When is peak interview season for psychiatry?

[JoseyCali123]

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When is peak interview season for psychiatry?

Trying to book my aways and this is truly giving me a headache. One place offered me an away in December but I just don't know if it's worth it to do an away during this month...

 

[Old&InTheWay]

I did 2/3 of my interviews in December; I think this was the busiest interview month for most folks.

 

[JoseyCali123]

I did 2/3 of my interviews in December; I think this was the busiest interview month for most folks.

How much interviews did you have in total? Could you have done it earlier or were December the only possible month?

 

[JoseyCali123]

also, im a below average applicant, wasn't sure if i would get interviews later in the game as opposed to earlier...

 

[PlasticBag]

November and December are peak interview months. I would advise against a December away rotation. You don’t want to take too much time off for interviews when you’re doing a sub-I and you certainly shouldn’t plan on declining interviews. It’s true that most places offer multiple dates but depending on when you get the interview offer, you might not have many slots to pick from, so it would be pretty hard to avoid scheduling December interviews. Also, by the time December comes around, many places already decided on who they want to interview, including the place that offered you an away. My friend did a December sub-I in a different specialty and that program told her in the first week of the rotation that all their interview spots are already taken.

 

[psychedaboutmed]

For me: (2019 DO, avg Step, applied Midwest, 30 apps, 12 offered interviews)
October: 3 interviews at local programs (starting the 15th)
November: 4 interviews
December: 3 interviews
January: 2 interviews

Most of the offered dates were Nov/Dec. An away in December would be tough if you are trying to show a program how interested you are. Interview season is mentally and socially draining. It's hard to stay focused on your rotations amidst travel and planning.

Don't forget to set some time aside in case you need time in January (last half of the month) for interviews that trickle in.

These interviews are fun at first and then a drag after the excitement wears off. Be careful how closely together you accept interviews if you can help it.

 

[Old&InTheWay]

How much interviews did you have in total? Could you have done it earlier or were December the only possible month?

I'm not really a good example for applicants to model in general; I applied to 18 programs, got 9 interviews and went to 6. You probably want to try to go on at least 12 if you can (and there was at least 1 applicant this year who didn't match with 13). I agree with the others above who said that a December sub-I is more likely to get in the way than be helpful, as it's probably too late to help you get an interview. My advice is to do a few sub-I's early (like over the summer) and rock them so you can get some really good LORs from psychiatrists. An away can be helpful to give you some perspective on how other residencies function, and may be able to help you hone in on what factors are important to you in a residency (maybe try to schedule this for September or October). And leave November/December open for interviews.

 

[wolfvgang22]

I did rotations I didn't care about as much in November and December in Nephrology and GI, knowing I'd be gone on interviews a lot. I told my supervising attendings as soon as I met them that I would be gone for interviews for psychiatry resident positions and when, and why their rotations interested me in making me a more well rounded future psychiatrist.They completely understood. I was gone a lot, but worked hard when I was there and was enthusiastic and did well. The attendings were all cool about it, to their credit. However, I also knew if some egocentric attending didn't like the fact that I was gone a lot didn't matter for these late away elective rotations, because my ERAS application was already complete with very good letters of reference, including my psych sub-I. Worked for me.

 

[Merely]

If it is a place you are particularly interested in and you think you can make a good impression (you don't do a good job on here), then I would recommend accepting the december away. You can always cancel later if necessary. It is not a popular month for doing away rotations for the obvious reasons. I allow visiting students to do 2 interviews doing their sub-i (not including the interview at our program) if necessary. Anymore than that, actually I still allow it, but it does reflect poorly on the student. You will want to discuss this with the course director in advance of the elective and see if they recommend you drop it or are still happy to have you. Also, always offer to make up any time away. I never make students make it up, but I do think poorly of them if they do not offer to do so.

You seem to find many ways of thinking poorly of students..lol..a kid that needs to go on 4 interviews during peak interview season should not be looked at poorly..people are stressed and life is tough bro cut people some slack

 

[SourceOfDenial]

If it is a place you are particularly interested in and you think you can make a good impression (you don't do a good job on here), then I would recommend accepting the december away. You can always cancel later if necessary. It is not a popular month for doing away rotations for the obvious reasons. I allow visiting students to do 2 interviews doing their sub-i (not including the interview at our program) if necessary. Anymore than that, actually I still allow it, but it does reflect poorly on the student. You will want to discuss this with the course director in advance of the elective and see if they recommend you drop it or are still happy to have you. Also, always offer to make up any time away. I never make students make it up, but I do think poorly of them if they do not offer to do so.

Do you tell them it reflects poorly on them?

This sentiment I don’t get. You need to interview to get a residency spot. You don’t get much control over when you can interview. What are you supposed to do?

The purpose of med school is to get into residency. Penalizing someone for doing that doesn’t seem to make much sense.

 

[NickNaylor]

Our program begins offering a small number of interviews prior to the release of the Dean's Letter, but the bulk of the interviews are released after the Dean's Letters are released.

I know this doesn't answer your question per se, but I mention this because it would likely be ideal to get any aways done earlier than later regardless of when the "peak interview season" is. The reality is that interviews will be scheduled in advance prior to those times. I agree with others that a December away is likely useless in terms of getting you an interview, but if it's a program that you really want to go to, the away could likely still be helpful from a ranking perspective.

 

[rikudo]

I had 2 in October, several throughout Mid-November to Late December, one in January. 13 total, USMD, below avg scores.

 

[Sushirolls]

I never make students make it up, but I do think poorly of them if they do not offer to do so.

Agree with the sentiments of others, this is harsh. I suggest you lighten up and try to recall the dynamics of med student interview season. And further recognizing the increasing demand, and competition of the specialty. More interviews are warranted, and more time away from rotations. I hope you that some how gets conveyed in expectations way in advance for the students so they know to avoid the rotation or the rotation when you are on staff.

As an adjunct clinical faculty who takes on students often, I have an accepting approach to their interview needs.

 

[splik]

Do you tell them it reflects poorly on them?

This sentiment I don’t get. You need to interview to get a residency spot. You don’t get much control over when you can interview. What are you supposed to do?

The purpose of med school is to get into residency. Penalizing someone for doing that doesn’t seem to make much sense.

But you can choose when you do an away rotation. Now, if you are a student to who is doing an away rotation because you want to make a good impression at a program and increases your chances of matching there, it does not dispose yourself well if you are off interviewing at other programs for a large part of that rotation. I am not sure why this is controversial. Most med students seem to understand this, and the most popular season for students to do aways is from July-October. We only ever get the occasional student from Nov-Feb. I think I am being perfectly accommodating by allowing students to interview at several programs, but of course you're not gonna make a good impression if you are gone for most of your away rotation and don't offer to make it up.

 

[Coupd'Cat]

you mention aways plural--how many are you planning to do during this time, and what's your main motivation? That is--are they for geographical purposes, particular programs that you are indeed trying to learn more about (more than what you think you might learn from the interviews alone), or because you're nervous that they are somehow "necessary"?

Unless things have changed much in the past two years, I don't think aways in psychiatry are very necessary apart from showing geographical interest or your own information gathering (and perhaps may be limited in terms of that latter purpose). Take into consideration that traveling for interviews can be tiring in itself, before you even start considering the need to adjust to and perform in a clinical setting at a unfamiliar institution.

I believe I scheduled an away in December at a place I thought I would rank highly, then ended up cancelling it in favor of spacing out interviews. No regrets, ended up gleaning enough about the place anyway that I knew I would not want to work there or rank it highly...saved on sleep and sanity...

 

[Sushirolls]

But you can choose when you do an away rotation. Now, if you are a student to who is doing an away rotation because you want to make a good impression at a program and increases your chances of matching there, it does not dispose yourself well if you are off interviewing at other programs for a large part of that rotation. I am not sure why this is controversial. Most med students seem to understand this, and the most popular season for students to do aways is from July-October. We only ever get the occasional student from Nov-Feb. I think I am being perfectly accommodating by allowing students to interview at several programs, but of course you're not gonna make a good impression if you are gone for most of your away rotation and don't offer to make it up.

The issue is the system that is emerging for students to set up away rotations doesn't always provide that perfect July-October. Also, the hospital/health system that is taking on students may be a limiting factor in when they allow these students rotations. So a student who wants to do an away sometimes just gets what they get for the rotation time. Its not easy for many students or schools to adjust and tweak their rotation schedule and many factors reduce the level of control for a student.

I don't expect or wish that students offer to make up time missed. In part because 2 older psychoanalytic trained psychiatrists from my residency days. I would often be apologetic about needing to step away from the rotation to go to required lectures or other training's with all attendings. These two would get a glint in their eyes, a twisp to their lips and say, "Are you really, sorry?" I learned with enough of these encounters that regressed to long winded discussions, to head it off, and assertively say, "No. No I am not sorry, and I will return to the service at this day time and time." They'd smile bigger and say, "okay." In psychiatry we must also model good work life balance, and having the traditional beliefs of 'bleeding for service' counters that. Help teach the work life balance, and don't hold it against them.

 

[SourceOfDenial]

But you can choose when you do an away rotation. Now, if you are a student to who is doing an away rotation because you want to make a good impression at a program and increases your chances of matching there, it does not dispose yourself well if you are off interviewing at other programs for a large part of that rotation. I am not sure why this is controversial. Most med students seem to understand this, and the most popular season for students to do aways is from July-October. We only ever get the occasional student from Nov-Feb. I think I am being perfectly accommodating by allowing students to interview at several programs, but of course you're not gonna make a good impression if you are gone for most of your away rotation and don't offer to make it up.

I was thinking more broadly about all students interviewing during a rotation, not just those there on an away. Your stance makes sense. Although in honesty, sometimes it’s nice to not have a bunch of med students on the service.

For those who are from the home institution, same standard?

 

[mbgr2014]

In part because 2 older psychoanalytic trained psychiatrists from my residency days. I would often be apologetic about needing to step away from the rotation to go to required lectures or other training's with all attendings. These two would get a glint in their eyes, a twisp to their lips and say, "Are you really, sorry?" I learned with enough of these encounters that regressed to long winded discussions, to head it off, and assertively say, "No. No I am not sorry, and I will return to the service at this day time and time." They'd smile bigger and say, "okay."

Okay but this is kind of hilarious. 🤣