 3rd or do programs look at this as not complete?

Thanks for any responses!! Your advice is always appreciated=0)

Hey koolkat - If you do your rotation in august, then you would finish end of august or beginning of september. If you want to get a LOR, you would probably have to ask an attending around 3rd or 4th week. So lets say you ask at the end of third week, he/she says yes and then takes the absolute minimum of 2 weeks to write to it - this takes you into first or second week of september. CAS target date is/was Sept for 2006 - I am not sure what it would be in 2007 but probably around this time. This means your app won't be complete till 2nd week of september, which is not bad at all BUT it will not be in batch 1. Now people say batch doesn't matter - and it prolly doesn't if you are a stellar/above average applicant, but for an avg applicant it may mean an extra interview. i don't think CAS app. will be submitted unless its complete with the three letters - so technically you can send two letters but your app won't be sent to the program until you get the last letter in. Somoene correct me if I am wrong.