VSAS thread - the wait of away rotations

[samac]

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Just checked again and it was actually 78. I've met a few MDs from pretty good schools who matched into their backup specialties (usually IM or neuro) in 2018 with 230+ Step 1s and no obvious personality issues. They told me that based purely on numbers, psych is ridiculous if you are geographically restricted and I also messed up by submitting VLSO apps a bit later than I should have.

I’m doing psych, and while it’s still competitive I know plenty of people who matched with blemishes. How many auditions are you doing?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Just checked again and it was actually 78. I've met a few MDs from pretty good schools who matched into their backup specialties (usually IM or neuro) in 2018 with 230+ Step 1s and no obvious personality issues. They told me that based purely on numbers, psych is ridiculous if you are geographically restricted and I also messed up by submitting VLSO apps a bit later than I should have.

Well I mean, 78 seems reasonable.

J/king thats ridiculous. My man is going 10k in debt on aways.

 

[Giovanotto]

Well I mean, 78 seems reasonable.

J/king thats ridiculous. My man is going 10k in debt on aways.

😱
Such a gamble though. I'll prob be going 2-3k in debt on aways, and I'm glad you brought up the financial aspect of it. So far I think I have roughly 50 VSAS apps submitted, and only waiting to fill one more slot, September. Have 4-5 different programs pending for it, hopefully one gets back to me.

 

[darknecrosforte]

I’m doing psych, and while it’s still competitive I know plenty of people who matched with blemishes. How many auditions are you doing?

I'm doing basically zero of my school's "CORE" sites because my kids live 60 miles from most of them and some sites are derpy af. I think I'm doing 6 psych aways because 2 are two weeks and one is 3. Might try a psychodynamic psychotherapy month at Austen Riggs late in the interview season but it's mostly cuz my school has a horrendous process to obtain rotations at core sites and they aren't that good anyways. Basically going to directly sub-i at a highly desired place at only 2 places. The rest will be classified as electives or in a different specialty at that place.

I'm doing my first away in a place that I prob won't rank, but academic enough for a letter to mean something. Then I've got emergency psych at one of the places I'm pretty sure I'd be happy to train at. My school's 3 mandatory rotations in EM, medicine subspecialty sub-I, and surgical sub-Is are in spread out locations so I can claim regional experience when I apply. Had a few psych program directors tell conference attendees that when Boston PDs see CA applicants apply there with no rotations in the area and no stated geographic experience with harsh winters, they don't even bother at this point due to the abundance of qualified applicants for their spots.

 

[Giovanotto]

I'm doing basically zero of my school's "CORE" sites because my kids live 60 miles from most of them and some sites are derpy af. I think I'm doing 6 psych aways because 2 are two weeks and one is 3. Might try a psychodynamic psychotherapy month at Austen Riggs late in the interview season but it's mostly cuz my school has a horrendous process to obtain rotations at core sites and they aren't that good anyways. Basically going to directly sub-i at a highly desired place at only 2 places. The rest will be classified as electives or in a different specialty at that place.

I'm doing my first away in a place that I prob won't rank, but academic enough for a letter to mean something. Then I've got emergency psych at one of the places I'm pretty sure I'd be happy to train at. My school's 3 mandatory rotations in EM, medicine subspecialty sub-I, and surgical sub-Is are in spread out locations so I can claim regional experience when I apply. Had a few psych program directors tell conference attendees that when Boston PDs see CA applicants apply there with no rotations in the area and no stated geographic experience with harsh winters, they don't even bother at this point due to the abundance of qualified applicants for their spots.

Very smart. I considered this too, but honestly, the expense of shooting applications out to random locations and then paying for airfare, travel, and accommodations for an elective all in the hopes that that hospital will even rank you has really deterred me from going that route. I am hoping to secure at least one east coast rotation, however. If I was gunning for a more competitive specialty maybe I would be singing a different tune, but props to you.

 

[futuredr2kids]

Do you plan to apply there for residency? If so, I would say it is worth it because it will allow you to get to know the residents and allow you to make a strong impression on the program. They may also possibly interview you during Subi. Otherwise, if you really don't want to end up there I would say no. Sounds like you already have your LORs in place which is awesome.

Thanks so much for the perspective. I think I might hold onto it for now and see if I can still get a sub-I at a program higher on my list.

 

[samac]

So I’m on a sub I now and going into my last week.
The PD mentioned going on and interviewing me this week. 2 things: It’s June, so I’m worried I’ll be forgotten. And I have prepped 0 for an interview because I thought I was a long way away. I definitely didn’t pack a suit for my month in Florida. Now I’m freaking out.

 

[Giovanotto]

So I’m on a sub I now and going into my last week.
The PD mentioned going on and interviewing me this week. 2 things: It’s June, so I’m worried I’ll be forgotten. And I have prepped 0 for an interview because I thought I was a long way away. I definitely didn’t pack a suit for my month in Florida. Now I’m freaking out.

Holy crap, seriously? I'm about to start my Sub-I and never imagined an interview coming from it. Good luck!

 

[FuturePrissyMD4]

I just received an acceptance for an audition in January. I figured it could still be a meaningful experience since it is before the rank lists are due?? They will probably interview me while there. Does anyone have any insight?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

So I’m on a sub I now and going into my last week.
The PD mentioned going on and interviewing me this week. 2 things: It’s June, so I’m worried I’ll be forgotten. And I have prepped 0 for an interview because I thought I was a long way away. I definitely didn’t pack a suit for my month in Florida. Now I’m freaking out.

Thats still cool tho. Congrats. Ask for a followup interview later tho, I agree June is too early.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I just received an acceptance for an audition in January. I figured it could still be a meaningful experience since it is before the rank lists are due?? They will probably interview me while there. Does anyone have any insight?

From my survey of recent grads, auditions = interviews at least 50% of the time. So yeah, I say its a good thing.

 

[samac]

Just got another one that I was hoping for.
Submitted over a month ago, I was holding out for it.
That makes 4/4 and I’m done unless I find a random 2 week one.

 

[Espressso]

This thread gives me anxiety and I haven't even started my first third year rotation

 

[Schwifty]

This thread gives me anxiety and I haven't even started my first third year rotation

This thread gives me anxiety and I haven’t even been through first year orientation yet lol

 

[Espressso]

If anyone in this thread is planning to apply IM and wouldn't mind me bouncing some questions off you via PM, let me know! I'd like to hear a bit more details about VSAS for IM applicants and fourth year in general

 

[samac]

This thread gives me anxiety and I haven't even started my first third year rotation

Welcome to the world of SDN neuroticism. We’re out here to freak you out

 

[Giovanotto]

This thread gives me anxiety and I haven’t even been through first year orientation yet lol

This thread is just another way to guage how things are going to get moving forward if we keep increasing schools and class sizes. It's already hard enough to match with VSAS right now, I can't imagine how throwing another 2-3k people in the mix is gonna be like.