Programs that guarantee interviews to rotators

If a program "interviews you while you're on your rotation" that does not mean you are being considered a "rankable" applicant. There are many reasons to conduct the interviews while you are on the rotation and it may well be that it is because they do not want you to have to fly back, etc...

From a political standpoint it is certainly easier to tell the students that all rotators will be interviewed during the month, rather than to do what many programs do which is to consider the subinternship a month-long interview. Then, if you are not invited back it just might not be a good fit(for either concerned party!) and they do not want you to waste your money at an interview where you will not have a reasonable chance of matching (and the other issues discussed on this forum including your opportunity to interview that conflicted day at another program where you do have a chance of matching!).

So whether you are interviewed during the month or come back for an interview the bottom line is that the subinternships remain the best way for you all to explore programs in which you have sincere interest. Try not to over-analyze which ones "guarantee interviews" for all rotators because I think that is probably not why you should ultimately choose the programs to which you rotate!

Good luck as always to the next class of future orthopaedic surgeons --

wnl

So I have a funny story regarding this.

I rotated at a program that I was really crossing my fingers for. Very respected program near where I'm from. Told my chief the first day "this is where I want to be". At the end of the rotation my chief said "we'll be seeing you on interview day, unless you're a total jerk you get interviews here". Interview emails came out a couple months later....no interview.

I called the coordinator a few times...nothing. Finally got someone on the phone and they said all interviews had gone out and now someone would need to cancel for me to get one.

Waited a few weeks later and I get notified I got AOA. Email the chairmen and a couple of attendings and just say "hey I don't know if I'm still being considered but I just wanted to let you all know I got AOA". Two weeks go by and I get a phone-call saying "we'd like to extend you an interview".

Interview goes great, got a couple of comments from attendings saying "we're happy you were able to make it".

Get an email the following week saying I'd be ranked in the top 15.

Opened my letter...matched there.

This process is crazy, anyone who claims they know how it works is kidding themselves. Even my chief, who was on the panel, couldn't explain why I didn't get an interview initially. Keep your head up guys, this process is a ride.