<p>Is it true that once we start clinical rotations, we pretty much have only a year to decide what residencies to apply for?</p>
<p>Since we need some experience in areas related to the residencies we want to apply for, it seems like the order of our rotations will be important. Is that true? For example, if i like or dislike something, will it matter if I rotate thru it earlier or later?</p>
<p>For residency applications, I don’t really understand why more fancy resumes seem to be required for the specialties that offer better lifestyles… I mean, if I like being so active all the time, I might not feel comfortable in a cushy job… <em>confused</em></p>
<p>Say you enter med school fall of 2006 (you would currently be a first year).</p>
<p>Your rotations most likely begin June 2008 (Duke, Baylor, Penn being notable exceptions) and you would begin applying for residencies in fall 2009. You submit your side of the match list in Feb 2010, with whatever programs in whatever specialties you like.</p>
<p>Assuming your rotate through it sometime during your third year, it shouldn’t matter in the least when it happens.</p>
<p>Cushier jobs are more desired. They are harder to get. Things that are harder to get require that you be more impressive.</p>
<p>Timing is something to consider if you have an idea of what you want to go into. But if you are really unsure then it won’t matter.</p>
<p>For example, I’m about 90% that I want to do my residency in Peds. Knowing that, I really want to make sure that I do my Peds clinical at a time when I can really do great work and can earn strong letters of recommendation. Because of that, I know that I don’t want to start out in peds next July on my first rotation. I also know that in the fall I have several big events (2 weddings I’m going to be in, a huge football game at my alma mater, couple of other things) so I’m not going to schedule peds then either. And because my medical school has set groupings of rotations for a semester (Internal med -12 wks; OB/Gyn - 6 wks; pysch - 6 wks vs Peds, Family practice, surgery all for 8 weeks) I’m pretty sure that I want my peds rotation the first thing of second semester. Ideally, I’ll be OB/Gyn, Pysch, medicine, peds, surgery, family practice in that order. Of course at other schools, there may be more freedom in the scheduling.</p>
<p>Fourth year is really when it becomes important in terms of scheduling - mainly because of the match, but also b/c of the things that one has to do in regards to the match. Usually July/August/September/October one has to do a specialty rotation at their home institution, probably one audition rotation at another institution (so my example would be Pediatric Cardiology - at least at this juncture in time), prepare for USMLE Step 2, take Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, and prepare residency applications. Other things that have to be done throughout the year include taking USMLE Step 2 clinical skills, doing the appropriate match day stuff, study abroad, prepare for graduation, and go to the bars as often as possible (at least that seems to be the case)…</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, guys! Makes lots of sense.</p>
<p>I’m actually going to be in NYU Med’s 3rd year class in 2008. I’m currently not quite a first year though. <em>laughs</em></p>
<p>It’s just weird that more impressive applicants are accepted for jobs with better lifestyles and less risk. It’s like a battle of overqualification for those spots…</p>
<p>Who doesn’t want to spend time with their family? Or out on vacation? Or doing work with other organizations?</p>
<p>I personally have a lot of goals and ideas of things I want to do outside of medicine, it would be nice to have the time to do those things (Volunteer, social and otherwise). I don’t think that just b/c you aren’t in clinic/at work all the time doesn’t mean you still aren’t busy, but being on call all the time can interfere with many of the things one may wish to do.</p>
<p>I was unsure at the end and so I did a year of rotating internship before deciding. It was a great year for me and I think it made me clinically much better than any 3rd and 4th year rotations could have.</p>