Nsg applicant town hall

[Guest]

I think all applicants this year want to do aways. What we're worried about is the SNS statement saying "external rotations will be looked upon unfavorably". It's great that some programs will continue to offer them, but students don't want to take the risk of being blacklisted from how many ever programs follow the SNS guidelines. Especially since neurosurgery is getting tougher and tougher to match. No one wants to burn any bridges

[Guest]

(05-02-2020, 11:30 PM)Guest Wrote: Senior resident at a busy midwest program. Our PD also said that if our institution allows it, we will give a chance to applicants to rotate here. No talks, by any means, about retaliation against applicants who did aways. At the same time, I don’t think it will make those without aways look less competitive to us. Don’t stress out. If you can get an Away, because “you” want to get to know the field better or connect with more people, then do it. But don’t think that if you don’t do so, you’re not going to match. The process is going to be fair regarding this aspect of the application, in my opinion.

+1 here. We're opening back up in mid-June as per the medical school and we'll likely take Sub-Is. It sounds like quite a few other top places (including the BNI) will take rotators as well. Highly doubt that not having away letters will hurt you (and it definitely won't here). I have no idea what they're talking about at the SNS meeting. 

I understand where some of you are coming from though. Here's an idea for the med students - why not rotate at top places you'd like to go, request a letter, and then just don't send that letter to any other programs (or programs that you're worried will penalize you). You can choose exactly which programs get specific letters. The real benefit of an away is to maximize your chances of matching here (by showing up, working hard, being a great person to be around). You can still do this and avoid the negative repercussions it sounds like you're all worried about.

[Guest]

I'm sure what they're trying to do is to even the playing field. There will be certain states/institutions that will have fewer travel restrictions than others. Discontinuing sub I's across the board puts everyone at the same disadvantage. It also keeps students in cities with multiple programs (NYC, Boston, Houston, Phily, LA, Bay Area... Many more) from doing aways at institutions in their city. Also, if travel restrictions are just in the state students could rotate at programs in their state. I agree that for the students from more well connected programs may have an advantage over someone from a place with no program. However, with that being said board scores, pubs, grades will still matter. If you're from a big name program and you have trash scores compared to someone who killed it on boards and has published it would be stupid to think that person has a disadvantage compared to the big name low score person.

Remember, just because the state allows travel doesn't mean your institution will. everyone has worked hard. Those who are going to match will match regardless of away rotations or a random general surgery letter. People may not match at a place they initially had hoped for, but you'll still be a neurosurgeon. Don't let a little adversity get in your way now or else residency will be difficult and short for you.

[Guest]

(05-02-2020, 11:45 PM)Guest Wrote: I think all applicants this year want to do aways. What we're worried about is the SNS statement saying "external rotations will be looked upon unfavorably". It's great that some programs will continue to offer them, but students don't want to take the risk of being blacklisted from how many ever programs follow the SNS guidelines. Especially since neurosurgery is getting tougher and tougher to match. No one wants to burn any bridges

Just give it some time. Once places like the BNI, NW and other top institutions start announcing they're allowing rotators these statements will be walked back. Top applicants rotate at these places and there's no way these institutions will blackball half of the top quartile of applicants.

[Guest]

(05-03-2020, 01:02 AM)Guest Wrote:

(05-02-2020, 11:45 PM)Guest Wrote: I think all applicants this year want to do aways. What we're worried about is the SNS statement saying "external rotations will be looked upon unfavorably". It's great that some programs will continue to offer them, but students don't want to take the risk of being blacklisted from how many ever programs follow the SNS guidelines. Especially since neurosurgery is getting tougher and tougher to match. No one wants to burn any bridges

Just give it some time. Once places like the BNI, NW and other top institutions start announcing they're allowing rotators these statements will be walked back. Top applicants rotate at these places and there's no way these institutions will blackball half of the top quartile of applicants.

That's what I'm hoping. I just want some clarity on these statements

[Guest]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing

lets get this spreadsheet filled out

[Guest]

So seem like current agreement now is: do subI as your own risk WITHOUT letter after and general surgery rotation for general surgery letter? This is like stress...after stress after stress from COVID.

[Guest]

(05-03-2020, 11:57 AM)Guest Wrote: So seem like current agreement now is: do subI as your own risk WITHOUT letter after and general surgery rotation for general surgery letter? This is like stress...after stress after stress from COVID.

 Neurosurgery is stress after stress. Welcome to the field!

[Guest]

(05-03-2020, 01:20 PM)Guest Wrote:

(05-03-2020, 11:57 AM)Guest Wrote: So seem like current agreement now is: do subI as your own risk WITHOUT letter after and general surgery rotation for general surgery letter? This is like stress...after stress after stress from COVID.

 Neurosurgery is stress after stress. Welcome to the field!

Sorry that statement was supposed to be sarcastic...I know neurosurgery is stressful lol, but I was under the impression that guideline is there to make it fair and easy for students, but then from all comments here, i feel like it is doing the opposite. I am curious how many of us out there actually think that this policy is making this year match easier to navigate in the presence of COVID pandemic.

[Guest]

(05-03-2020, 11:57 AM)Guest Wrote: So seem like current agreement now is: do subI as your own risk WITHOUT letter after and general surgery rotation for general surgery letter? This is like stress...after stress after stress from COVID.

I'm the resident who posted above. Again, where is the risk? You can choose to add or completely ignore any and all letters that are uploaded within ERAS. If you don't feel comfortable doing a Sub-I and not asking for a letter, then request one and just don't assign it to any programs except for the place you rotated. You don't have to advertise that you rotated somewhere.