BASIC INFO

 1. What are electives?

• Electives also called as Clerkships are something like internship which we do in India. We work in a hospital in America under some qualified doctor to gain clinical experience and get akin to the U.S health care system. 

2. Who all can apply for  it?

•   All medical students who have not graduated yet and are still doing their internship can apply for this. Note - Once u graduate u cant do electives.

3. Does my college consider this as a part of my internship?

•  No it dosent , this is like a extra activity u will be doing for the purpose of USMLE. You will have to complete your remaining internship after u come back after finishing your electives.

4. Is this mandatory for USMLE?

• This is not mandatory for getting residency but u will have an advantage over others if u have clinical experience.

5. What are its benefits ( advantages) ?

•  You get exposed to U.S health care system which is different from India.
•  You will have USCE ( united states clinical experience) which will be a good plus point during your residency match.
•  You get a chance to get a LOR ( more on this later) from the doctor u are working under. this is also a plus point for ur match.

6. What is the difference between electives, observersips and externships?

•  In observerships u just accompany a doctor and are not allowed to touch a patient. u learn by looking. In externships u are allowed to do some procedures but not all. But in electies u can do all procedures and also examine and touch the patient. so u learn more. Externships are difficult to get. and observerships have lost value.