Phase 2 students: We share your excitement as you begin to plan for your fourth year. It's important as you lay out that year to understand the scheduling rotation guidelines, which will ensure a smooth transition and help you make more informed decisions. Here is what you need to know.
Campus Transfers
Phase 3 students (both early decision program (EDP) and standard admission) can transfer to another campus for their fourth year if they plan to do most of their rotations there.
- Students often transfer if they plan to do multiple electives at another campus since school-provided housing is only available for one rotation at another IU School of Medicine campus (see below).
Campus Designation
A student’s campus designation in MSAS is based on where they complete most of their rotations. This designation informs housing decisions if housing is requested.
- Students will communicate with their regional coordinator(s) and lead adviser about their home campus for the fourth year as they work with them to create their fourth year rotation schedules
- If a student is completing a majority of their rotations at a particular campus that is different from the home campus they designated during the scheduling process, then their home campus will be updated accordingly in MSAS by the central office.
Early Clinical Rotation
Efforts will be made to assign students one career-specific clinical rotation within their first five months (e.g., sub-I, specialty-specific elective) to obtain a letter of recommendation.
Indianapolis Housing Coverage
Regional campus students (EDP and standard admission) can choose one Phase 3 rotation (core rotation or elective) in Indianapolis for which housing will be provided. Flexibility in the rotation's timing may be required based on rotation availability and housing availability.
Multiple Rotations in Indianapolis
Students can choose to come to Indianapolis for more than one rotation, but housing is not provided beyond one rotation as stated above. In such cases, the student might consider transferring campuses as an option. If students want to come to Indianapolis for multiple specialty-specific rotations, they should consider moving to Indianapolis for their fourth year, as has been the practice in the past.
Specialty Specific Rotations
If regional campuses lack sub-I or critical care rotations in specific specialties (e.g., surgery, pediatrics, OB-GYN), students may choose to do that specialty-specific clerkship in Indianapolis or another campus that offers that rotation.
Availability and scheduling flexibility apply and cannot be guaranteed for all campuses. Housing requests are not guaranteed unless the student chooses this in Indianapolis as their one rotation for which housing is provided (indicated above).
Special Track Program
Students in special track programs (e.g., Rural Medical Education Program, Urban Medicine Program) should discuss career plans and program requirements with advisers and campus leaders. Home-campus designation is based on their associated special track campus.
If a student must maintain a specific home campus designation, they must ensure their schedules primarily occur at that campus to keep that home campus designation (this may also impact some eligibility for certain scholarships or financial aid options).
Rotations at Other Campuses (Not Indianapolis)
Rotations at other campuses (not Indianapolis) should be worked out with the regional coordinator for that campus and are subject to rotation and/or housing availability and cannot be guaranteed.
- If you are interested in rotating at another campus (not Indianapolis), we recommend contacting their regional clinical coordinator early (before scheduling begins) to discuss possible opportunities.