Away Rotations- How much do you see each other

[MissCrabette]

ETA: According to the NRMP data, only 11 DOs matched into an allopathic rads residency PGY-1 (out of about 150 slots) and 51 PGY-2 (out of about 1000) in 2011. Not that it matters, just to add to the discussion. That's about what I thought it was, which is why I was congratulatory. My point isn't that DOs enter the match with lower stats, but that it was my understanding that, unfortunately, some allopathic specialties still hold some stigma against DOs. So the DOs who get into those allopathic programs have to have even better stats than the MDs that get in. The same for FMGs/IMGs.

Keep in mind that DOs and IMGs can still sign outside the match through the end of this season, so the NRMP numbers don't always reflect the real picture. That's not to say that it's not an achievement, at least in my book, but it's not quite what the numbers would lead you to believe, either.

[diggitydot]

So the DOs who get into those allopathic programs have to have even better stats than the MDs that get in. Th same for FMGs/IMGs.

No offense taken. There's just a HUGE misunderstanding about the MD/DO thing, particularly from allopathic peeps who may be on the newer end of the education/training spectrum.

Yup, DOs can get into residencies outside the match, so that skews their reported numbers. And no, DOs are in no way similarly treated as IMG/FMG. It isnt even apples to oranges; more like apples to motorcycles. Very few programs are anti-DO, anymore, but many in even non-competitive specialties are VERY anti-IMG/FMG. It is far more of a gigantic pain in the ass for IMGs/FMGs to get residency slots than it is for DOs.

[niener]

I'd say away rotations are required for any competitive specialty. And if you ever hear someone tell you something is "highly recommended" -- go ahead and translate that to "required". They're just trying to make it sound nicer.

[scarlett09]

DH is in a "less competitive" specialty and he did one away rotation. After he finished that one away rotation, he realized that he didn't like the place as much as he previously thought and dropped them lower on his rank list. He tried to set up a second away rotation, but a big paperwork issue that wasn't figured out in time, derailed that plan. Ironically, that location wound up being where we matched!

I think that an away rotation is very important. The applicant gets to see what the facilities, people, and culture are like at that location, plus it can serve as a small taste of what the residency lifestyle will be like. It can also help them to figure out where that program will wind up on the rank list. It is a good opportunity to procure letters of recommendation if they have a good experience and connect with a particular attending. I believe that is good to do 2 or more away rotations for the sake of comparison. If the applicant only does one, then they will only be able to compare it to their home program. The more ways to compare programs, the better I think!

To the OP, during my DH's one away rotation, I saw him a decent amount. It wasn't too far from our previous location, and he was staying with my parents. So I saw him a couple of times a week, but I remember it being pretty hectic because I was also trying to finish a semester of grad school. Our experience isn't common though, as I know other peeps here don't see their other half for the entire time they are doing away rotations - which can sometimes be months!

[madeintaiwan]

DH did two aways. One in UT, which we didn't see him at all or really talk to him because he was so busy. His other away was at UC Davis, which is my home town, so we went home with him and stayed with my parents. Even still, we barely saw him. He was q2/q3. He worked 100 hours a week.

[oceanchild]

My DH likes to tell peds applicants that "you have more control than you think you do." So for him, in a less competitive specialty, the away rotation was a chance to see if he liked the program that he thought was his top choice. (He did. He matched here.) So it's a benefit to the applicant as well.