So, I know you're supposed to visit places you're interested in applying for residency, but I'm curious if there's a difference between setting these visits up vs. arranging a typical 2+-week externship with the program.
I ask because a veterinarian at my CVM recently gave a piece of advice to folks interested in applying for residency to "spend a couple days" visiting the programs they're interested in, but I'm wondering if it's the norm for visits to be that brief? I have some 2-week long externships set up at a couple of places I'm interested in applying to, and I'd like to visit more, but I definitely don't have 2 weeks to spare in my clinical years for each institution I'm looking at.
So what I'm wondering is, is it acceptable to email a program to ask to spend just a few days, rather than a full-blown 2-week externship? I'm not sure what the convention for this is and was hoping someone more familiar could elucidate it for me!
Thanks in advance!
Hi OP,
This is an excellent question, one I have struggled with myself. I recently returned from 6 weeks (straight) of off-site externships. I attend vet school at NC State, and completed these experiences in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. As you mentioned, off-site externships aren't cheap, and require a significant investment of time and money. That being said, I'm glad that I ponied up the cash and traveled to these sites. I entered veterinary school 100% committed to pursuing a residency in Lab Animal Medicine. I deliberately returned to vet school following a successful career in research to become a lab animal vet. This was my singular focus throughout school. I busted my hump gaining experience throughout my vet school years as well. Throughout the school year, I worked part-time for NCSU faculty, and pursued off-site lab animal opportunities every chance that I got (summers, electives, etc.). As a result of my cumulative experience, I have recently decided that this will not be the path I take following graduation. I have decided to opt out of a residency, and search for employment directly following graduation from vet school (either in industry, or the government). I have many reasons for making this decision. I wouldn't have been able to sort out my feelings about the choice, however, had I not had direct experience at a number of different institutions. Residency is a wonderful choice- for some, not for all. You need to be honest with yourself about what you really want out of your life and career. Two days in a place doesn't really give you a great feel for the culture of the group, or what life is like in that particular location. You get a very superficial graze, if that. You need to invest sufficient time to see the good/bad, up/down of the department/group you are considering, and ask yourself 'can I see myself here,' 'can this institution provide me with the skills/knowledge/etc. that I need to move ahead with the career I envision for myself?' You need to do some deep digging while you're reviewing programs. Be careful not to dive in because you think it's your only option, or because professor X told you this is the next step to take. It has to feel right, and for the feeling to be genuine, it takes some time.
I had a similar strategy to
@kcoughli in planning my externships. In fact, we externed at a few of the same institutions (a year apart). I also could not afford to visit every institution to which I planned to apply- in time or money. There is a lot that goes into an off-site externship: Travel to the site, lodging, board, public transport, parking (if your'e at a academic institution), and other ancillary expenses add up. There's also the practical considerations. Do you have pets? Who will look after them for weeks on end? Although I don't find 2-3 days to be sufficient to get an accurate feel for a place, I also find some time requirements excessive- 4 weeks is overkill. 1-2 weeks should do the job. If you're looking into multiple places for residency, try to group your experiences by 'type.' For example, I visited residency sites that varied by program structure, areas of emphasis, and length of training. All were different, all had strengths and weaknesses. It is important for me to get a personal sense of where I'll be living- could I see myself living where these institutions are located? Again, there are many considerations- can I afford to live there given a resident's salary? Am I willing to live with others to make it work? Does the area have what I'm looking for to 'round out' my life outside of the job? What's the commute like? These are all decisions that you'll have to make.
Despite the cost, visiting residency sites during your fourth year (and before) is a win-win. You never lose, no matter the outcome. In my case, I decided to take my career in a different direction. That's a major win, even though I decided against the residency. I win because I have a very clear sense of what I want, what I'm willing to tolerate, and, most importantly, what I'm not. The institution wins because they won't be getting an applicant whose heart isn't fully in the game they're offering. Neither 'side' is bad, the process is rather optimized. Whether your offsite experiences convince you to stay your original course or pursue a different path, you and the institution stand to gain.
I have one off-site experience left, and I'm using a vacation block to complete it because I've used up all of the official externship slots that NCSU gives me. It's a 12 hour drive from Raleigh, and well worth the time. This experience is based at a private company, one that I've targeted for jobs. It is undoubtedly worth the sacrifice in time and money to make it happen. Two week working interviews are hard to come by.
Hope that these thoughts are helpful. Do the best you can to optimize your schedule for the most significant pay-off. Overall, I think that traveling to sufficient externship sites to make a firm decision about your future is worth its weight in gold. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
@kcoughli....our paths will be sure to cross in the future, despite my opting out of the traditional training route. Hope that things are well at UIC!
