time off for interviews during externships?

[7858584]

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I am curious to hear opinions on medical students who take one day off to do an interview during their externships?

I am applying to FM programs and am doing 2 externships back-to-back across the country from where I live. I was hoping to do all of my interviews during the 2 months I'm out there as to save myself from flying cross country...

Is it frowned upon to ask for a day off in each rotation to do this?

Thank you!

 

[mlw03]

i would think that's OK. everyone understands what time of year this is, and all but the most reasonable programs will understand these sort of logistical concerns.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I would ask your PD what they think. In general, I was told its in poor taste to ask your externship for time off. You are on an interview there as well after all and should be doing your best to impress them. Asking for a day off to interview at a different program just seems odd.

I personally wouldn't ask for time off and would try to time all your interviews in one block in Dec or Jan so you can make one big trip.

 

[2012mdc]

I am curious to hear opinions on medical students who take one day off to do an interview during their externships?

I am applying to FM programs and am doing 2 externships back-to-back across the country from where I live. I was hoping to do all of my interviews during the 2 months I'm out there as to save myself from flying cross country...

Is it frowned upon to ask for a day off in each rotation to do this?

Thank you!

Many programs will state how many days off they allow for IV's in their elective descriptions.

I would ask your PD what they think. In general, I was told its in poor taste to ask your externship for time off. You are on an interview there as well after all and should be doing your best to impress them. Asking for a day off to interview at a different program just seems odd.

I personally wouldn't ask for time off and would try to time all your interviews in one block in Dec or Jan so you can make one big trip.

That may work for some specialties but that is definitely logistically impossible in others

 

[mlw03]

i still think it's fine to do this. unless the program you're rotating at is prepared to guarantee in writing that they'll rank you to match, then they ought to understand that applicants need a decent number of interviews to guarantee a successful match. that said, taking more than 2 days off during a 4 week rotation would be poor form as well for the reasons given above. but october thru january is interview season in the US, and i personally would be leery to go to a residency program where folks (who are supposed to be in medical education) don't get that. plus, let's be honest here. you're a med student. you're not doing whipples on your own. any service that depends on med students to function has bigger problems.

 

[alwaysaangel]

That may work for some specialties but that is definitely logistically impossible in others

True. And I can see it being different for Ortho or Neurosurg where programs only interview 2-3 days during the entire season.

But the OP is applying to FM. There should be plenty of options for interviewing. And to hope to do 'all' their interviews on that side of the country during externships just sounds unrealistic without taking more than 2 days off per rotations.