Asking for the collective wisdom of this spreadsheet: I rotated somewhere and I didn't get an interview, and while I completely understand it's not possible to interview all rotators and there's SO many qualified applicants, I did my best and felt like I made positive relationships with the attendings and the residents. I think the non-invite hurts as much as it does because I really liked the people there, and I guess I'm just asking what could I have done more? Like it wasn't a "reach" program, and I just don't know what else I could have done. People who did an away at a program and did get an interview (congrats!): did you feel like anything you did in particular helped? or did you form like a really great relationship with a particular attending? trying to rationalize a seemingly illogical process << , it hurts to think that external applicants are favored over away rotators
unsure, this process can be incredibly unpredictable. I received a LOR from the away clerkship director, despite only working with her for one clinic day. Received an interview, but can't say how much the LOR helped.
congrats on your interview! :) and yeah, that's tough. I don't know. In hindsight I probably should have gotten one from the pd.
Could an LOI perhaps help? Maybe the faculty reading your application didn't realize you were a rotator. It doesn't hurt to try.
That's actually a really great idea! Thank you! I have nothing to lose lol. Do you think I should address it to the PD? << Personally I usually email it to the PC and leave it up to them whether to forward it to the PD, but you don't have much to lose at this point, so you may just consider CCing the PD.
I think if you are talking about top-tier programs, I have heard aways do nothing (source: go to top tier program) besides offer a "good educational experience." The only real way to secure an interview from an away rotation is to connect with someone who would be willing to advocate for you there, which may take even more than getting a letter from them.
Are you saying the latter applies to just top tier programs or all programs? And did your PD him/herself say that aways do nothing? << If aways do nothing, and assuming top-tier programs get applications for all applicants, how does the program possibly decide who to interview? It seems like it makes it even more random, with it coming down to the fact that if the faculty person who is reviewing your application connects with something on it, you'll get an invite. Unless they set 260 filters and just interview like the 40 applicants with that, you know? <Per PD at top-tier institution, aways mean nothing, and they want the best applicants period, and want to be free from biases associated with applicants wanting to be there << honest question, why is that a "bias?" one would think a program wants a resident who actually wants to be there.
also if they want the best applicants *period*, why do 80% of their residents come from their own school? not that they don't have stellar applicants, but I'm sure there are just as good or better applicants from other schools too <dunno, im just the messenger here guys. Nobody at my med school does aways, period. My guess is if you are a superstar applicant and do an away, it can only help. But if you are a middle of the line applicant that would otherwise not have gotten an interview, the away is not going to get you an interview either
weeeeeeelp that was a fantastic waste of a month. thanks for the "good educational experience," though! fml <Sorry!<<are you talking about Hopkins by any chance?
< mine was at a very away rotator friendly place, and anyone reviewing my app could have seen that i had the tailored PS and LOR from the institution. oh well. i have to deal with what i have and make the best of it.<was this hopkins by any chance? << not row Op, also no
op: yes re: hopkins...why?<<cause i think theyre still sending out interviews so i would lose hope yet!
thank you so much! did you just get an interview as a rotator yourself??<<yup! wish you the best OP, let us know if it works out in your favor<<even if it doesnt, realize hopkins had a ton of internal applicants this year and with only two interview dates, they are essentially taking up the bulk of the interview spots leaving very few for externals or even rotators sadly =/
not row OP, but do programs only interview around 40 applicants inclusive of internal applicants?
This has happened to me and what I was told is that even historically rotator-friendly places are now less rotator friendly because they're also getting more rotators and applicants compared to in the past. Some places now have 4 rotators a month for 5 months. That's 20 people and they might only interview 40. No way they want to give up half their spots to rotators/home applicants. It sucks. You can reach out to the PD or faculty that you met there that you really connected with. Showing genuine enthusasim for a place can't hurt and you've got nothing to lose a this point to send an email. Just be sincere and definitely have someone else read it to make sure you don't sound like a douche. I had co-rotators who acted like they were entitled to an interview and it is not a good look
<did you receive a LOR from the away? I feel like that can increase the odds of an invite. << not op but the : yes, I did, i also had a semi-personalized personal statement, and used both PS and LOR in my initial application. << op: no, I didn't. I did it in september and had what I thought (and hope!) are 3 good letters (research mentor and 2 from home program), so I didn't ask. Does that make a meaningful difference? I was trying to balance a letter from someone who knows me better vs. one from that program--I may have miscalculated lol :(