Where to rotate

Hey guys, I am a third year DO student. I am currently in the process of deciding where to rotate. It looks like I'll have 3 away rotations, before interview season (December). The first will be at my home program, an ACGME program that I have a decent shot at. The next two will likely be AOA programs. I'm not near any AOA programs, and I don't know very much about them. I was wondering what programs you guys like and didn't like. I would want good programs that I have a decent shot of getting into.

My stats = top 5% in my class, 615 COMLEX, 200 hrs ortho lab research which I won a couple of awards for, honors research class, extra classes in med school amounting to about 200 extra hours of class, volunteering awards, mission trips, etc.

Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I am a third year DO student... an ACGME program that I have a decent shot at.

I'm also a DO student, but don't get your hopes up. Also, you will probably need a USMLE Step1 for the ACGME program (you might have taken it, but just not listed it). Your best chances are at AOA programs unless you are nothing short of the Dali Lama. For AOA programs, the best places I rotated at were (in no particular order): Columbus, Harrisburg, and Chicago with Columbus and Harrisburg being the superior two. I rotated at 2 other programs, but I did not feel there were of the same quality as the three mentioned. Also have a buddy heading out to NY, and he says he loved the program. Also have heard good things about Dayton and the Phily program. Good luck and PM me if you have any other questions.

Thanks for the response man. I did take the USMLE Step 1, and I did really well on it, good enough to get into an ACGME residency. We have a program here in my home town that is extremely DO friendly (mainly to people from our school). I have 3 friends there right now, and I know a lot of the residents and program director really well, so I have a decent shot there. Otherwise, I am NOT the Dali Lama, ha ha so I think that will be the only place I go ACGME.

On the other hand, do you think my stats (above) are good enough to get me into the programs you mentioned if I rotate at them?

Thanks again man.

For the DO ortho prgrams, yes. You would be very competitive. Assuming you are a hard worker, and know your ortho, and that there are no glaring problems with your application, I would assume you would be a strong candidate. If you had the opportunity, you might want to do as many audition rotations as you can and not limit yourself to 3. I did 5, and I ultimately matched at the place I did my last rotation.

Could you tell us what your stats were like? I have a 650+ but I am ranked in the bottom 3rd of my class. I have done well in rotations and will go balls to the walls in audition rotations but I am still worried that I may not be competitive. Only 1/4 matched from our school this year, and that one match was at our home program. Thanks for your input.