How Many Away Electives To Budget For? Doing Them All In Third Year?

[arryn]

Hello

 

I am interested in a surgical subspecialty.. I am fairly certain I want to do it. Hence I have applied to do all six weeks of my third year electives in it in various locations a bit aways from my home school..

 

I'm planning to rotate at my home school and schools closer to me in 4th year when I have more experience..

 

Am I rushing the process? I mean I will end up halfway across the country to do electives when I am just starting out third year. The reason for my haste is that there's a substantial chance I'll only have 2 weeks of electives before carms application are due, and if I want all my letters to come from surgeons in this subspecialty, I need to do two electives in it this year at least (and hope to put in a stellar performance on each one).

 

How many schools do people wanting subspecialty surgeries usually rotate through?

[Thunderbirds]

Along the same lines, where do clerks usually stay while doing electives in other cities? I can't imagine paying for hotels for 10 weeks. 

[hopeful_med]

Along the same line... for someone interested in IM or emerg, what is the realistic # of away electives we should do? I imagine people don't spend 10+ weeks on away electives (the cost... and the organization will be insane since booking electives from other uni is so hard). Would you ONLY go to places you would like to match to?

[NLengr]

Most people going for something surgically competative rotate through as many programs as possible. Maybe take a 2 week period off with something as a back up, but generally all elective time will be for the specialty.

 

Most people try to stay with family/friends. Sometimes you can stay with other med students. Sometimes you have to rent a room somewhere. It can get expensive.

 

If you are trying for something competative it's not unusual to spend almost all your elective period away from home. It will cost you a bomb. Unfortunately that's the system.

[MDLaval]

Along the same lines, where do clerks usually stay while doing electives in other cities? I can't imagine paying for hotels for 10 weeks. 

 

Airbnb seems to be a fairly interesting option.

 

I'd also look for the university's students residence if you're there during Spring/Summer.

[Lactic Folly]

Electives offices often have a list of private rooms for rent (from med students, residents, other people in the community).

[shikimate]

There's a FB group for Canada Medical electives housing.

[MEDSHOUSING]

you can also find elective housing on MEDShousing.com and you can put your own place up for rent on it while you are away.

[thestar10]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnMedschoolElectives/ Here's the link for the Facebook group.

 

for surgical sub specialty it depends. From talking with my friends who matched, here is how I would approach planning electives 

 

Optho= They limit the number of optho electives you can do (8 weeks i think)

Ortho= Strong interest in Ortho but not essential to do all elective in ortho

Uro= as a many as you can do

Plastics= as many as you can do

Neuro Sx= No idea

Ent=as many as possible

 

I did 14 weeks of electives that were all away from my school (didn't have my specialty). Its expensive but it was actually an awesome experience and I met a lot of my future colleagues. 

[F508]

I just tried the facebook link you posted and it's not working for me.. Am I the only one?

[LittleDaisy]

It works for me. Hey if it doesn`t work out, private message me and I will add you.

I just tried the facebook link you posted and it's not working for me.. Am I the only one?