I would like to ask that people display common courtesy in regards to scheduling of electives. If you schedule an elective and then get a better or more desirable elective could people please have the courtesy to inform the hospital of your cancellation. Getting electives is hard enough without open spots being left unfilled b/c people cancel and don't open those spots for others. The hospital where I am at now has 4 open spots for electives that people just didn't show up and didn't notify the hospital. I will not mention what schools they are from. This same hospital has a backlog until November 2008 for electives. Those IM elective spots are highly sought and 4 went to waste. The clinical director was not happy about it as she had may students that asked about electives. Not showing up without notice is not only unprofessional, but does not represent your school well. Foreign grads have it hard enough without our fellow brethen making it more difficult for us to finish in a timely manner. I will get off my soap box now.