Away Rotation Reviews/Advice

Bump. Please add information here if you get time away from the interview trail! This would help rising 4th years to plan aways in the next couple months. Thanks!

No review of an away rotation really will help you "know" what places are best to go to. Most aways are what you make of them. Some are semi-structured, others require you to "create your own shot".

Some basic tips:
1. Choose a place you'd actually want to go to based on location and patient-base (high trauma vs. high elective). A Level 1 trauma service is MUCH different from Level 2. Ignore names - big name programs aren't always the "best" for you, and every program in ortho for the most part is solid.

2. Apply early for programs (read 1st day it's offered), and I'd recommend applying to 2 per slot just in case 1st choice doesn't go through. Most places are ok if you cancel, so long as it's WAY before their rotation.

3. A common frustration of away rotators is that each new away pretty much "resets" the amount of leeway and responsibility you're given. The residents don't know you at each new place, and the range of abilities of MS4 rotators varies rather widely. It's important to prove yourself in a manner that's respectful though confident. With each away, this should get easier and more seamless.

4. Chill out! No one wants a tense rotator. Service isn't a formal dinner party, but it also isn't a frat party. Understand that you're a medical student, and from July to Oct your seniors are also trying to train your interns. Be helpful and relaxed, and you WILL get your shot. If you don't - DO NOT take it personally, but be a realist: If they have to decide on you (someone who will leave in a few weeks), or their intern (who will be there for 5 years), guess who gets the opportunity.

5. Re-read #4. I know of a BUNCH of people who are really, really great students but were disliked by the residents because their attitude on service was awkward or sucked. RELAX, but don't act like someone you're not. 5 years is a long time to fake it. Doesn't help you, and doesn't help them.

Sorry I can't review individual places, but frankly that won't help you. Just read program profiles and decide where you'd want to match, and where you'd like to match. Pick 2 wants, and 1 like. And HAVE FUN - this is gonna be the rest of your life!

There are a couple of philosophies. And I'm not sure it matters which one you pick, as long as you are consistent.

First: by region. This is where you apply and rotate to programs within your "athletic conference".

Second: by program type. This is where you try different style programs such as having to per year, four per year, six per year, etc. Also included is academic, private, and hybrid types.

Third: by your ability to match there. This is where you would try a "reach" program, a likely type program, and a backup program.

In the end, it really doesn't matter what you choose, provided that you can quote back it up". You will absolutely be asked about why you were rotating a different programs, and you need to have a strategy. Otherwise, it just looks like you're using a shotgun. Which may or may not be to your advantage.

In the end, as stated above, there really are only two qualities that residents look for in students. The first is a hard work ethic, and the second is a lack of douchebagness--The description of the latter is posted above.

Being upper-level, I get to see this everyday. The risk of going to "reach" programs, is that other programs may feel intimidated by your perceived desire to go somewhere else. For instance, this could hurt you in a regional-program if they were to see that you rotated on the coasts.

Would it be a major red flag to not do any away rotations, or just one? I see everyone going on 2-3 away rotations.

I have very strong numbers/grades/come from a strong program. I will have spent a considerable amount of time with my home program.

Any thoughts?

I would be very cautious about not doing any away rotations, regardless of how strong you think your application is. Away rotations are very important for several reasons, some examples of which are: 1) you meet residents and faculty from other institutions; 2) you prove your interest in the field and your devotion to securing a residency position; 3) you get the opportunity to get LORs from faculty in different regions; 4) you gain perspective and see that things are not done the same everywhere; 6) you see how other programs operate and will be better able to a) judge your home program objectively and b) see which style of program fits you the best; 7) no matter how strong your numbers are, there are A TON of applicants out there who will be comparably qualified and will have done 2+ aways, and the list goes on.........

You will see that this process is remarkably humbling, and you will realize how qualified your cohort will be as a whole. Don't sell yourself short by assuming your numbers will get you a spot. The residents in programs care more about who you are as a person, your work ethic, and your commitment to the field than you board scores and grades...

Just my two cents...

Thank you for the advice. I think your points about comparing programs and gaining perspective are very good -- I had only been thinking from a "matchability" point of view.

The thing I was most worried about is if I do 0-1 away rotations that some PD's might not view me as committed to the field. Sounds like that definitely a function of doing the aways.

Thanks again!

I'm just a med student going through this process as well, so take that for what it's worth, but I have to agree with everything BlastoClast said, particularly this (above). The numbers thing is weird. In my limited experience with this process as a med student, people have always emphasized how critical the compatibility of the candidate with the program is in the selection process. Doing aways gives you the chance to show people that you are the kind of person they can trust. Good luck.

On a related note - looking at away rotations for the next cycle and was hoping for any input former rotators or current residents had on some programs in South/Southeast:

Carolinas
Greenville Hospital System
UF-Jacksonville
Orlando Regional
Oschner

Thanks!

I would also appreciate everyone's input regarding an away (and overall program) with some of the west coast programs.

UW
UCSF
Stanford
UCLA
UCSD

On a related note - looking at away rotations for the next cycle and was hoping for any input former rotators or current residents had on some programs in South/Southeast]

Carolinas- I rotated here. Loved it. Great mix of operative experience and research. You can do literally anything you want if you graduate from here. Get whatever fellowship you desire, academics/private practice. There is a 6 year research track that they take 1 person into a year. Ranked it in my top 3 when it was all said and done. The attendings love having rotators around. You will be able to get a good letter from a big name. Recently Frick (their PD) moved to Orlando, they promoted from within with Dr. Patt who is a dual trained tumor/spine guy and a former resident at CMC. He'll be a great PD. Also, its one of the "easier" ortho rotations you will do. They don't kill you with call to "test you" and they give you lots of free food, which is nice.

Greenville- wished I had rotated here. Similar set up to CMC. I could copy and paste pretty much everything i said about CMC into here. Including that I ranked it in my top 3. They are very non-regional.

UF- Jacksonville- did not rotate here. Interviewed here and have little to add to the conversation.

Ochsner- interviewed but didn't rotate here as well. My main problems with this place were that they didn't have a level 1 trauma center. Also, you do a couple rotations an hour south of New Orleans. You basically run the ortho program in Chabert. Its a great operative opportunity, but I had a family, and didn't want to live away from them for 8 months.

Orlando- I know literally nothing about this place.


Good luck, I couldn't recommend CMC or Greenville any higher.

No review of an away rotation really will help you "know" what places are best to go to. Most aways are what you make of them. Some are semi-structured, others require you to "create your own shot".

Some basic tips]

Agree with #4 more than anything. I was pretty laid back at my away rotations, hanging out with residents on weekends and going home when they said I could (whether in the evening like normal or early-afternoon on a short day, instead of insisting on sticking around and annoying them). My reason for the latter is that I figure if them telling me to have an easy day here and there is a lame test of some sort, I probably don't want to go there anyway. I got extremely positive feedback from both places and am very confident I will match, despite only average-ish scores for an ortho applicant. Maybe I shouldn't get too cocky, but just being a normal, cool guy (or at least tricking them into thinking I was just a normal, cool guy) seemed to go a long way. We'll see come March...

For those who did an away in the west coast (and are not from the west coast), do you think it significantly increased the number of interviews from that region? Another way of asking, how many interviews did you get from the west?

About getting "credit" from West Coast programs if you rotate - would need to talk to your registrar.

At my home school, we don't distinctly designate clinical sites on our transcripts. Thus, any away just appears generically as "Orthopaedics Elective". A program has therefore not a clue if you've been anywhere, just that you did something and they probably liked you.

If your program does differently, I'd guess that it may help - but the whole process is rather random, so I don't think it's a good idea to think that stategically. Go to the program because you want to go to THAT program. Forget global ramifications.

Does anyone have any information on UT San Antonio, MUSC (South Carolina), or UF-Jacksonville?

Would also like some advice, on two regions though:

NORTHEASTERN region, specifically Boston and MA
SOUTH CAROLINA programs.

If anybody has insight into these, would be great. Thanks!