Just got word from my program director that LSU-New Orleans has just got ACGME approval to change to a 3-year program like the rest of the US ophtho residencies and that it will take effect with my entering class (2006)... Wanted to let those of you who are applying right now know about this...

Awesome. Good news, I suppose??

Does that affect licensing when you head back to Canada (since it's now 4 yrs post grad training, instead of 5)?

Do you think this will increase the number of applicants to LSU?

I'm not how it's going to affect heading back to Canada... I know of ophthalmologists back in Toronto that did their residency in the US so I don't think it's a problem... The program also did tell us that as we applied and were accepted into a 4 year program, that we can take the extra year if we would like... And yes, I imagine the program did this to make it much more competitive... A lot of people have mentioned that it's a great program "except for that extra year"... I think it's a great that the program decided to change with the times...

Brendang - Out of curiousity, what other programs did you apply to?

I applied to a lot, had my application in the first batch undelievered to almost 2/3'rds of them and got only a handful of interviews... The SF match has some very serious problems with efficiency... Luckily enough SUNY Downstate sent me an email telling me when they received my application... It was in November and I had sent them all off in the first batch in the cycle (June, I believe)... I later found out that the programs that invited me for interviews were only found among the first 15 that I listed... Sorry, had to vent... Still upset about the whole thing... Luckily, I love where I matched and couldn't be happier.