Out of nothing but sheer curiosity: What kinds of interviews did you guys get? Were they all within a certain location/connection or within a certain tier of program?
Got all the local programs, and then a random mix of size/ strengths/ tiers
Mainly in same tier with a few lower tier local programs
Local interviews, east coast only (where I am from).
</-- can anyone comment on whether they thought away rotations helped them in securing interviews @ certain programs (ms3 here starting to think about where to do aways)
Vanderbilt and Emory are both great away rotations and programs and guarantee you an interview. Georgetown (Washington Hospital Center) also interviews all of their rotators.
I would avoid programs that haurantee interviews. If they grant all rotators an interview, you don't know if its a courtesy interview or if they are actually interested which wastes your time and money. It also comes with the opportunity cost of competing for interviews at another away rotation
Looking back I wish I didn't rotate at places that guaranteed an interview for this reason.
I completely disagree. I chose places I was guaranteed an interview so that I didn't waste my time. I also got letters from my aways which made my interview actually mean something since I had to work closely with the PDs to get a letter. But I also chose NOT to do aways at top 20 institutions for the exact reason people mentioned. Just be smart and do aways where you'd want to go and rock them.
I find it hard to believe "courtesy" interviews are not legitimate interviews-as valuable as a dermatologist's time is, they wouldn't simply waste it just to be nice to an applicant they know stands no chance. Unless there's credible info from a selection committee member on here or online an interview is still an interview.
I chose to do 4 away rotations. 2 at places where interviews are guarenteed and 2 where they are not. I think this approach helped me. I got letters from my aways, including a very reputable doc and this has been brought up at EVERY single derm interview.
It is absolutely a fact that courtesy interviews exist. There are people interviewed on interview day that have previously been assigned "do not rank" status
Personally, it was very random for me location/tier/size/strengths/etc x2