Clerkship Scheduling

The clerkship scheduling program works to maximize the chances that the majority of students will get one of their top schedule choices, but this is not guaranteed. Students will improve their chances if they fill out and return their preclinical clerkship evaluations.

Clerkship sites

Clinical clerkships are completed mainly on the wards and clinics of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center. Students also rotate through private physician offices and affiliated institutions.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to clerkship sites. A few affiliated institutions provide apartments for students who want to live close to their clerkship site.

Site assignments

Site assignments are handled by the department that oversees the clerkship. Students should indicate on the department’s preference form whether or not they have a car. While departments try to be sensitive to transportation issues, a lack of a car won’t necessarily prevent you from being assigned to an affiliated hospital in a different city.

Students should submit their preference forms to the department by the posted deadline date. Failure to do so will result in the student being assigned to any available site.

Changing a clerkship schedule

In order to change a clerkship schedule after it has been assigned, students must:

Fill out a clerkship/elective change form giving reasons for the change
Meet with the registrar
Get approval from the associate dean for student affairs

Note: No change except in the case of an emergency will be considered less than four weeks before the start of the clerkship. (Six weeks before Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry).

Deferring a clerkship

One clinical block may be deferred to the fourth year to do research, take a career-defining elective or to attend to a major personal event, such as getting married or having a baby.
Clerkships that may be deferred are Ambulatory Medicine, Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Permission must be obtained from the associate dean for student affairs and the deputy dean for education.
Students must apply for a deferment with the registrar at least four weeks before the clerkship (six weeks before Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychiatry).

Note: Deferred clerkships should be taken as early as possible in the fourth year and must be taken before October.