Being LIMITED on Audition: Will it affect Residency Placement?

[OnMyWayThere]

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Well, the medical school I am leaning towards has just implemented a new rule that students can audition in any given specialty a maximum of 2 times. We are given 5 electives, but we can only choose a specialty twice.

My question is this: If I decide to pursue a specialty that is competitive, will this pretty much kill my chances? It seems like many people mention auditioning a key before applying to a program and this seems like it will pretty much kill many chances.

Should I choose another acceptance based on this new rule? I have another school that will not limit my electives 😕

 

[southerndoc]

My medical school also limited rotations to two per specialty and I matched where I wanted to go at a very competitive program. So no, it won't hurt you.

 

[teamdick]

I was also limited to 2 rotations in one specialty, but you can get around it creatively. For instance, set the 3rd one as "research." Or if your specialty of choice has a peds aspect and the faculty is also on staff with the peds department, sign up through peds (unless your field is peds). Lastly, if you are given vacation time, just do an elective instead. You don't get credit towards graduation, but they can't stop you from doing it. This usually works for those competative fields where more away electives will increase your chances of matching. I was able to arrange 4 electives this way, all in the same field (very competative), and matched.

 

[maxheadroom]

Some places will offer "advanced" electives, like a Hand Surgery elective in Plastics or Ortho. Things like this could be a way to sneak around the limit.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Thanks for the great advice and insight. It is appreciated 👍

 

[Winged Scapula]

Some places will offer "advanced" electives, like a Hand Surgery elective in Plastics or Ortho. Things like this could be a way to sneak around the limit.

This is how I did it...electives also in Plastics Research and Burn Trauma (which was really more Critical Care).

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Hopefully such osteopathic electives exist in the event I do choose to specialize...