moatz20
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 4
(1/16/02 11:59:44 am)
Reply
4th year electives????
can i get some advice on what 4th year rotations to do that help out for ortho... thanks
tbone
OSRR Senior
Posts: 55
(1/16/02 1:59:29 pm)
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4th Year Rotations
You definitely want to do an ortho rotation at your home school, and a couple aways if possible.
Someone in our class ended up using his vacation months to do 2 additional aways (for a total of 4) but
I think that's completely unnecessary- 2 is probably more than enough. There are some other threads
on this group that address the away rotation game.
Beyond that, it's important to do things that you won't see again once you've left medical school. As
painful as it may sound , do some medicine electives or some unit months. Rehab is another specialty
that is ortho related and may be useful in your career. People will expect that as an MD you will have a
basic skill set, so it's important to hone those skills and be well-rounded while you're still in school. You'll
have the rest of your life to study ortho.
Whatever you choose, for the most part programs won't know what you're taking during 4th year, so
do what you want and don't worry about whether it enhances your application. I think only one of my
4th year grades was actually available when my transcript went out on ERAS, and hardly anyone asked
about 4th year during my interviews.
pod person
OSRR Intern
Posts: 11
(1/16/02 2:06:07 pm)
Reply
Consider aways at certain places
If you have a dream location or think you might want to go to certain programs (HSS, Cleveland Clinic,
Vandy, Utah, Harvard, G'town, Duke, Penn, etc.), b/c doing a 4th year rotation there may be the only
way of realistically getting and interview (especially HSS).
So choose wisely and don't forget.... vacation/slack time is a good thing that you won't have much of for
a LONG time after 4th year!
IamNikolas
OSRR Fellow
Posts: 124
(1/16/02 3:48:53 pm)
Reply
4th year
I agree with all the above. Do stuff that would make you a better physician, not a better orthopod...you'll
do that for the rest of your life.
And one thing about aways: if you're competitive on paper (I'd say at least over 230, bunch of
honors...AOA is not a must)...do aways at places that you would love to go to...pick 2 places that are
awesome for you -- as far as location, program, everything...this way you secure yourself interviews at
these places. Don't worry about doing backup aways at safe places...you'll get plenty of interviews.
Again, do this if you're competitive on paper. If not, choose electives wisely so you ensure that you
match.
my 2 cents.
cssbones
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 2
(1/16/02 4:29:28 pm)
Reply
no home program :
You folks have been so helpful so far so I'll ask another question...
I'm a 3rd year interested in ortho. My school unfortunately doesn't have a home ortho program. So,
they're probably going to assign me to some general surgery advisor that doesn't give a sh*t about
ortho specifically. In this case, where is the best place to get advice and a letter of rec from? I guess it
sucks even more because there's no one to make phone calls for me to other program directors and
stuff as has been suggested in other posts. Did anyone else go thru this situation and what did you do
to fix it? Thanks!
Ortho2002
OSRR Fellow
Posts: 140
(1/16/02 5:26:22 pm)
Reply
same boat
i know where you are coming from. i think that the best possible thing you can do is get some good core
letters from people who know you well (even if they are gen surgeons) and then hit the road. you need
to go out on probably three away rotations as early as possible in your fourth year and work your tail
off. it is hard, but if you try at most places you can get some good one on one time with the attending.
if you work with someone for a month at a great place and get a letter, you will equal out the fact that
you have no home letter. also, consider yourself lucky for not having to ever answer the question of
"why not stay at your home program"?!! good luck.
pod person
OSRR Intern
Posts: 12
(1/16/02 5:40:08 pm)
Reply
Ask questions
For when you're scheduling away rotations, it is invaluable to try and develop a nice phone relationship
with the secretaries. They can make or break you. Also, they will give you the inside scoop about
whether one attending may be better to work with (i.e. a known student advocate) or if there is one type
of away rotation (if they have options) that allows more one-on-one time, which is key to letters.
One more thing... try and schedule your aways as soon as possible b/c they tend to fill up fast.
Best of luck!
Bone Jock
OSRR Intern
Posts: 14
(1/16/02 7:41:00 pm)
Reply
more of the same
Another good 4th year elective is Rheumatology (outpatient). Get to do more in terms of learning a good
MSI exam, and you get to inject and drain a lot of joints.
As for electives. Do them early, especially if you need to work on getting recommendations. I recommend
you rotate at your home school first (in July or august), because most programs require a chairman's
letter when you apply. And just because you rotate at a place, it doesn't mean that you're gonna get an
interview. Mayo interviews all of their rotators. While programs like CCF and vanderbilt (among many
others) don't. Just a little something to keep in mind.
