Some advise on 3rd schedule.

[Dwindlin]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I realize these threads pop up all the time but I was hoping for some input. My school does 3rd year schedules in preformed blocks. So you have some freedom but not a whole lot. So at this point I am stuck between EM and Surgery, specifically trauma/critical care/acute care. From the blocks below which do you think would be best in terms of 1) Getting early enough exposure to Surgery before I have to start making decisions about 4th year schedule and 2) having a decent month on the trauma service.

1) Peds > Surgery (Oct to Dec) > OB > Fam/Psych > Med

2) OB > Peds > Surgery (Dec to Feb) > Fam/Psych > Med

3) Surgery (Aug to Oct) > OB > Peds > Fam/Psych > Med

4) Med > Fam/Psych > Peds > Surgery (April to June) > OB

5) Med > Fam/Psych > OB > Peds > Surgery (June to Aug)

6) Med > Fam/Psych > Surgery (Feb to April) > OB > Peds

I have to make my 4th year schedule Feb/March of 3rd year. So out of the 6 options listed which would the group suggest? Thanks!

 

[PistolPete]

You should not do want you think you may go into as your first or last rotations. I would say 6 should be your first choice, followed by 2.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Regardless, I would do IM and Surgery as your first 2. Get the hardest out of the way and you will feel pretty prepared for just about every other rotation IMO.

 

[2012mdc]

So I realize these threads pop up all the time but I was hoping for some input. My school does 3rd year schedules in preformed blocks. So you have some freedom but not a whole lot. So at this point I am stuck between EM and Surgery, specifically trauma/critical care/acute care. From the blocks below which do you think would be best in terms of 1) Getting early enough exposure to Surgery before I have to start making decisions about 4th year schedule and 2) having a decent month on the trauma service.

1) Peds > Surgery (Oct to Dec) > OB > Fam/Psych > Med

2) OB > Peds > Surgery (Dec to Feb) > Fam/Psych > Med

3) Surgery (Aug to Oct) > OB > Peds > Fam/Psych > Med

4) Med > Fam/Psych > Peds > Surgery (April to June) > OB

5) Med > Fam/Psych > OB > Peds > Surgery (June to Aug)

6) Med > Fam/Psych > Surgery (Feb to April) > OB > Peds

I have to make my 4th year schedule Feb/March of 3rd year. So out of the 6 options listed which would the group suggest? Thanks!

I would choose option 2 (get as much suturing/knot-tying as you can on OB) or option 3 - hit the ground running in what you're interested in. I think the whole "don't do it 1st if you are interested in it" is wayyy overblown

 

[turkeyjerky]

I would go with 2 if you're interested in surgery; in EM it doesn't really matter

 

[xanthomondo]

I would do option 6. If I could do it all over I would have definitely picked medicine first (it would have helped so much with every other shelf, especially surgery).

 

[myhandsarecold]

if these are my only options; i'd go with 5. you'd be very surprised at how much you learn throughout the year, so if you want to rock your surg rotation, it would be good to have it last. now, everyone will tell you that the residents, faculty grade different depending on what part of the year you're in...easier in the beginning of the year and harder in the beginning of the year...i generally doubt this. another benefit to doing surg last is that you would have learned to take NBME shelf, thus, theoretically should perform much better. also, if you don't want to completely burn out, separate Ob/Gyn and Surg together, speaking from personal experience; these two have VERY LONG hours, 4 AM to god knows when on a typical day. goodluck!

 

[deleted263296]

As has been said before, do the two rotations you are least likely to go into first and last. Residents will grade you equally hard throughout the year, and you may not do well on your first shelf exam.