What should I know about my order?

[Pattycake25]

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Hey guys, I've been away from SDN for a while, and only just discovered this subforum today. We were automatically assigned rotation orders a couple of weeks ago, but we are also able to make unlimited BALANCED trades with other students (i.e. every site still has the same number of students and every student still has every rotation exactly once). We were given zero influence over our initial order. I was very displeased with what I was given originally, but was able to make a swap that I thought was to my benefit...except now I'm hearing more conflicting information. So, yeah, just wanna throw my order up here, and get any and all feedback on it. Keep in mind I am currently most interested in a pediatric subspecialty, and all but certainly am going to do something in peds (at least, as far as I know now, before rotations even start =D ).

So, my original assignment:
1. IM
2. Neuro/Psych
3. Surgery
*2.5 week winter break*
4. Family Medicine
*1 week spring break*
5. OB/Gyn
6. Peds

The swap I made was IM and OB/GYN, so now they are in the opposite positions. That change is not yet official, and it's not too late for me to cancel it, although the friend I swapped with may not be happy with me if I do, not sure.

My biggest concern is ending on peds, which is obviously my #1 rotation. Now I'm also worried about doing Surgery before IM, and doing IM so late in general (which I originally considered an advantage, for board prep...). If I can, what swaps should I aim for (keep in mind I can find almost no options for switching peds with just one other rotation with another person, no complementary schedules with people who want peds last)? If I march into 3rd year with my current schedule and the same aspirations, what kind of obstacles should I be anticipating? I'll likely follow up any replies with more questions, but that's the bulk of it I guess.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[@JackShephard]

Do not do Peds last. That's the only thing.

Preferably do it in the middle, but it would even be ok at the beginning. The worst time to do peds is at the end if you want to do it.

Surgery/IM first last whatever, doesn't matter. Sure it's better to do IM first but you'll be fine either way. Studying for the shelf is easier with IM background.

You don't have to honor surgery if you want to be a pediatrician.

You'll be fine no matter what. People stress about the order, but it's not that important. What will be important is how efficient you study. After working 8-12 hrs, do you go home and study or take it easy for a few weeks then cram at the end? That will be the difference. People who go through their questions and great resources multiple times do well, regardless of order. Thinking about your rotation order is like thinking about your football schedule. While some teams have better schedules, it doesn't matter. You want to have the best team and execute well. Same in your rotations, don't focus on your schedule.

 

[22031 Alum]

I can tell you that if I had gotten your schedule as a rising MS3, I would have felt a little panic because I was absolutely sure I wanted to do something in peds. All my preceptorships and electives MS1 and MS2 years were centered on peds, pediatric GI specifically. Now? I'm in my final year of Ob/Gyn residency, after ENT came in a close second.

All that to say that no matter how sure you think you are, clerkships are when you really get to see what it is you love, and that may surprise you. So, try to switch and not have peds last, but know that it might all end up a moot point anyway. If you aren't able to switch, peds exposure is possible in other clerkships: try and do peds surgery, peds neuro, and child psych.

 

[Pattycake25]

Thank you for your help guys! I'll keep looking for a way to get Peds out of #6, but if I can't, what are the issues?

 

[22031 Alum]

Thank you for your help guys! I'll keep looking for a way to get Peds out of #6, but if I can't, what are the issues?

If you go through the entire year without changing your mind, there shouldn't be a ton of issues. You'll do your clerkship as a very experienced MS3 and be able to really shine. You'll let your clerkship director (and possibly the residency director) know of your interest and meet with them to discuss applying. You'll then transition right into the peds-related sub-I and electives you've already scheduled, get letters and be ready to go on ERAS. It's the students who are surprised by their final clerkship who tend to have more trouble- needing to change their 4th year schedule, etc.

 

[Pattycake25]

If you go through the entire year without changing your mind, there shouldn't be a ton of issues. You'll do your clerkship as a very experienced MS3 and be able to really shine. You'll let your clerkship director (and possibly the residency director) know of your interest and meet with them to discuss applying. You'll then transition right into the peds-related sub-I and electives you've already scheduled, get letters and be ready to go on ERAS. It's the students who are surprised by their final clerkship who tend to have more trouble- needing to change their 4th year schedule, etc.

Oh...I was under the impression it was to avoid the dual priority of honoring your most important rotation and preparing adequately for Step 2. Is that not (much of) an issue?

This is good news though! I'd probably focus more on specialty rotations M4 year anyway, so it should still be a satisfying year if I find I don't like Peds anymore.

 

[schwasted589]

Do not do Peds last. That's the only thing.

Preferably do it in the middle, but it would even be ok at the beginning. The worst time to do peds is at the end if you want to do it.

Surgery/IM first last whatever, doesn't matter. Sure it's better to do IM first but you'll be fine either way. Studying for the shelf is easier with IM background.

You don't have to honor surgery if you want to be a pediatrician.

You'll be fine no matter what. People stress about the order, but it's not that important. What will be important is how efficient you study. After working 8-12 hrs, do you go home and study or take it easy for a few weeks then cram at the end? That will be the difference. People who go through their questions and great resources multiple times do well, regardless of order. Thinking about your rotation order is like thinking about your football schedule. While some teams have better schedules, it doesn't matter. You want to have the best team and execute well. Same in your rotations, don't focus on your schedule.

why is it a bad idea to do peds at the end? just curious.

 

[Top Gun]

Because by then you'll probably be tired from the grind of third year. That's why its most important to do your chosen specialty in the middle. At the beginning, as a third-year, you won't even know where the hospital cafeteria is, let alone how to function effectively as a clinical clerk, so you won't be performing your best in your first clerkship. And at the end, you'll be tired after all the clerkships you've done, so you won't be at your best then either. So you'll want to rotate in your chosen specialty at some point in the middle, when your performance will be at its peak.

 

[wonderbread12]

I'm also at a school that assigns rotations and I was given internal medicine last. I can only think that this may be useful for step 2 but in reality how much does that help? also, is this really the worst schedule since many people say IM sets you up for the rest of the rotations?

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

*edit typos

 

[schwasted589]

Because by then you'll probably be tired from the grind of third year. That's why its most important to do your chosen specialty in the middle. At the beginning, as a third-year, you won't even know where the hospital cafeteria is, let alone how to function effectively as a clinical clerk, so you won't be performing your best in your first clerkship. And at the end, you'll be tired after all the clerkships you've done, so you won't be at your best then either. So you'll want to rotate in your chosen specialty at some point in the middle, when your performance will be at its peak.

ahh, I see. Thank you!

 

[JJMrK]

I disagree with most of the advice given in this thread. Clerkship order matters minimally or not at all, IMO. Work hard the whole way through and you'll be just fine.

 

[wanderer]

I disagree with most of the advice given in this thread. Clerkship order matters minimally or not at all, IMO. Work hard the whole way through and you'll be just fine.

Agreed. I haven't noticed a difference throughout my rotations. Sure I wasn't a great student in my first month but then again my interns were starting out at the same time. I would avoid having the field of interest last if possible, so you know what you're getting into when applying for aways -although I doubt they matter much in peds.

 

[caffeinemia]

I disagree with most of the advice given in this thread. Clerkship order matters minimally or not at all, IMO. Work hard the whole way through and you'll be just fine.

Agreed. Internal study at my school revealed that there was no difference in grades either.