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The first call with your student: what to ask

The short call that starts every rotation: the questions that matter, what to share about your practice, how to agree the schedule and expectations, and what happens after you say yes.

Updated October 30, 20261,003 words5 min read

The short answer

The first call is a short conversation where you and the student see whether the rotation fits. Ask about their program, course, dates and hours, what they have already practiced and what they most want to learn. Share how your practice runs, and agree the days, the start date and how you will communicate. You decide after the call.

  • 8questions that cover everything that matters
  • 3things to share about your practice
  • 4expectations worth saying on the call
  • 1decision, yours, made after the call

Why the call matters

A rotation goes best when both sides know what to expect. The first call sets the tone: the student hears how you work and what you expect, and you hear what they need from the course and where they are in their program. Ten minutes of clear conversation now saves many small questions later.

Eight questions to ask

  1. 1Your program and course?The school, the program, and the clinical course this rotation is for.
  2. 2The dates?When the rotation starts and ends, and when the school’s evaluations fall.
  3. 3How many hours?What the course asks for, and how many days a week that means.
  4. 4What have you practiced so far?Earlier rotations, settings and the patients they have seen.
  5. 5What do you most want to learn?Two or three goals: a skill, a kind of visit, a population.
  6. 6How do you learn best?Some students like to watch first; others like to dive in.
  7. 7Any course objectives I should see?Ask them to send the syllabus or objectives before day one.
  8. 8How will we stay in touch?Agree a channel for schedule questions, and a time to talk each week.

Three things to share about your practice

  • A typical day: when you start, how many patients you see, and how visits flow.
  • Your patients: the population you care for and the visits that are most common.
  • How you like to teach: whether the student will see patients first and present to you, and how you give feedback.

Agreeing the schedule

Settle the days and the start date on the call, and the student can confirm them with their program. For in-person rotations, agree where to arrive, what time, and any badge or system access your facility needs. For virtual rotations, agree which visits or virtual work the student will join, and the day each week you will review their logged hours.

Setting expectations

A few expectations, said plainly on the first call, make the whole rotation easier:

  • Arrive prepared: read about the day’s common conditions the night before.
  • Log hours the same day in the school’s clinical log.
  • Present each patient briefly: what they think is going on, the evidence, and a plan.
  • Ask questions freely, and say when something is new to them.

Signs of a great fit

A student who has thought about their goals, asks good questions and is flexible about the schedule is usually a pleasure to teach. And a student whose course matches the patients you see will get the most from your practice. If the course is better suited to a different setting, your recruitment manager matches you with a student who fits.

After you say yes

Tell your recruitment manager, and the rest moves quickly. You complete your preceptor profile for the school, we prepare the affiliation agreement with your facility and the school’s forms, and your student starts on the agreed date.

A simple way to open

A warm, simple opening sets the tone: thank the student for their time, say a sentence about your practice and your patients, and ask them to tell you about their program and what they hope to learn. Then work through the questions above, share how you teach, and agree the next steps. Most first calls feel more like a conversation between colleagues than an interview.

For virtual rotations

A virtual rotation adds a few practical points to settle on the call:

  • Which video platform the student will use, and how they join visits.
  • Which visits or virtual work they will take part in.
  • The day each week you will review and sign off their hours.
  • How to reach you with a quick question.

After the call

If the fit is right, tell your recruitment manager, and our team starts the affiliation agreement and the school’s forms the same day. You complete your preceptor profile, the student confirms the dates with their program, and the first day goes on both your calendars. If the course would suit a different setting better, your recruitment manager brings you a student whose course matches your practice.

Setting up the first week

Close the call by agreeing the first week in detail: the first day and time, where to arrive, what to bring, and how records access will work. A student who knows exactly what to expect arrives relaxed and ready, and your first morning together can go to patients rather than logistics. A short confirmation message after the call, with those details in writing, keeps everyone aligned.

Questions

How is the first call held?
By phone or video, at a time that suits you both.
Who sets up the call?
Your recruitment manager arranges it with you and the student.
When do I decide?
After the call. Tell your recruitment manager, and we take care of the next steps.
What should I ask the student to send?
The course syllabus or objectives, and the school’s evaluation forms if they have them.
Should I prepare anything for the call?
Have your clinic schedule handy, so you can agree days on the call, and a sentence about your patients and how you teach.
Can I talk to the student again before they start?
Of course. Many preceptors send a short message the week before with the first day’s time and where to arrive.
What if the dates don’t suit me?
Tell your recruitment manager; we match you with a student whose term fits your schedule.

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