[Seetal]

Hi everyone.

I'm pretty confused about the electives and externship. i was under the impression that the electives we do in the US whilst still a medical student can earn us an LOR. and the electives are for 2 weeks was it? but a friend of mine said he heard that the externship is better and that we have to do that for 3 to 6 months (also whilst a medical student)!!! but i do understand that if we do not do our electives then when we graduate we'll have to do our observership for 2 to 3 months.

can someone please explain the electives to me please. if its only for a short period then i'd rather do the electives than the observership as the observership will require more funds (for living expenses etc). also, do we pay to do our electives? if yes, how much?

thanking u in advance for yr help

 

[AmeriClerkships]

Electives/Externship/Clerkship rotation training

Hello I will be happy to explain these for you. An externship is a program that is much different than a clinical clerkship. This is very often confused by our IMG's but this terminology shouldn't be used. A clinical clerkship is a structured teaching environment with goals and objectives and you receive a clinical evaluation and grade at the end of each clinical block. You have medical liability coverage as well which is required by law if you are interacting with patients in anyway.

An externship doesn't have any of these features and in some cases is specifically discarded by residency programs and viewed as being "illegal" training.

You can gain core and elective rotations through our clerkship program. This means that the specialty you wish to apply in will be your core (for example Internal Medicine) and your electives are applicable to this specialty (for example cardiology or neurology). Your clinical schedule must be selected carefully and I will be happy to do this for you. You can contact me directly with any further questions. I will be happy to help

 

[khanar]

Hi everyone.

I'm pretty confused about the electives and externship. i was under the impression that the electives we do in the US whilst still a medical student can earn us an LOR. and the electives are for 2 weeks was it? but a friend of mine said he heard that the externship is better and that we have to do that for 3 to 6 months (also whilst a medical student)!!! but i do understand that if we do not do our electives then when we graduate we'll have to do our observership for 2 to 3 months.

can someone please explain the electives to me please. if its only for a short period then i'd rather do the electives than the observership as the observership will require more funds (for living expenses etc). also, do we pay to do our electives? if yes, how much?

thanking u in advance for yr help

It depends on your college. Some colleges sponsor your electives and so you don't have to pay any penny for it. While other colleges set you on your own to choose the elective that you want.

Observership is different. It's just watching and doe not involve patient interaction. Externship is training after graduation that involves some kind of patient interaction such as the one mentioned here by Molly Fraser.

In any case, you better do over 6 months of training in a US hospital. This training can be in the form of elective or (after graduation) you can call it externship.

Americlerkships and other companies will help you find these clinical rotations (in return for a fee). You have to sign up with them if your medical school does not provide sponsorship for your (undergrad years) electives.

 

[Seetal]

It depends on your college. Some colleges sponsor your electives and so you don't have to pay any penny for it. While other colleges set you on your own to choose the elective that you want.

Observership is different. It's just watching and doe not involve patient interaction. Externship is training after graduation that involves some kind of patient interaction such as the one mentioned here by Molly Fraser.

In any case, you better do over 6 months of training in a US hospital. This training can be in the form of elective or (after graduation) you can call it externship.

Americlerkships and other companies will help you find these clinical rotations (in return for a fee). You have to sign up with them if your medical school does not provide sponsorship for your (undergrad years) electives.

ok thanks. i understand the differences now and i think im going for the electives instead. but my friend only did an 8-week elective course and got in the cleveland hospital with really good LOR. so are u sure i HAVE to do over 6 months instead of just 2 months? 6 months is a little steep no? cos ill have to skip my internship classes here which means i would graduate much later.

 

[Seetal]

Hello I will be happy to explain these for you. An externship is a program that is much different than a clinical clerkship. This is very often confused by our IMG's but this terminology shouldn't be used. A clinical clerkship is a structured teaching environment with goals and objectives and you receive a clinical evaluation and grade at the end of each clinical block. You have medical liability coverage as well which is required by law if you are interacting with patients in anyway.

An externship doesn't have any of these features and in some cases is specifically discarded by residency programs and viewed as being "illegal" training.

You can gain core and elective rotations through our clerkship program. This means that the specialty you wish to apply in will be your core (for example Internal Medicine) and your electives are applicable to this specialty (for example cardiology or neurology). Your clinical schedule must be selected carefully and I will be happy to do this for you. You can contact me directly with any further questions. I will be happy to help

thank u Molly. I will get in touch with u soon.

 

[AmeriClerkships]

thank u Molly. I will get in touch with u soon.

Okay great, now in regards to your requests for 8 weeks of training instead of 24 weeks, this choice is up to you. There are some pograms that will only require that amount but there are also programs that will not consider you as a probable applicant without 24 weeks of training in the US. 8 weeks could be sufficient for many programs, but not all. Each program has their own requirements. Please let me know if you would like further clarification

 

[drcuddles]

Okay great, now in regards to your requests for 8 weeks of training instead of 24 weeks, this choice is up to you. There are some pograms that will only require that amount but there are also programs that will not consider you as a probable applicant without 24 weeks of training in the US. 8 weeks could be sufficient for many programs, but not all. Each program has their own requirements. Please let me know if you would like further clarification

Do u provide electives for students in their final years, or only hands-on experience (externships) ?

 

[AmeriClerkships]

Yes we do help with clinical placement for students as well as graduates.I have a form available to be filled out by your medical. It is a single page form that will define the requirements of your school.

You can private message me if you would like more details I am happy to help you.

Do u provide electives for students in their final years, or only hands-on experience (externships) ?

 

[Chicagoclerkships]

Clarity about Clinical Electives

There is a lot of misinformation out there, so please be advised. Hanadi has got it exactly right.

If you are already graduated from medical school, a hands-on externship (not observership) provides you with exactly what you need for the match: a letter of reference that attests to your experience in a US clinical setting and that speaks to your clinical skills.

There is plenty of speculation out there as to how many letters are necessary, and how much emphasis the review committee puts on the letters. This will vary from program to program, as they are looking at your scores, your interview, and your letters.

But the general consensus among the experts is that you should have at least two letters, and it does not matter what the setting is, hospital or office, as long as the letters are relevant to the specialty you are trying to match.

If you are still a medical student, a program offering clinical electives should provide you with a transcript (credits) that will be accepted at your school. Be very careful to make sure that this is the case. Here is a link that has a listing of US accredited institutions that provide the clinical electives: http://www.usmletomd.com/tips4match/2007/09/hospitals-offering-clinical-electives.html. Note that they are all academic institutions.

If you would like more information about hands-on clinical externships offered by Chicago Clerkships, please visit our website or contact me directly.

Lori Ramos

 

[shwetha prasad]

hi everyone

i m an img from india doin my internship now..planning to do clerkship this yr..i dont have adequate info can u pls help me out
thanking u in advance

 

[AmeriClerkships]

Hello Dr Prasad,I have responded to your private message. I look forward to helping you

Molly

i m an img from india doin my internship now..planning to do clerkship this yr..i dont have adequate info can u pls help me out
thanking u in advance

 

[lyl33]

externship

as IMG ..its hard to get residency in surgery esp neuro .....currently i m preparing for step 1 ...what is requirement to get in surgery residency