What are companies that help with externships doing exactly?

[Lothric]

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Hey all,

So apart from high USMLE-scores it's essential to have good letters of recommendation. You can get these by doing electives in hospitals.

Now, companies like Chicago clerkships, FMG, ResidencyCube etc. what are they really doing? Are they the owners of private hospitals or are they just a third party that helps you get into a big hospital easier?

I've heard that it's important to get letters of recommendation by ceritified doctors and a hospital where it's possibly to do residency in. These kind of hospitals, can companies like Chicago clerkships, FMG, ResidencyCube etc. help me get into them? Or is it only "unknown" and small hospitals that these companies can help you get into? Someone explain this to me!

So asking a hospital A myself for an elective would be difficult. But with these kind of companies, it would get easier to get an elective in that specific hospital? Is it this these companies do and help with?

It seems like they send you to a physician who works in any hospital. Is that correct? So the companies have no connections whatsoever with the hospital itself, only the physicians?

Also, do I pay these companies and that's it? I get my elective? Or do I have to pay the company AND the hospital itself too separately!?

4 weeks seem to be the average time for an elective. It's possible to get a letter of recommendation during this time, right?

So many questions! I hope someone can explain all well 🙂

 

[Lothric]

Also, the physicians in the private companies will write letters of recommendation and sign on some papers that my school requires in order to give me the credits for the rotation, right? Or are they for some reason going to be anonymous in both these cases (like not tell which hospital I did the rotation in or who the physician is etc.) Same goes if I apply to a hospital directly (without the help of private companies), right (i.a., the physicians there will also write letters and sign papers from my school not-anonymous)?