Alright so rotations let’s talk about that you’re in one place and then—suddenly you’re in surgery it’s like one second you’re handling pediatrics and then out of nowhere boom you’re dealing with something totally different it’s almost like you’re bouncing around like a pinball and before you know it—BAM! you’re somewhere else new people new tasks it’s like your whole world shifts you’re just trying to keep up you know

You’ve got to figure it out because no one’s going to do that for you sometimes it feels like you’re just jumping from place to place not really getting settled or maybe they let you stay in one spot long enough to actually dig into it but either way it’s pretty intense do you want to explore everything or stick with one thing until you’ve got it down you’ve got to ask them how it works because otherwise you’re just guessing and that’s not going to help you

Day to Day—What’s It Like?
Your day starts here and then—before you even realize it you’re somewhere else every rotation brings something new one day everything’s calm and then the next day it’s like you’re caught in a storm you’re not just moving around physically but mentally too trying to adapt and just when you think you’ve got a handle on things—switch it’s something you really need to think about

You should ask them what a typical day looks like but let’s be honest there’s no such thing as a typical day there’s always something different a surprise waiting for you around the corner and that could be exciting or it could be terrifying but you won’t know until you ask

Supervision—How Much?
Some days you’ve got someone there guiding you through everything and other days it feels like they’ve just tossed you into the deep end sink or swim right there’s supposed to be a balance but who really knows sometimes you’re left to figure things out on your own and other times someone’s watching your every move maybe you like one way better than the other but do you even know which one suits you and does the program match that

So yeah you need to ask how much you’re going to be on your own and when you can expect someone to be there to help out it’s a mix or maybe it’s not only they can tell you

Patient Mix—Who Will You See?
Today you’re working with kids tomorrow it’s the elderly you could see a wide range of people from different backgrounds or maybe it’s more of the same who are these patients where do they come from does it even matter well it should because the kind of patients you see can totally shape what you learn

Ask about the patients having diverse experiences can teach you a lot but maybe you’re looking for something specific you won’t know unless you ask that’s the only way to find out

Feedback—How Will You Grow?
You’re putting in the work but how do you know if it’s enough feedback is key but do they even give it and when they do what’s it like do they let you know right away or are you left hanging and when they give feedback is it helpful or just critical does it actually support your growth these things matter a lot

So you need to ask how often they give feedback and what kind of feedback it is because your growth totally depends on it you can’t get better if you don’t know where you stand

Curriculum—What’s the Focus?
What’s the curriculum like what are you going to learn and how are they going to teach it is it hands-on or more theoretical do you want a broad experience or something super focused the curriculum is what’s going to shape your residency it’s the core of everything you’ll do

You’ve got to ask about the curriculum understand the structure know what you’re getting into it’s your future you need to make sure it aligns with your goals whether they’re offering a mix of everything or focusing heavily on certain areas you need to know if the curriculum is leading you where you want to go

Mentorship—Who’s Got Your Back?
So who’s going to help you out when things get tough who’s going to be there to guide you mentors can be a big deal but are they even around and if they are how often will you actually see them will they help you navigate through all the challenges or are you mostly on your own it’s something you’ve really got to find out

Ask about mentorship who’s going to be there for you when you’re struggling when you need advice who’s going to step up it’s not just about the learning it’s about having someone to guide you through it a mentor could be the key to your success or maybe you’ll have to figure it out solo either way you need to know what you’re walking into

Work-Life Balance—Is It Possible?
You’re going to work hard no question about that but what about your life outside of work residency can be all-consuming but does it have to be you’ve got to ask about the balance how many hours are you working is there time to breathe or are you expected to keep going 24/7 is there support for your well-being or are you just expected to tough it out

Sure work is important but so is having a life outside of it you need balance ask about it make sure there’s room for you to live not just work are they expecting you to burn out or is there actually time to recharge this could make or break how you handle residency

Location—Where Will You Be?
It’s not just about the hospital it’s about the whole package where you’re going to live the city the community the vibe what’s the area like is it somewhere you’ll actually enjoy living or just a place you have to deal with for a few years

Ask about the location what’s nearby can you afford to live there or is it going to stretch you too thin will you have fun when you’re off the clock or is it going to be a drag the right environment can make all the difference in your residency experience so don’t brush this off it really matters

Reputation—What Do Others Say?
And finally what do people say about the program what’s its reputation that can tell you a lot but it’s not everything still you need to know what you’re getting into right

So ask about the reputation dig into it find out what others are saying it could influence your decision or maybe it won’t but better to know than to be caught off guard

Choosing the right residency program isn’t just another step it’s a big deal it’s where you’ll grow learn and become the doctor you’ve always wanted to be asking the right questions is key to making sure the program is the right fit for you your goals and your lifestyle

To learn more about our medical school application consulting service visit SOS Admissions don’t leave your future to chance get the guidance you need to make smart decisions and excel in your residency