Away rotation selction process

By Guest on Sunday, 21 March 2004

Posted in Match Center

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I'm currently in the process of deciding where to do my aways (two along with my month of home) and I'm sorta getting stuck on what to choose. In the first place, I'm not the most competitive dude in the world, so I'll be

to match anywhere. I do have a preference on where I want to go (midwest, Chi-town). But this is where the lack of competitivness comes into play. The city is very competitive, yet I'd like to give myself the best chance to get an interview there (anywhere). Is it better of me to do two aways in the Windy City or one there and one at a "safer" spot? I mean, I'll do UIC, but I'd LOVE to go to Rush. Would this be "wasting time" since this is such a powerful program? I understand that an away doesn't guarantee an interview, but it shore don't hurt (unless you're a tool, I know, I know). For what it's worth, I'm generally a great people person and have gotten great evals on clinicals, I'm just not a good test-taker. I'd like to show this off, obviously (the former, not the latter).

Sorry for the long post, but it seems as though this will end up being a pretty important decision. I'm sure others are wondering the same thing (in general) as well.

And yes, I did a search already, but this subject wasn't addressed too much.

T'anks to all.

I think it depends on where your home institution is located. If home is in the Midwest/Chicago area, it might be to your disadvantage to do all three ortho months in the same region. This will send a strong message to programs outside this region that you really aren?t as interested in them (assuming you are planning on applying outside the Midwest). On the other hand, if your home institution is outside the Midwest, I think it is reasonable to do two months in Chicago.
Interviewers can learn a lot about what you?re looking for in a program simply by asking where you did your aways. They can see if you?re primarily interested in a particular region, whether you?re willing to relocate, whether you?re interested in academic vs. community programs, highly competitive vs. less competitive?etc. My experiences have led me to believe that interviewers make a lot of assumptions about what you want out of a program (and therefore how good of a fit you are for their program) based on the places you rotate and your evaluation of them.
Of course, all you?re getting is my opinion? you are going to have to decide what your priorities are and go after what you want.

Guest

22 years ago

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#48623

check your pm

Guest

22 years ago

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#48624

Thanks for the post, Trigen.
If I didn't do my second away in chi, then I was planning on staying in the Midwest (maybe going to the Zoo). I'm not totally against leaving the Heartland, but I'd prefer to stay. Yes, I've read a little bit around the boards about overcoming regionalism, but it's hard to tell how much salt that holds. I don't even know some "less competitive" programs outside the MW. Maybe Greenville, SC. Something in Oregon or Wash? I'll check out FRIEDA.

HOS

Guest

22 years ago

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#48625

Harvsorrow...sweat name...gotta love the tallica!

I am from california (although go to med school in the midwest) and rotated at two aways in calif and one at my home institution and almost every program I interviewed at outside of the west coast made the assumption I was not interested in staying in midwest or going to the east coast...they all made comments like "so, you gonna go to ------" mentioning one of the places I rotated. I think when programs finally take the time to look over your file closely (some do this later than you might think), they start to put 2 and 2 together and will sort of force the issue.

However...all that being said...you need to rotate where you want to go and where you think it might improve your chances...and just have a good explanation if you are confronted on interviews.

apparently we are both in the same city...perhaps we even know each other..PM me if you want

Guest

22 years ago

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#48626