I had no clue how M's school would handle his third year rotations since his program is a bit larger. They made it complicated as everything else he's done for them!
This is the annoying breakdown, I hope I've simplified it enough: M's class gets split into two groups A and B. Group A is M's group and they do their short blocks first from May to October. Then from October to April of 2014 they will have their long blocks. Group B is the opposite with long blocks first followed by short ones. We really wanted M to get surgery done with first but it looks like we are waiting till October because it is a long block.
Then there is the lottery. The students were randomly assigned two numbers. The lower numbers (1 is the lowest) are the best because you are the first to choose. M got 2 and 71, so he has one good choice. You can use your good choice for either the short or long rotations. That's where I came in, M wasn't sure if he should pick a good round of short blocks close to home or a good round of long blocks close to home.
I told him use the choice for the longer blocks. Surgery, internal med, and neuro will be stressful enough without him being stuck at a horrible hospital an hour away. Plus even if he gets last pick with the short blocks they will be ones I think he'll enjoy regardless of the hospital. The shorter blocks are OB, Peds, Family Med... And I'm forgetting one.
Family Med is at a place of your choosing as long as there is space for you- one of the hospital choices is in our hometown! M kind of wants to do that, but I hope the hospital is full. The last thing I need is him half a day away living with his parents for two months. Kill me.
He also has an elective during both sets of rounds, but they haven't told the students the options they have. And they have to pick tomorrow. Sheesh, it's nearly as bad as when they didn't approve loans until two months AFTER the second year started- students were starving themselves waiting for it!
It will be exciting to see what he ends up getting for the short blocks. The closest rotation is right down the street and the furthest one is four hours away.
Any words of advice?
Happy Valentines Day to all of you readers by the way! May you feel love and appreciated everyday.