Scheduling away rotations

[katiecornflakes]

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Tried this over in the Clinical Rotations forum but got 92 views and no answers, so maybe someone over here can help..... 🙂

I'm thinking about scheduling my away rotations for summer/fall. Problem is, some of the programs use VSAS and some don't. I figure since these are high volume times for away rotations that I should apply to more than one program. How does it work if you apply to a program independently and get a spot but also apply to a VSAS program?

It seems like in VSAS you won't get more than one spot (which makes sense, of course) but if I also apply to independent programs I could end up with too many spots. One independent program says they expect you not to cancel.

Also it seems like I'll just end up paying a lot of application fees if I apply to some VSAS and some non-VSAS programs?

Thoughts? Experiences?

Thanks a bunch. 🙂

 

[deleted77919]

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[Seville]

I would apply to multiple programs, through VSAS and independently. All of my friends this year had places they wanted to rotate but were not able to get spots. Luckily, they applied to other places. I had trouble getting one of my spots as well and basically had to badger the program into letting me rotate there-not exactly ideal.

 

[fyourcouch]

It depends on how flexible you are and where you want to go.

My home institution doesn't have an EM program, so I had to set up at least two externships during early fall (August/Sept). I applied to programs that did and didn't use VSAS, but it was more dependent on where I wanted to go. One of the programs didn't use VSAS, so I applied very early (march of the 3rd year) and was accepted within a week of applying, so that month was locked up early. The other month, I looked at programs that used VSAS. I applied to both programs for the same month because 1. you aren't assured whether you are going to get accepted or not, 2. you may be accepted but given a different month because the one you requested was full. My first choice for sept accepted me but gave me a different month, and my other choice accepted me for that month, so I rotated at the latter because it worked with my schedule.

The main thing is to ensure that you have an externship during the right time of the year so you can get the necessary letter(s). Apply broadly if that is what you need to do. No matter what they tell you, you can always cancel a rotation if you need too, just give them plenty of time (at least one month). Again, it really depends if you are dead set on going somewhere for the rotation (residency). If a program uses an application process outside of VSAS, I would recommend applying as early as you can in third year. The same goes for the VSAS deadlines. Make sure you application is ready to submit as soon as the application date opens up.

Personally, I hate VSAS. It is just another excuse to weasel $ out of us.

 

[katiecornflakes]

Great. That's exactly what I needed to know. So I'll just apply early to a bunch and choose the one I'm most interested in that works best for my schedule, while giving lots of notice if I cancel.

Thanks a lot. 😀