So I'm an M3 applying through VSAS for a spot for an away rotation in a very competitive field. This spot would be for the month of August. I've submitted a bunch of VSAS applications; however, most of them say something to the effect of "we will begin considering applications 1-2 months before the rotation is scheduled to begin."
I hope I'm not alone when I say I feel very uncomfortable having to wait until virtually the last minute to know if I even received an away rotation. What happens when suddenly it's the middle of June and I suddenly find out that my August plans just went down the sh*tter?
I'm not sure how your school works, but UAMS is extremely flexible with 4th year rotations. You should be able to slap in a couple AIs in whatever you want should your VSAS plans fail. For what it's worth, word on the street has it that many places process applications in order they were received and that schools help you quite a lot with finding housing.
I would apply to a few programs for that month. Although I've heard that it looks bad to cancel later after you've accepted an offer, I think it is no harm/no foul if you decline an offer through VSAS. Also, many schools process applications faster than they say on VSAS. I've already been accepted to one that wasn't supposed to start processing applications yet. Apply as early as possible, apply to a few rotations for that month, and you will be fine.
I would apply to a few programs for that month. Although I've heard that it looks bad to cancel later after you've accepted an offer, I think it is no harm/no foul if you decline an offer through VSAS. Also, many schools process applications faster than they say on VSAS. I've already been accepted to one that wasn't supposed to start processing applications yet. Apply as early as possible, apply to a few rotations for that month, and you will be fine.
Thanks so far guys. I guess I'm just real paranoid that I won't get any away rotations. I practically feel like I'm applying to residencies or something here.
Anyway, I applied to 8 different away programs for the same month. Is that overkill? My school allows us to apply for 10 different things as we see fit (i.e. 10 applications for the same specialty/elective in one month, several applications for several different electives in several different months, etc). I really only want one away elective, and during August.
Now I'm kinda worried about this whole "declining" thing. I don't want to have negative repercussions because I declined an "acceptance" to an away elective. Maybe applying to 8 overlapping electives (in the hopes of snagging just one) was too much?
Thanks so far guys. I guess I'm just real paranoid that I won't get any away rotations. I practically feel like I'm applying to residencies or something here.
Anyway, I applied to 8 different away programs for the same month. Is that overkill? My school allows us to apply for 10 different things as we see fit (i.e. 10 applications for the same specialty/elective in one month, several applications for several different electives in several different months, etc). I really only want one away elective, and during August.
Now I'm kinda worried about this whole "declining" thing. I don't want to have negative repercussions because I declined an "acceptance" to an away elective. Maybe applying to 8 overlapping electives (in the hopes of snagging just one) was too much?
8. I applied to 3 away rotations for 3 months (at top programs) and got them all. I think that was crazy overkill tbh. There's 0.000000% chance you won't get one of those. Whether or not you'll piss off the other 7 programs, on the other hand.
8. I applied to 3 away rotations for 3 months (at top programs) and got them all. I think that was crazy overkill tbh. There's 0.000000% chance you won't get one of those. Whether or not you'll piss off the other 7 programs, on the other hand.
Like I said, I think I had a poor sense of how this whole system works as a whole. Add in the paranoia of thinking I would get rejected from a bunch for some reason (I think mostly because I was under the impression that I was late in applying, which I now realize is not really the case), and I guess that's how I ended up where I am now. At my school, I kinda had to fight tooth and nail to get my home program elective early in the year, so I was associating that struggle with all other schools too, I guess.
Anyway, only 2/8 programs have me "under review" right now. The rest have a status of "pending host institution review." Maybe now would be a good time to withdraw a few? I just worry about doing that without one already lined up for August.
Last edited: Apr 28, 2011Like I said, I think I had a poor sense of how this whole system works as a whole. Add in the paranoia of thinking I would get rejected from a bunch for some reason (I think mostly because I was under the impression that I was late in applying, which I now realize is not really the case), and I guess that's how I ended up where I am now. At my school, I kinda had to fight tooth and nail to get my home program elective early in the year, so I was associating that struggle with all other schools too, I guess.
Anyway, only 2/8 programs have me "under review" right now. The rest have a status of "pending host institution review." Maybe now would be a good time to withdraw a few? I just worry about doing that without one already lined up for August.
When I applied, I just called the coordinators at the programs and was like given my application date what do you think my chances are of being scheduled, and they were like "100%" you may want to try that.
I think it depends what months you're trying to get. I got turned down from some july/august rotations and have gotten all of my oct/nov rotations. Depends when you apply and what you're applying for. Should aim for 3 programs per time slot to be safe. Turning them down shouldn't hurt you unless you accept then cancel.
Very true. I don't think most program directors even know who applied. When offered, just respectfully decline ASAP.
No matter where you end up rotating, every other program (if you applied for an away there or not) will ask "hurhur why didn't you do an away HERE at the greatest program in the world!" This is just the way it is.
I think it depends what months you're trying to get. I got turned down from some july/august rotations and have gotten all of my oct/nov rotations. Depends when you apply and what you're applying for. Should aim for 3 programs per time slot to be safe. Turning them down shouldn't hurt you unless you accept then cancel.
With VSAS, that might be true. It's possible it'll only schedule you for one in any case. I'm not sure how that works, I only applied to one with VSAS.
I think it depends what months you're trying to get. I got turned down from some july/august rotations and have gotten all of my oct/nov rotations. Depends when you apply and what you're applying for. Should aim for 3 programs per time slot to be safe. Turning them down shouldn't hurt you unless you accept then cancel.
How many aways are you trying to do? I know you said you were doing Derm, are you trying to do multiple Derm away electives?
I mean, I was under the impression that July/August aways would be very difficult to get, simply based on the fact that many many people are vying for spots early on (especially in specialties that you don't have a chance to rotate through during 3rd year). Hence the 8 apps for August.
How many aways are you trying to do? I know you said you were doing Derm, are you trying to do multiple Derm away electives?
I mean, I was under the impression that July/August aways would be very difficult to get, simply based on the fact that many many people are vying for spots early on (especially in specialties that you don't have a chance to rotate through during 3rd year). Hence the 8 apps for August.
I think early spots are harder to get, but more bc the programs have a lot of internal applicants. That said, applying early will usually get you a spot, and if you don't know where you stand, ask the program.
Do you guys give your immunizations form to your schools registrar for them to upload? I gave mine 2 weeks ago and still not uploaded. I think I should just do it myself lol. To combine multiple scanned documents into one file, do you guys use adobe?
I'm doing a home rotation in ortho in July, applied for 2 programs for August, and will have applied for 3 for September.
Each program in the August rotation slot stipulated they would begin reviewing apps on May 1st, although one program jumped the gun and offered a spot early. It's nice to have that out of the way but the acceptance timeline puts me in a bind for the other program if I decide to rotate there.
I haven't heard anything from the 2 September rotations I've applied to yet. One program states they don't begin reviewing until May 1st, though they also emailed me earlier saying I'm approved by the ortho department but student affairs has to iron out scheduling. The other program began accepting on April 1st, I threw in an app late on about the 16 or 17th and have yet to hear anything.
The other program I really want to rotate through (what is currently my top choice and a place we've sent residents to in the past a number of times) has a schedule slightly different from my school's. I may have to burn two elective spots at my school to rotate through there, but they don't begin accepting apps until May 1st.
All in all, an annoying process, much as I expect ERAS to be. I guess this is an improvement from past cycles without VSAS, but still slightly annoying.
I have found that having a scanner has been a lifesaver - I've had my apps complete and ready to go without too much effort.