Does elective order matter?

[Nirvanesthesia]

If I am parallel planning with family medicine, would it decrease my chances of getting an FM interview if my 1 FM elective is in the middle of a sequence of other electives? 

[frenchpress]

1 hour ago, Nirvanesthesia said:

If I am parallel planning with family medicine, would it decrease my chances of getting an FM interview if my 1 FM elective is in the middle of a sequence of other electives? 

No.  Elective order happens for all kinds of reasons, what will effect your changes is how effective you are at selling your interest in family med in your app, overall number of family electives, etc. 

[bearded frog]

The order doesn't matter but the ideal time for an elective at your goal program is late enough in your training that you can demonstrate advanced knowledge and skill, and early enough prior to the CaRMS deadline to request and have your writer submit a LOR after your elective.

[RepresentativeSalad]

No - but keep in mind that FM is becoming increasingly competitive, and so if you're seriously "parallel" planning, as in, would be happy with either of your options, you may want to do more than one FM elective  

[rmorelan]

On 7/22/2021 at 2:56 PM, bearded frog said:

The order doesn't matter but the ideal time for an elective at your goal program is late enough in your training that you can demonstrate advanced knowledge and skill, and early enough prior to the CaRMS deadline to request and have your writer submit a LOR after your elective.

and early enough that in worst case things go off the rails you can potentially put something else together. It is a lot of work to change things and it isn't guaranteed but it is still a chance vs no chance if it is too late in the game.