some questions about applying...

[Sanchik]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyne,
I am a third year student interested in PM&R. I am having some problems scheduling my fourth year and was hoping for some help.Complicating matters is that I am pregnant (good thing 😍 ) and will be due mid september. so i will have to take sept/oct off. so that leaves me july, Aug, November. I was planning on doing 2 aways and usinf my third elective (my school we only get 3)to do neuro. so i was planning on doing
1. july- 1 PM&R elective
2. Auguest-Medicine sub-i- don't think i want to do another elective here as will be 9 months pegnant
3. November- PM&R elective

some concerns that I have is that this would give me only one PM&R letter by the time that I apply. another concern is where to do my electives. I live in NY and definatell want one of my electives to be at JFK-my dream program. should I make that my first elective or should I do my first elective at Cornell/NYU/Sinai and learn some stuff and be ready to shine at JFK in November?
Anyway, i am sorry this is so long, if you are still reading, i would love some help 🙂
sanchik

 

[Wifty]

Congratulations on the pregnancy! It might make things a bit more complicated....but interesting. 🙂

My quick tuppence of thought on your situation:
First, you can get more then one LOR at a PM&R rotation. Just make sure you work with more then one doc. My hubby had at least 4 docs give him LORs at his first PM&R rotation spot.

Second, many people do recommend doing a rotation at a spot you really want at the same time that interviews are going on so that you can interview while there.....so doing JFK in November sounds like a good idea.

Just remember, you will have a newborn and might be a bit drained but at least PM&R seems like a very family-friendly specialty.

Good luck and congrats again!
With smiles,
Wifty aka Rebecca

 

[Sanchik]

thanx for your input, i would appreciate any advice i can ge 🙂

 

[undercover]

Rotating at a program has both an upside and a downside. The downside is that if you end up performing at an "average standard," then you haven't helped yourself much. You have to go beyond the normal (which is of course possible, but difficult). The reason is that if you have two applicants on paper who are about the same and one has done average work on a rotation, a program might be more enticed by the "mystery" of the other candidate because at worse, the PD will get an average candidate. However, the potential upside to the unknown is greater than the known. Let me know if this is confusing so far. This is just one pattern of thinking. I bring this point up to not discourage you from doing a rotation, but rather to point out another possibility.

 

[Sanchik]

can some of the residents comment on whether rotating at a program 8 months pregnant would look bad? also, would having 1 PM&R letter + 1 neuro letter+1 IM letter be ok or do u really need 2 PM&R letters? I plan on doing a second rotation but won't have the second letter in time. sanchik

 

[axm397]

can some of the residents comment on whether rotating at a program 8 months pregnant would look bad? also, would having 1 PM&R letter + 1 neuro letter+1 IM letter be ok or do u really need 2 PM&R letters? I plan on doing a second rotation but won't have the second letter in time. sanchik

The PC answer would be that it should not make you look bad. The reality is that you will be showing a lot and some people may be uncomfortable. I think if you don't make a big deal about it, they won't.

In terms of JFK - not sure if you're a UMDNJRWJ student but if you're not, they have a pain management day for RWJ students on their psych rotation - Although I didn't go to RWJ, I called and asked for permission to go to that day to see if I wanted to do a rotation at JFK and to get a better feel for the program and the field.

Dr. Cuccurullo is wonderful. She is a great teacher and mentor. If you rotate at JFK, you should definitely make an appointment to meet with her. If you can, meet with Dr. Strax also.

I LOVED JFK when I rotated there. if you have specific questions, feel free to pm me.

 

[Finally M3]

can some of the residents comment on whether rotating at a program 8 months pregnant would look bad? also, would having 1 PM&R letter + 1 neuro letter+1 IM letter be ok or do u really need 2 PM&R letters? I plan on doing a second rotation but won't have the second letter in time. sanchik

I think 1 letter will be fine. Just make sure that you try to do as good a job as your child will allow It will help having the second PM&R rotation in your file, as it shows the level of interest/exposure to the field.

My sub-I last year was 8 months pregnant and ended up delivering in the last week of the month. We were all very impressed with the job she did, not only because she actually did a very good job, but she was so obviously uncomfortable while doing it. I think it can only help 🙂