Advice for picking an away

From what i've heard, Columbia is extremely rotator heavy.

Also have a few random questions:

1) Is it looked down upon by other programs if a student has done all aways in one area?

2) Very specific, but I want to be in NYC and plan to do aways at HSS and NYU. I'm torn whether to A - do an additional away at either Mt Sinai or Columbia. In this scenario, I fear that the one manhattan program at which I don't rotate wouldn't be very happy that I rotated at the other three programs and not theirs. or B - do rotations at neither Mt Sinai nor Columbia.

As an adjunct, how rotator heavy are Mt Sinai/Columbia? Is the potential advantage that I get from rotating at one of these programs worth the corresponding disadvantage I get at the other, if my goal is to be accepted to one of the two?

There is an instagram account that has some great advice on this, @orthomentor

Silly questions here, but from a complete novice M3 to aways:

1) WHEN should one begin to apply to aways?
2) Is there a strategy when choosing aways with regard to proximity to rank list? I.e. place you wanna go to most you do right before the match/more experience? Or do it earlier to get a letter from them?

Agree with this. I think most places still process in the order they received them. Basically the accept date is when you can actually submit your application, then the processing date is when they start going through them and offering spots.

Hey benchdaily,

This might differ from what most people think, but based on what I heard, most schools still process in the order it is received though they may say "we don't start processing until May." I recently applied to an away that said applying early doesn't have a benefit, but everyone who did that away at my medical school last year basically said that was only a half truth. In summary, applying early can't hurt, and almost always helps. If you can't get in touch with the coordinator, try an email and try to contact one of the registrar's staff and they should be able to transfer you or also assist with the questions you may have.

Anyone know what the deal is for VSAS and the applications accepted date vs. applications processed date? I've seen U. Colorado saying they will process in order they were received, but I know elsewhere I have seen somewhere that said submitting apps before processing date doesn't gain anyone favor.

Which way do most places handle things?

I guess I didn't heed information to have everything done ASAP to secure an away and I'm waiting on 1 more lab to come in. One of the aways I'm interested in opens this week, but doesn't begin processing until May, so I'm wondering if I'll still have a shot or if I should just go with my backup. Unfortunately their rotation coordinator doesn't pick up the phone or reply to emails.

Also very true. I guess there's no winning

Truth, but I don't know what's worse: going through a little extra effort and being 1 of 4 rotators that were actually vetted by the program or not and being 1 of 10+ rotators who weren't.

Are we circus animals to jump through hoops? Lol

If you're not set that one of those programs would be your #1, you can find better programs to rotate at.

This whole process is just a series of hoops to jump through, so get used to it. LORs should be from an orthopod. If you are a MS3, I would recommend sitting down with your department chair now even if you haven't rotated through ortho yet. 1) It is good to let the chair know you are interested in ortho early on so that you are on his radar (you will need a strong letter from him next year) and 2) he can usually provide a stock LOR that is suitable for the purposes of applying to aways...usually. If you are a MS1/MS2, do not think you have to wait until your ortho rotation to find mentors. You will have better LORs if someone has known you for 4 years versus a 4 week rotation.

It has nothing to do with seriousness. That individual was obviously serious enough to seek out the program. But expecting a 3rd yr to ask for a letter in March and then ask that person again in July is stupid at best, for multiple reasons. And what if you haven't done a home sub-I yet?

LoR for an away = a check box. Its just to weed out non-serious people.

Yale needs 1. Wake wants 2.

Duke asks for an LOR to rotate. Totally retarded but that's the only one I came across. It just needed to be from any ortho attending.

anyone know if there's a strong preference for a program wanting a LOR for an away rotation in terms of whether it comes from dean vs non-ortho vs ortho vs gen surg docs? I don't really want to ask anyone in my department so early... feel that it could rub them the wrong way to ask for a letter before even rotating, even though it won't be the same as a letter I'd be asking for to submit to residency programs.

Absolutely. Definitely not criteria for selecting an away. Just was curious about this in the case of potential late season rotations. Thanks for the info.

Stanford and WashU I know for sure

However, I would caution against using this as a criteria for selecting an away. Just because all rotators get an interview does not mean they will even rank you. In some ways, I think it is a disservice to the applicant, since you know so much less about what you want from a program while you are on your subI's.

Does anyone have insights into which programs interview students while they are on their away rotation?

Thanks!

1. Rotate where you really want to go but BE REALISTIC
2. Try to figure out how many rotators will be on with you, if that program historically favors rotators (or historically does the opposite), and if that program will interview you while you are there
3. Have 4 letters of recommendation prepared prior to starting your away rotations because you may not work with someone long enough to get one and some programs will discourage you from even asking for one. If you really need an additional letter of recommendation, be sure to rotate at a program that is willing to provide one early on because it may take 2-6 weeks for them to complete it.
4. I was asked about where I rotated at every interview (and I rotated all over the country), but no one who interviewed me seemed to have that information beforehand. The majority of my interviews were in regions I had ties to, so if there is a region you really want to be in and that fact is not obvious from your application you should rotate there.
5. BE REALISTIC