Recently returned from my 2nd of 3 away rotations scheduled this year. I realized a couple days into my first that the most important thing is to just be yourself! Don't try too hard to fit in, just let it be natural. Don't act like your everyones best friend two days after arriving, have a funny comment about everything, and feel like you always have to force conversation. It is natural to feel a little nervous and out of place at a new institution. You will be more successful if you can just relax, learn how the services work, make yourself useful but not excessively, ask appropriate questions, and just let conversation flow. Residents and faculty want to see how you fit and if they want to spend a lot of time with you over the next 5 yrs. JUST BE YOURSELF, it isn't the end of the world if you don't fit with the residents at one institution, better to find out now.
I think you need to be confident in your abilities and potential as an ortho resident, but not arrogant. Whether you are an all-star on paper or not be confident in yourself, you'll perform better. Help out the other students rotating with you. If you help one of them look good it will also reflect positively on you. Remember this is the same thing you will be doing with fellow residents in the years to come. Try to have fun and learn some ortho, this is a good time to shine and show how well you work under pressure.
I know I wrote in a somewhat scattered pattern but these are just a few of my thoughts and they helped me get honors and good LOR from both of my aways. I also would give a plug to Dr. Silverstein's tip sheet which I read through before starting 4th yr and has been very helpful.
To end on, I spent 95% of my time in Ortho Netter. The questions beyond anatomy were almost always covered in the book. You will be even more impressive if you know something beyond anatomy, (like Kanavel's signs for purulent flexor tenosynovitis, for example) because questions will come outside of the OR as well. Surgical Exposures is also good to prepare for cases.
I like many of you have not yet matched so you can take my opinions with a grain of salt. I hope it is good advice but we will have to wait until March to find out. However, I think aways are invaluable in assessing and impressing a program so take them seriously. Work hard and good luck to everyone!
