So if you’re not a superstar on the wards, you might self-sabotage your chances. If you’re hailing from a top-tier medical school, programs are going to have preconceived notions about your clinical abilities (unfair, I know). Some top medical schools in the country will dissuade their students from rotating externally out of fear that they’ll fail to meet expectations. Not everyone is cut out for an away rotation. This is something you really have to think critically about before you make a thousand dollar investment into something low-yield. Consider if an away rotation would benefit you.
IM AWAY ROTATIONS SDN HOW TO
Be sure to check out How to (Actually) Match into Dermatology for a closer look at match strategies. Check out Part 2 to see how you can prepare for away rotations.
Be smart about choosing away rotations and know what to expect when you arrive so that you maximize your chances of making a good impression. Each year, disappointed applicants come to the realization that they wasted time and money that would’ve been better spent elsewhere. The reality is that away rotations are no longer “backdoor entries” into the interview pool. With interviews being so hard to come by nowadays, it’s no wonder that applicants spend thousands of dollars auditioning in various cities, all in the hopes of landing prestigious interview slots. Historically, away rotations were seen as “guaranteed interview invites,” with programs extending invitations to their away rotators as a courtesy (or acknowledgement of their existence). Dermatology away rotations are popular among applicants because they’re an opportunity to familiarize oneself with the department on a more personal level.