For your "friend" about whom you are worried and came to SDN for him/her:
1. Hard to quantify. Probably an advantage. Some programs are better than others. Big EM names are not always big IM names. Good luck putting a number to it.
2. Can help or hurt depending on the person. We like known quantities. Other specialties do, too.
3. Defer to medical directors here to answer. Would imagine it depends on the class.
4. PDs can speak for this, but imagine is also variable.
5. Depends, what other options are there?
6. Nitpicking. You know it when you see it.
