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Well everyone, tomorrow at noon the NRMP will start taking our submissions.
Anyone have a ROL made up yet?
Anyone have a ROL made up yet?
Anyone considering not ranking a program? I interviewed at some places I don't really want to train, but I'd much rather be there than holding a "Will work for food" sign. What would be grounds for you to not rank a program? I can't really think of any (at least none that are realistic).
Anyone considering not ranking a program? I interviewed at some places I don't really want to train, but I'd much rather be there than holding a "Will work for food" sign. What would be grounds for you to not rank a program? I can't really think of any (at least none that are realistic).
Anyone considering not ranking a program? I interviewed at some places I don't really want to train, but I'd much rather be there than holding a "Will work for food" sign. What would be grounds for you to not rank a program? I can't really think of any (at least none that are realistic).
Dude, I totally agree! The first 2 were really easy for me... the rest is ridiculous and I have no idea. I'm glad we have until Feb 25th. Also ranking 9 progs, so I really hope that is enoughya im not ranking a few programs....
but making up the list after #2 is becoming a VERY tedious task.
So is anyone else looking at weather as a factor? Some of the places that I interviewed are experiencing some of the worst winter weather in years.
Heh.
My time in the NE US has proven that I do worse in places with long, cold, dark winters. And I want to be able to exercise outside during my my time off. Given that there are good programs in every part of the country, I don't think "weather" or climate are poor factors for making a career choice....Plus, weather seems like an incredibly trite thing to consider in making a career choice!
Trite to you perhaps, but important to me and, as seen above, at least one other person. There are plenty of great programs in areas with what I consider to be great weather, so I am not certain how my career is going to suffer. On the contrary, I think having a satisfying personal life could only be of benefit to my professional life.
My time in the NE US has proven that I do worse in places with long, cold, dark winters. And I want to be able to exercise outside during my my time off. Given that there are good programs in every part of the country, I don't think "weather" or climate are poor factors for making a career choice.
I'm a little perplexed as to why people think it's impossible to get outside in the cold. I've run outside at least 4x a week since the new year. It's honestly MUCH nicer IMO than running in 90 degree heat with 80% humidity - breathing is easier and you don't overheat. A pair of thermal running pants and a windproof jacket with a hood keep me plenty warm.
I agree that cold running is better than hot for the reasons you mentioned. I'm the guy who did snow camping and enjoyed it. But the streets and sidewalks here are icy, and stay icy all winter long: I'm more worried about slipping and falling. If anyone knows of a good pair of shoes and/or crampons for running, then PM me.I'm a little perplexed as to why people think it's impossible to get outside in the cold. I've run outside at least 4x a week since the new year. It's honestly MUCH nicer IMO than running in 90 degree heat with 80% humidity - breathing is easier and you don't overheat. A pair of thermal running pants and a windproof jacket with a hood keep me plenty warm...
Before moving to ALB, I lived in CO. Yes, I'm talking about 120 extra days!...Comparing Albany to, say, LA just seems cruel! On the other hand, when I looked at the cities I interviewed in (which are scattered and essentially exclude California) the difference is really only 30 days of sunshine a year. If you are talking an extra 120 days of sunshine then that's a really different story than 30 extra days.
You must not have asthma
I agree that cold running is better than hot for the reasons you mentioned. I'm the guy who did snow camping and enjoyed it. But the streets and sidewalks here are icy, and stay icy all winter long: I'm more worried about slipping and falling. If anyone knows of a good pair of shoes and/or crampons for running, then PM me.
Before moving to ALB, I lived in CO. Yes, I'm talking about 120 extra days!
I do, in fact. And I find it's much better in the cold than in the heat.
How much do these cities vary in number sunny days? The biggest difference I saw was about 30 days total between programs I interviewed at. Conservatively you will work about 20 days out of 30, so as a resident you will see 10 days of actual sunshine for every 30 additional days of sunshine. Some of those days you will spend post-overnight or post-call. Does an extra 10 days of sunshine/yr really make or break someone's happiness?
In the end, I found there were some much more training-related factors to consider. Perhaps this is a result of having rotated through 3 very different emergency departments and 8 different hospitals in the last year and a half - I know what to look for, and I know what affects resident happiness. Things like not having to fight medicine for admissions, being able to work with an EM "team" in the ICU, getting top notch ultrasound and tox training, being at a program where residents are close and don't just spend all their off time doing their own thing are probably going to have a lot more effect on my mood day in and day out than the occasional glimpse of sunshine.
Um, well, I hear Denver has a kick-ass residency! You'll work 6 days of 7, though, so there goes that sunlight again!!!!
Why you are getting so worked up about what types of things are important to others? People pick programs for all sorts of reasons. I think you are being ridiculous if you consider yourself more knowledgeable about "what affects residents happiness" than anyone else. Weather was mentioned as a consideration not an ultimate determination of program selection or rank list. As I said before, there are great programs (with all the things you mentioned) in places with what I consider to be great weather.
And, FYI, I rotated through 3 very different EDs and 6 different hospitals and there are >100 days of sunshine difference in two of my favorite programs.
Okay, I'm prefacing this with a warning that i'm about to make a fairly crazy comment...
Am I the only one who wants to be, well, tortured a little during residency? I don't mean Bush-style ... I just mean that my biggest factors for choosing a program are things like "how chaotic is the ED?" Anyone else feel the same way - that you just want to be shoved into a war-zone ED and spend the next four years becoming the most bad-ass EM doc possible? The more I interview, this one aspect (plus feeling that the senior residents are 'strong' and that the faculty are interested in teaching and very tough and knowledgeable... and good ultrasound!) keeps coming up as my biggest deciding factor. Is this just crazy?
Haha, I have never been so far from worked up in my entire life. Living the 4th year dream, baby ! I thought I could make a contribution with an alternate viewpoint and some concrete number-crunching. I personally find a little bit of friendly debate stimulating and helpful in making me look at things from a different perspective. I guess other people feel differently, so no more contribution from me!
It wasn't your alternative viewpoint that was unfriendly - it was your description of our perspective as 'trite'. Your numbers may have been concrete for your favorite programs, but they were way off base from mine.
Whatever, the case I'm glad you are enjoying 4th year. I hope you've found the perfect program for what is important to you. Good luck in the match.
Okay, I'm prefacing this with a warning that i'm about to make a fairly crazy comment...
Am I the only one who wants to be, well, tortured a little during residency? I don't mean Bush-style ... I just mean that my biggest factors for choosing a program are things like "how chaotic is the ED?" Anyone else feel the same way - that you just want to be shoved into a war-zone ED and spend the next four years becoming the most bad-ass EM doc possible? The more I interview, this one aspect (plus feeling that the senior residents are 'strong' and that the faculty are interested in teaching and very tough and knowledgeable... and good ultrasound!) keeps coming up as my biggest deciding factor. Is this just crazy?
Nah, doesn't sound crazy to me. Though I'm finding that some places that meet that description seem like a good fit and others don't. I'd add to your requirements that the residents are all there because they want to be, and are enthusiastic about their program. Also, I want good peds experience.
Residents who are enthusiastic because a program is "chill" or because it pays really well are a big turnoff.
Okay, I'm prefacing this with a warning that i'm about to make a fairly crazy comment...
Am I the only one who wants to be, well, tortured a little during residency? I don't mean Bush-style ... I just mean that my biggest factors for choosing a program are things like "how chaotic is the ED?" Anyone else feel the same way - that you just want to be shoved into a war-zone ED and spend the next four years becoming the most bad-ass EM doc possible? The more I interview, this one aspect (plus feeling that the senior residents are 'strong' and that the faculty are interested in teaching and very tough and knowledgeable... and good ultrasound!) keeps coming up as my biggest deciding factor. Is this just crazy?
Haha, well I wouldn't say I'd like to be tortured.... but I definitely want to be worked during residency. Basically, go from hard to easy...not the other way around
This thread is USELESS WITHOUT LISTS!!!!
I'm not quite sure how to take this so I don't want to jump to any conclusions.Spoken like a medical student. It's one thing to be challenged. It's another thing to be beaten down and sucked under.