- Joined
- Feb 13, 2003
- Messages
- 538
- Reaction score
- 1
If I want to do an away elective in a medicine subspecialty in September, when should I complete the application?
timing of away rotations
- Thread starter fang
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,042
- Reaction score
- 1
fang said:
It varies, call the program.
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2005
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
fang said:
I did away rotations in August and September and I think the programs were accepting applications starting in March - so you can probably apply now (and probably should so you have the best chance of getting a spot).
The program's website should have a "visiting students" section that states the deadlines.
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,977
- Reaction score
- 5
I'm reviving this thread because I've got a couple of questions on this topic. Assuming I apply at the soonest possible date (September 1) I've only got two elective slots before I submit. Since I'm not 100% sure what I want to do I'm using those two slots to do sub-I's in my top two specialty choices. I've seen on several other threads that people would potentially be doing away rotations in these early slots... Is there any rationale for doing away rotations this early? It seems to me that doing your away rotations closer to the time that a program makes final decisions would be beneficial as well... Can anyone share their away rotation timing strategy? Thanks
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2008
- Messages
- 34,250
- Reaction score
- 917
I'm finding that a lot of programs won't process applications till the deadline anyway. So, you have until the deadline is my take on it. I think if you don't get the rotation, then it's probably because they felt you weren't competitive enough or there were too many requests for that specific month. August tends to be pretty competitive anyway.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 4,303
- Reaction score
- 22,296
You should be doing your aways as early as you can. One of the main reasons for this is b/c of LORs - getting an LOR from an away rotation is very valuable in the application process. Additionally, doing a rotation later in the season will conflict with the interview season. The "standard" time for aways is usually ~aug-oct
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 4,303
- Reaction score
- 22,296
They may not "process" the app until the deadline, but they are still typically first-come-first serve - meaning if you wait until the deadline your app will be on the bottom of the pile. Away rotations typically have very little (if anything) to do with "competitiveness"
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,660
- Reaction score
- 5
There seems to be some disagreement on the timing of away rotations. Some say do them earlier (August-September) if you're doing them at a place where you really want to go and need an interview, the rationale being that you may not get an interview if you don't do an away early enough. The second school of thought seems to be to do the aways later (Oct-Nov) so that you will be "fresher" on the committee's mind when it comes time to make the rank list (as kdburton says above).
So anyone care to weigh in on this?
So anyone care to weigh in on this?
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 4,303
- Reaction score
- 22,296
Well, I'm happy to weigh in again. I don't think there is much point ot doing them late because (a) if you are a good candidate you won't need to be "fresh" in the program's mind - they don't just forget about the candidates they like and (b) if you are a reach candidate they might have rejected you before you do your away.
Additionally as I said before - one of your objectives in doing an away is to secure a letter of recommendation; if you do an away later on then you won't be able to do that.
And a last point - I started my interview season in earnest in early november (4 interviews in nov). Had I been on an away rotation I certainly wouldn't have been able to take time off for those programs, and that would have likely meant I'd have had to cancel them, since my schedule in dec/jan was very full.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,660
- Reaction score
- 5
If you submit your application in September can you add a letter of recommendation to it from someone you meet on your away rotation? I thought you were supposed to submit your app in September, so it would be tough to get a letter from an away unless you did it in August. (plus you have to give them time to write it)
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 4,303
- Reaction score
- 22,296
You can add letters to your file later (usually nov 1 would be the latest); this is very common.
I did my away in september; asked for a letter at the end of it; discussed the timeframe with my letter writer who (fortunately) was very prompt and had it uploaded in early october.
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2006
- Messages
- 712
- Reaction score
- 1
Since the time that post was made in 2006, many (most) hospitals have begun using VSAS, which is a universal application service for away rotations much like AMCAS or ERAS is for med school and residency. Not all schools have adopted it for processing applications yet, but those who have generally begin accepting applications in April or May. Your Dean's Office has to certify you with the system, and they issue you a certain amount of "tokens" to apply for away electives. I think our school gave us 12 electronic tokens. When I was applying for away electives, I generally stuck to schools that were using VSAS to make life easier for me.
Most people who did away electives in my class generally scheduled them as early as possible in their fourth year so as to best benefit their residency applications. If you are able to secure an away rotation at a dream program, you will almost always get a courtesy interview, and if you impress them, it's basically like having the benefit of a good month-long interview, which is quite a powerful plus. As far as when to schedule them for maximum benefit, I've heard a million different opinions. I think that, as long as you do your elective in the fall (anywhere from Jul-Dec), it will benefit your application to that program equally. Also, if you manage to snag a LOR from an away, that's a good time to do it. I viewed my aways more as a chance to see some different types of practice and learn a lot more neurology than as auditions.
Most people who did away electives in my class generally scheduled them as early as possible in their fourth year so as to best benefit their residency applications. If you are able to secure an away rotation at a dream program, you will almost always get a courtesy interview, and if you impress them, it's basically like having the benefit of a good month-long interview, which is quite a powerful plus. As far as when to schedule them for maximum benefit, I've heard a million different opinions. I think that, as long as you do your elective in the fall (anywhere from Jul-Dec), it will benefit your application to that program equally. Also, if you manage to snag a LOR from an away, that's a good time to do it. I viewed my aways more as a chance to see some different types of practice and learn a lot more neurology than as auditions.
- Joined
- May 7, 2009
- Messages
- 934
- Reaction score
- 53
Hate to threadjack, but along a somewhat similar topic, when is peak interview season? Nov thru Jan keeps popping up in conversation... is this a bit of a bimodal clumping (Nov and Jan being peak times), or is December prime time? Just wondering because we have to strategically set aside blocks of time "off" for interviews.
Thx in adv.
Thx in adv.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,660
- Reaction score
- 5
It's very specialty-specific. What will you be applying for?
- Joined
- May 7, 2009
- Messages
- 934
- Reaction score
- 53
Well I'm not shooting for an early Uro/Ophtho match, if that's what you're asking.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,660
- Reaction score
- 5
No I was asking your specialty. It varies widely even within ERAS specialties.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 1,462
- Reaction score
- 7
I have elective time in August + Septmeber. I'm shooting for a specialty that's little bit of a stretch for me, meaning I will have to apply to a large number of programs. So which would benefit me the most in the process?
1) Should I do two 4-week long auditions or four 2-week long auditions to show my face at more programs?
2) Should I audition at programs that are reaches, are reasonable, or both?
Thanks!
1) Should I do two 4-week long auditions or four 2-week long auditions to show my face at more programs?
2) Should I audition at programs that are reaches, are reasonable, or both?
Thanks!
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,660
- Reaction score
- 5
I can't answer the first question but the wisdom I've heard for the second question is to apply for one "reach" program and one program where you have a good shot at matching.
Which field are you applying for? You may not want to share to maintain some anonymity but I think you're safe...
