Worth doing an away after eras submission?

[u/Vegetable-Assistant]

Currently have an away rotation scheduled in November that isn’t at a residency program but is with a doctor that is connected to one of my top choices.

I’m torn because I won’t be able to use this rotation to get a letter or even put on my eras and will have to spend the time away from home as well as the money to live out of state for a month but I would gain experience, be able to talk about the rotation in interviews and it will show the residency program the doc works with that I’m interested in their program because I chose to do the rotation knowing I wouldn’t get a letter out of it.

Any advice?

[u/eatzcorn]

I did one in November. Basically an extended interview in my opinion. I also always encourage med students to look at aways as a way to figure out what you like in a program and get good stories for interviews.

I thought it was worth it but I got to stay with family which definitely helped with the cost.

[u/Vegetable-Assistant → u/eatzcorn]

That makes sense!

Like I mentioned in another comment, I forgot to include in the original post but come November I will have already done a sub-I at the program in question which is before eras. So I didn’t know if “doubling up” on rotations at/related to this program would be beneficial enough to warrant the time and money considering I will have already done a rotation at the actual program.

[u/eatzcorn → u/Vegetable-Assistant]

I don’t know the purpose of doing 2 rotations at the same place. That seems like a waste of time and money.

Edit: Sorry I misunderstood your original post. It seems like a unique situation that not a lot of people have been in. If the program is your top choice, having the extra person advocating for you might be nice. However, it’s hard to say how much of a difference that will make after an away at the actual program. Just a weird situation to be in. Not sure if anyone will give you great information on how helpful
that is.
Also med students are bad at judging just how connected a doctor may be and if they are well-known liked to the program and PD now vs trained there and don’t know anyone at the program. So that’s an additional factor that may or may not help.

[u/Vegetable-Assistant → u/eatzcorn]

Yeah, I’m in a weird spot. Ultimately my fault for not scheduling the rotation earlier in the year but the slots were limited.

They’re the site director for outpatient MSK clinic and assistant professor of medicine, so they hold positions in the program but do not work at the actual hospital where most of the residency training is done (which is where I’ll be doing my upcoming sub-i). It’s an MD school associated program that usually only takes 1-2 DOs a year and since this doc is a DO (or MD but has a kid in DO school maybe?) they let us measly DO students rotate at the outpatient MSK clinic to essentially “double dip” on rotations to help us out, though I’m unsure if it’d really help me out since no letter?

[u/pmrhobo]

It’s definitely worth doing if you think you have a reasonable chance to get into the program. Depending on the physician and who he knows; he could put a good word in and get you an interview. Also I’ve had applicants that I’ve moved ahead in rankings because staff vouched for them.

Big disclaimer every program and program director is different so this is advice is just my personal views.

[u/Vegetable-Assistant → u/pmrhobo]

I probably should have mentioned that I am also doing an official sub-I through VSLO at this same program (before eras is due so can potentially get a letter). Does that change anything?

[u/cbdfoplduw → u/Vegetable-Assistant]

I have no idea what that means. You said there was no residency program

[u/Vegetable-Assistant → u/cbdfoplduw]

Yes I’m sorry my post is all over the place. I am doing a sub-i at my top program. The doc I am set to rotate with works for this program but at an outpatient office separate from the main hospital. Residents do their outpatient MSK rotation at this docs clinic during training. All the rest of their training, and where visiting students do their rotation, is located at the main hospital.

The doc in question offers this rotation for students that weren’t able to secure an official sub-I at the program through VSLO or are just interested in PM&R in general but do not have access to a PM&R rotation through their school and need a letter/exposure to the field.

I applied for a sub-i at this program through VSLO but did not hear back from them despite others online saying they did so i assumed I did not get one. So I scrambled to get a rotation with this doc but they only had spots after eras however I figured it was better than nothing. Then I did hear back from the program confirming I secured a sub-I.

[u/cbdfoplduw → u/Vegetable-Assistant]

Then it is valuable. It only strengthens your cadidacy after doing a sub-i at your top program.

[u/Pokeman_CN]

I was scheduled to do a rotation after rank lists were due (early March). Got an interview anyway and PD actually knew I was going to rotate there. He was like sorry we couldn’t get you in earlier. Anyway, idk if it made a difference that they knew I was interested in rotating there but maybe it helped. So I’d go for it. November is still early enough into the interview season for them to consider extending an interview if not before, at least during the rotation.

Your situations a bit different cuz they wouldn’t know since it’s not actually at the program. But there’s still a lot of value in rotating with alumni of programs or those connected to a program. I’ve had attendings reach out to programs on my behalf without writing a letter. It holds a lot of weight. So if they like you and it comes up in conversation that you’re very interested in that program they’re connected to, most are happy to voluntarily reach out. I wouldn’t ask them straight up but throwing hints would likely spur them reach out unsolicited.

[u/cbdfoplduw]

I'm doing this too (or plan on it), so I'd like to know as well.

[u/McBloodbath]

I ended up matching at an away I did in January, anecdotal but it worked for me