NOT rotating and getting a spot

It is definitely possible to match at a place you do not rotate with. However, considering the volume of applicants for each program it seems that the application/interview process has by default become one of networking. Therefore pick and choose your away rotations carefully. Unfortunately the entire process is very subjective so all you can do is your best and let the rest ride as it will. Good luck!

I beg to differ on this whole phenomenon.

Yes, a goodp ortion of the residency process is who you know...but only in the sense that's how people remember you. It's hard to be unforgettable.

In the case of away rotations at places that have 100's of rotaters..it's not a good idea. But for programs that receive smaller numbers..it's a better idea.

My gut feeling is that the reason why people usually match at one of the places they rotated at is because they ranked it closer to number one because they knew the *most* about what they were getting into. It's selection bias. People remember more that they matched at a place they rotated at, and when people ask about rotations.. of course the people who are going to reply most are the people who matched at a place they rotated at....

And of course, in combination with the fact that the program may know more about them.. obviously helps.

4/6 interns this year for UTSW were rotators.

that's a very regional program if I'm not mistaken...

It is anything but impossible, but you have to understand that residency programs are, in the end, judged on getting residents to pass their boards. If they do not pass the boards, the residency risks being put on probation (I think there is some magical cutoff number like 80% over a certain time period). Granted, most people applying are good people, but the programs know those who rotated the best, so in the end, the ranking order is going to be biased from the program's standpoint towards those who rotated. I agree also that rotators tend to put the programs they rotated at higher. You can still match at programs that you don't rotate at, but the percentages certainly are in favor of you matching somewhere you rotate.

As mentioned above, the match works both ways. Applicants are more likely to rank a program highly if they rotated and liked the place (and there was probably a reason why they rotated there in the first place). Similarly, a program likes having more of a sure thing, so they are more likely to rank a really good rotator higher than an unknown candidate with an equally good CV. In the end, rotators are more likely to match, by the numbers. However, many people match every year at a place where they did not rotate. I've heard the number as about 1/2, but don't know where that came from.

It can also change year to year so dont not apply to a place because they matched a lot of rotators. Florida matched 4/4 rotators this year but last year was only 1/4 i believe. A lot just depends on the quality and number of rotators. Obviously if a program get high quality applicants who are also hard working and fit into the program they are going to be ranked very highly.

At my program we matched 3 non-rotators and 1 rotator this year. There are several programs that do tend toward the rotators and rotators tend toward those programs as mentioned above. However, there are definately others out there who match the best applicants whether they be rotators or not (often that may be the rotators).

I'd say your away rotations are important for other reasons, however, and that should also go into your decision on where to rotate. I learned a great deal about what I liked and disliked about programs from my aways. I got great insight into what type of program I fit into well and where I maybe was not a great fit. If you're dead set on being an acedemic, then only pick acedemic aways. However, if you are more open minded, I'd suggest at least adding one community program you honestly feel you might like and one bigger acedemic that you might like. These two models are very different, and it's important to see them each up close and see where you fit best.

I'd also caution against rotating at a program that never takes people from your region of the country or your home program unless you can convince them during your rotation that you're truly interested. Unfortunately programs can be quite regional despite rotations (not all programs, mind you).

One last caution in this long winded response is to find out as much as you can about the programs you're thinking of rotating at before you sign up. I rotated at a couple programs that basically already had a few spots filled for the next year by relatives of attendings and residents. I also heard Wake Forest had spots held in the past for researchers. Make sure there's a spot to "audition" for if your going to spend an away there. The other reason is some programs give interviews to rotators automatically even if they have no plans of ranking you because of board cut offs for example. Many programs screen people to rotate, which usually takes care of this, but some don't screen as well.

I didn't rank any of the programs I rotated at number one, though I could have been happy at any of them and met their cut offs. However, they were invaluable in helping me find my top programs by letting me see what model of program and make up of residents I liked best. I also learned a lot of ortho from them, which is always a plus. Don't stress yourself out of having a good experience at the rotations. You won't perform as well if you're constantly stressed about it. Just go, learn, work as hard as you can, and have fun. Residents want others around who are happy and enjoy ortho (not over the top fakes, but the sincere ones).