Vanderbilt away rotation

Started by LowScorer123
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LowScorer123

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3rd year DO, pretty set on anesthesia. Wanting to know if I should try to do an away/audition rotation at Vanderbilt. 228 step 1. Middle of the pack class rank. Fairly good rotation evals.

My wife and I are really wanting to be somewhere in the south, or close to it.

Is Vanderbilt a stretch? What programs would you recommend?

thanks.
 
Probably your only shot to get an interview there. I had better stats (mid 230s on step 1 and 2) from a top 1/3 MD school and received interview invites from comparable (and some that were better) programs. Received a very late invite from Vandy with only 1 date available. A lot of my other friends who got invites were AOA.

The question is how many DO students do they take (i.e. are they osteopath friendly)? If not, then even the away would not really help. If they are, it seems like an away would be a great idea to get you a shot.

Other programs I would highly recommend taking a look at include Wake Forest, Duke, and UAB.
 
LowScorer123 said:
3rd year DO, pretty set on anesthesia. Wanting to know if I should try to do an away/audition rotation at Vanderbilt. 228 step 1. Middle of the pack class rank. Fairly good rotation evals.

My wife and I are really wanting to be somewhere in the south, or close to it.

Is Vanderbilt a stretch? What programs would you recommend?

thanks.
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In a word, yes. HOWEVER apply for an away there, worst case they deny it. Your best shot at getting an interview there with your score/class rank/being a DO is wowing them personally. They are a very research oriented program and having spoken directly with the PD at ASA this year their goal is to "train academic anesthesiologists". So research is probably a prerequisite.👍
 
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floridaboy18 said:
Probably your only shot to get an interview there. I had better stats (mid 230s on step 1 and 2) from a top 1/3 MD school and received interview invites from comparable (and some that were better) programs. Received a very late invite from Vandy with only 1 date available. A lot of my other friends who got invites were AOA.

The question is how many DO students do they take (i.e. are they osteopath friendly)? If not, then even the away would not really help. If they are, it seems like an away would be a great idea to get you a shot.

Other programs I would highly recommend taking a look at include Wake Forest, Duke, and UAB.
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Agree with most of that. The part I disagree with is even looking at Duke. Doesn't appear to be DO friendly. I'm a DO, have a Vandy, Wake, and UAB interview but never heard a peep from Duke (yes thats anecdotal evidence, but I had heard the sentiment before applying).
 
Per4mer8 said:
Agree with most of that. The part I disagree with is even looking at Duke. Doesn't appear to be DO friendly. I'm a DO, have a Vandy, Wake, and UAB interview but never heard a peep from Duke (yes thats anecdotal evidence, but I had heard the sentiment before applying).
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When people say DO friendly, what do they mean? How many DO's do you have to have to be DO friendly?
 
Per4mer8 said:
Agree with most of that. The part I disagree with is even looking at Duke. Doesn't appear to be DO friendly. I'm a DO, have a Vandy, Wake, and UAB interview but never heard a peep from Duke (yes thats anecdotal evidence, but I had heard the sentiment before applying).
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That is true. I actually didn't think about the "DO perspective" when answering the second question (which other programs in the southeast to apply to). In my mind, those were probably the top four programs from the southeast.

I will say that I don't have a tremendous amount of research (one project, non-anesthesia related) and got an interview at both Duke and Vandy. So, research is not absolutely essential but I 100% agree that doing strong research would look very good to both of those programs because of how research oriented they are.
 
LowScorer123 said:
3rd year DO, pretty set on anesthesia. Wanting to know if I should try to do an away/audition rotation at Vanderbilt. 228 step 1. Middle of the pack class rank. Fairly good rotation evals.

My wife and I are really wanting to be somewhere in the south, or close to it.

Is Vanderbilt a stretch? What programs would you recommend?

thanks.
Click to expand...

There is an attending on here from Vanderbilt, maybe he will pop in this thread.
 
El Dooderino said:
When people say DO friendly, what do they mean? How many DO's do you have to have to be DO friendly?
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No real number. But if you look at past resident classes or at least the current 4 and see no DOs or just one you draw conclusions. Likewise if there are zero DOs on staff.
 
Haven't had much research experience, so it's not looking good. I may only get to do one or two away/audition rotations so I really want to make them count. Any other places in the south, besides the few mentioned?

Was really hoping for Vanderbilt because it is close to home, but am willing to go anywhere else that is solid.
 
it worked for me. i was a DO with good grades and scores and maybe i just got lucky but I think it helped me that I did a rotation here. things have certainly changed in the last 6 years, but if you are up on the problems facing medicine/anesthesia in general and have some ideas on how you are going to be more than just a great anesthesiologist, you should make a good impression. doing a "name" rotation can also help you with getting letters of rec. even if you dont end up at that place. PM me if you end up setting up an away.
 
floridaboy18 said:
That is true. I actually didn't think about the "DO perspective" when answering the second question (which other programs in the southeast to apply to). In my mind, those were probably the top four programs from the southeast.

I will say that I don't have a tremendous amount of research (one project, non-anesthesia related) and got an interview at both Duke and Vandy. So, research is not absolutely essential but I 100% agree that doing strong research would look very good to both of those programs because of how research oriented they are.
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Where would you rank U of Florida amongst the South East programs?
 
JimT30 said:
Where would you rank U of Florida amongst the South East programs?
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Despite the screen name i actually do not go to UF. I interview there later in the season. The other programs I am more familiar with. I think from what I know that UF is a good program but I would put the four I mentioned ahead of it. I am from an hour south of gainesvile, though, and would likely not live there. I think UF would round out a nice top 5 IMHO for the southeast, though, if you want my opinion.

I do think that other programs could very reasonably be argued for that 5th spot.
 
Doing an away rotation worked at Vandy worked for me. I was a DO student, average board scores, top quarter of my class, good letters, and did an away rotation. I think the rotation was key for me, since I made sure I meet the right people, made an impression when I was working with them, and then did well in general on a daily basis. I would recommend though, doing an away rotation at another institution that may be less desirable for you first, so you can come in with some knowledge base and be able to answer questions with some sense of knowledge. I will echo what the Great Dr. Idiopathic said, however, that the program/department has progressed/changed a good deal over the past years and has placed a stronger emphasis on research/academia. That being said, I did basically a minimal amount of that while I was there and am now actually an clinical academic anesthesiologist at another institution. PM me if you have any questions.
 
I have an away rotation here in July. Any tips from people that have done an audition here before? I am a DO student, I have >245 USMLE, >700 COMLEX, nothing really as far as extracurriculars during med school. I have publications from undergrad. Do I even have a shot of matching at Vandy?
 
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Thanks!! I am definitely going to apply there. I was just hoping that its a great sign that they accepted me for an away rotation!
 
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