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Field/Specialty of Electives

You should always try to electives in the field/specialty of your choice because it would help you later on. A Medicine/ Medicine sub-specialty LOR would be better than an Opthalmology LOR for applying into a IM program but again Opthalmology LOR is better than no LOR for IM residency...but in case you dont find electives in the specialty of your choice , its better to apply in a related specialty.

However if you dont find elective in any related specialty, grab whatever you get to fulfil the criteria of USCE but always remember you have to justify your reason and choice for electives while residency interviews.

So before going for electives, it is strongly advised to spend a lot of time to finalize your specialty and then stick to it in future.

Himanshu Adlakha (not verified)

Fri, 08/28/2009 - 14:39

 Hello Umar Bhai................

 I applied in for various univs for electives.........till now I have got positive reply from thomas jefferson medical school,

as im interested in residency for IM, but in jefferson I am getting 1 month each  in Emergency and neurology........(ARE THESE CONSIDERED TO BE SUB SPECIALTIES OF IM?) 
due you think that these would be helpful for me in IM interviews..............
if I get electives in particular sub specialties ( like cardio, rheuma, hemato) of IM in other UNIVs.  I should go for these and leave Jefferson?
 
Regards....

 Emergency Medicine electives help in almost all the fields of medicine but keep one thing in mind, it is very difficult to get a LOR from Emergency medicine as there is a new attending almost every day....

well neuro is not a sub-specialty of medicine.... but somewhat similar... I think both of them would help u in interview but not as much as a IM or IM sub-specialty elective... 

as compared to other electives...there are so many other things to keep in mind... like fees, big names etc... obviously if u can get an IM or IM sub-specialty it would be much better... tc and best of luck!

swati (not verified)

Tue, 09/08/2009 - 18:49

hello umar bhai,u are doing an amazing job!wanted to ask you,which universities should i apply if i want a clerkship in peadiatrics?and do all these univ require malpractice insurance?and hw much will doing a clerkship approx cost,thank you

 hi swati...thanks a lot for your kind words! well... honestly speaking there is not a separate list of universities for any specialty including pediatrics... usually most of them require malpractice insurance... as far as cost is concerned... plz visit the list of universities webpage... tc and best of luck!

Visitor (not verified)

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 12:55

ASA.. in 4th year how can i decide that in which speciality i shud go for, to apply 4 electives..?? cuz v haven"t studied surgery,medicine,gynaecology and all till now.. 

you decide your specialty generally not on the basis of the subjects you like but the lifestyle or work you like...... e.g surgery guys have long working hours but interesting work to do...... internal medicine guys have their own charms and interests.... especially not as long working hours as compared to surgery and not as tough work... the best way would be to spend sometime in the wards of the specialty of your choice....

Visitor (not verified)

Sat, 01/16/2010 - 10:10

 hi umar bhai,

wanted to know which is a better elective to do- nuclear med @NW or dermatology @SUNY downstate, keeping in view a future residency in IM?

thnax

renu (not verified)

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 16:27

will there be a chance 2 do electives in gyn obs .if yes which is the university in which i can apply and is there any benefit in doin gyn obs electives if i am intrested in taking gyn obs as my residency

plz hlp

thank u


 

Visitor (not verified)

Tue, 04/13/2010 - 18:00

Hi

Can i take electives in schools which dont have residency prog?

universities selection for electives affect admission in residency

waiting for your reply

Visitor (not verified)

Mon, 07/12/2010 - 08:37

hi umar............i completed my med this year.i am a house surgeon nw.i am taking toefl in august.i want an elective in paediatrics.but i have heard that  the elective in dis sub is not that easy to get...is it true????electives in any other subject will help me???????? plz do reply...and put me out of this great confusion

u can certainly get electives in Paeds if u r lucky, fill application properly and have good in CV; in addition to Paeds and its sub-specialties, you can also apply to IM, Family Practice and their sub-specialties

Anand (not verified)

Tue, 12/07/2010 - 07:21

Hi ,

I am nearing the end of internship. I want to work towards a residency in Internal Medicine. I was late in applying for IM electives and was not accepted anywhere I applied save for an elective in Plastic Surgery in Northwestern University. I have also approached Americlerkships to help me with USCE. I need help with the decision on accepting/declining the elective at Northwestern. I would be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

kaushik (not verified)

Fri, 12/10/2010 - 13:32

hi umar bhai,

ur site has been a great help for my step prep.. i m expecting my step1 ...i am doing my intership.i dont have any visa problem..i want to apply for research ,but i dont know how to apply, and

if you kindly answer..

1. what documents generally requires?

 2.in how many days toefl score reported.?

3.is anything called research electives..can i directly contact those institue?

4.is there any database where research postions are available and research volunters are required?

Anzal (not verified)

Fri, 07/15/2011 - 06:12

Hello Umar,

 I am writing to ask if you could sort of point me in the right direction regarding US electives. I am currently ending my 4th year in medicine, and I'm scheduled to graduate mid next year. What I wanted to ask is, apparently, since I come from a carribean med school, I've had trouble finding states that would approve of me and, sicne you mentioned it's always better to do your electives where you plan to work in the future, I have been limited to finding electives in places other than the major states (California, New Jersey, Indiana, Texas, Florida, and New york for starters do not approve my school. Currently, Illinois seems to be all right. I am planning to do a Trauma Surgery elective along with one other in Northwestern Memorial. However, I need to find other places I can apply and benefit from electives since Northwestern does not have residency programs, so a possible LOR would not really benefit me as much as doing the elective where I can redo a residency. I am interested mainly in Surgery or Gastro, but I want electives that seem like theyr more pro-active than the usual elective programs.


Could you help me out with the following:

1. Is Mount Sinai a good school for my circumstance in the sense of good electives, LOR possibilities and possible surgical residency for a Foreign Medical Graduate

2. Should I wait to complete my surgery core (the last of my cores) and THEN begin the application process, or should I somehow contact Northwestern NOW and let them know I'm interested.

3. Would a hospital affiliated with another university like Rush, accept me into their electives program?


Thanks a lot for your help, I realize I've written too much already, but I really need someone to help me start off in the right direction. My ultimate goal is to do my residency in the states and I do not want to lose the opportunity to gain an edge by losing my chnace to do ANY elective there.


Anzal

wenskyrose (not verified)

Fri, 11/04/2011 - 18:47


Hi,

 I have got acceptance from northwestern for dermatology and radiology elective in feb and mar. Thanks to all.

I wish to know what kind of LOR should I request.. Would it clearly mention the speciality ? is it possible that they write one mentioning only Medicine.

drhnis (not verified)

Tue, 11/29/2011 - 13:41

Does SUNY Downstate offer Neurology electives to International students? does any1 have any idea?

Visitor (not verified)

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 17:37

hii... i am an indian medical studnet and i am in my final year of internship.. i hav not given ny of the usmle steps or toefl.. i want to get a clerkship done.. can u help me by briefing me about the universities available where i can apply,,...

hello sir,I have a very silly question but thats breaking my head since few days.Can we apply for clinical rotations in the same hospital more than once i mean if we dont get in the first place,can we apply later wid other subjects in the preferred list for rotations?

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