I rest my eyes to the window of the Family Medicine clinic in Oneida, NY. It’s a beautiful day. My somewhat clunky 2014 MacBook sits in front me with multiple tabs open. A UWORLD tab bleeds out practice questions for my upcoming board exam. But that’s the tab of least concern. I’m in search mode. In search of fourth year rotations. I didn’t realize three years prior that I was in charge of scheduling my entire fourth year schedule. I also have to find housing for all of these rotations. *Insert expletive of choice*
Not knowing where to begin, I bring up previous Match lists for alumni of my school. Solidified in my choice to pursue Family Medicine, I browse the programs and cities of interest. I’m looking for audition rotations: experiences at residency programs that will showcase who I am as a student and perhaps if I could be a good fit for their program. After a few months of emailing and calling program coordinators, I schedule my Fall semester with four audition rotations, three in New York and one in Florida. I spruce things up with an Orthopedic-Spine elective. With a blink of the eye, I write this on sunny-turned-rainy day on Long Island, finishing up my last rotation of medical school. Matched. Yesssiirrrr. I matched into a wonderful FM program in Chicago. Hoorahhh. Let’s reflect on an explosive academic year.
These Audition Rotations Are Not "All That"
On those Spring days in Upstate New York, I could only help to believe that scheduling as many audition rotations as possible would be the most logical thing to do. These programs didn’t know me yet. If they wanted to know me, I had to show up to their hospitals and clinics with an enthusiastic attitude. I had to show the current residents and faculty that I was a good fit for their program. I felt the neeeeed. I thought an audition rotation would give me an upper hand. In retrospect, I disagree.
Here’s the thing: an audition rotation gives a program just as much insight on why not to consider you for their residency program as to why they should consider you. In October, I hopped into my Jeep and took a journey to Jacksonville, Florida. Two Touro alumni went to this residency program, and I was flirting with the idea of doing residency in a warmer climate. I thought I was well-liked by the residents and faculty. After my rotation adjourned, I awaited an interview request. Denied. No interview.
I was baffled and even felt snubbed. What the heck did I do wrong? Maybe they were upset I returned my name tag to the wrong place. Or maybe I left a bad impression on one of the faculty when he saw me leave early after a resident dismissed me. These things happen…but to not even receive a courtesy interview? Oof.
After the dust settled, I would argue that audition rotations are more informative for the student than they are for the program. Why do I say this? Well, for one, I assume that residency programs expect students to perform around the same level and to all have good attitudes. If they don’t like something about you, they can just look elsewhere. Ezra was lackluster on this day? Aight….let’s interview this other kid with a better board score. That’s my salty take on this. However, I learned what I wanted out of a residency program through these rotations based on what they emphasized and how I was treated. One of the programs I auditioned at was extremely OB-heavy. It’s one of those things that you are able to best elucidate when you actually rotate there. As someone interested in Sports Medicine, I’m not gung-ho about attending a program like that, so it goes further down my list. Simple as that. If you’re a program that doesn’t read my notes or sends me off to the “medical student room” for half the day with the third year medical students, I’m not going to feel like a welcomed member of the team, and I won’t even apply to your program. Simple as that. Thus, these audition rotations are quite informative for students.
To the medical student readers: you are going to get a bunch of interviews from a large swath of places. Once these interviews come trickling in, you feel more confident in your competitiveness and will realize that you might not have to stress with all these audition rotations (which is why I cancelled my last audition rotation in December 2021).
Interview-Palooza: From Impressive to…Seriously?
Much to my relief, interviews were virtual again. Most of my interviews were done in the following format: the night before you had a meet-and-greet with residents. Some programs even gave me a DoorDash voucher. Much appreciated. You talked for an hour about the residents’ point of views and played some awkward icebreaker games. The next morning you logged into Zoom and received an overview of the program from the Program Coordinator or Director. Then you went into breakout rooms for one-on-one interviews.
Most of the interviews went as expected. You’re asked “Why Family Medicine?” and “Why Our Program?”. I under-appreciated how difficult it would be to answer “So, do you have any questions for me?” It’s important for the applicant to have any questions answered, but sometimes I just didn’t have questions—not because I’m a surface level type of guy, but because I had already been asked about my questions three times already for the same program.
But man, some of these programs were just asking questions for the sake of asking questions. I’m not talking about asking me my favorite food or movie. That made me feel comfortable and showcased that I could have a normal conversation with people. Buuuut….why were you making me define “bravery”? Why were you propping up rhetorical situations where my takeout order had been messed up? You really think I was going to say in an interview that I’m going to be rude to restaurant staff? LOL. Also, I noticed that some of my interviews were not with physician faculty. I can see why the Residency Coordinator might have questions for me, but every time I had an interview with an office manager, pharmacist, or a clinical psychologist, those were time slots that I could have interviewed with someone who was going to do most of my teaching if I was a resident there. What if I was applying for neurosurgery residency? Wouldn’t it be weird if 30% of my interviews were with non-neurosurgeons?
On a positive note, many Program Directors came off as really genuine. They really took a deep dive into your application and Personal Statement. They would pick out a line and say “hey, what did you mean by this?”. Applicants notice that and appreciate it.
Ranking
When it came to ranking, a lot of it came down to comfort, program reputation and location. I had very little desire in spending any more of my twenties in Upstate New York or places that reminded me of Upstate, so my ranking reflected that. Newer programs took a hit. Programs with a lot of Sports Medicine exposure and opportunities were ranked higher. I ranked my Chicago program as my number one choice because I got the best “vibes” from the faculty, residents, and Program Director. My program has a lot to offer in Sports Medicine and is otherwise well-rounded. Plus, Chicago!
Looking Forward To What’s Next
Residency is going to be difficult—no doubt. But, dude, I’m over medical school. I’m over finding my own rotations. I’m over the days when the attending doesn’t even talk to the med student, and I have nothing to do. I’m done with moving around every month and not feeling I have the time to properly date. And you know what else is getting stale? Not making any money. Money isn’t everything, but it helps. I will look back at my medical school experience and look fondly on all the friends I made. I will feel pride about achieving something extremely difficult. But perhaps I will also feel a sense of melancholy for the time spent alone in a room, the relationships that have drifted away, and the endless whistle of hellos-and-goodbyes of this crazy, transient life.
Cheers my brothers and sisters!
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