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- Aug 13, 2009
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To those of you who have gone before...
For some reason, I have been really lucky and got some "positive feedback" from 2 programs that I really like for very different reasons. I know that I can't assume that I'm ranked to match or that they didn't contact 50 other applicants too, but it has definitely added some serious weight to the decision of which I will rank first.
One program is top-tier, has a fantastic reputation, research funding galore, etc. This program will be very busy and demanding (I'm considering this a good thing), but it's crappy location and intensity won't be great on my wife and son. Furthermore, I didn't feel a great vibe among the residents and with the attendings.
The other program is much less renowned. It has a solid and well-rounded but much less established faculty, little to no research funding/resources, and it was apparent that it "demands" less of its residents. This program, does however have a great surgical volume and an amazing camaraderie among faculty and residents (best I saw on the trail) among other things. It is also in a location that my wife loves, where she has friends and it's much closer to family.
I'd love your input on this situation (I think it may be helpful to others as well).
I am currently planning to rank the smaller program higher for the following reasons.
-I would love to be in a happy/positive/sympathetic environment during residency
-I know from my experiences during med school that I function better and am able to give more energy to my work when I know my wife is happy and stable
-I am a great self-starter and feel that a strong motivation to study and read during residency could make up a good bit of ground that might be lost with the less rigorous program
My end goal is fellowship and academics, so do you all think that passing up an opportunity to train at a premier program is a mistake?? (again I realize I'm being quite persumptious here, so consider it a hypothetical question)
For some reason, I have been really lucky and got some "positive feedback" from 2 programs that I really like for very different reasons. I know that I can't assume that I'm ranked to match or that they didn't contact 50 other applicants too, but it has definitely added some serious weight to the decision of which I will rank first.
One program is top-tier, has a fantastic reputation, research funding galore, etc. This program will be very busy and demanding (I'm considering this a good thing), but it's crappy location and intensity won't be great on my wife and son. Furthermore, I didn't feel a great vibe among the residents and with the attendings.
The other program is much less renowned. It has a solid and well-rounded but much less established faculty, little to no research funding/resources, and it was apparent that it "demands" less of its residents. This program, does however have a great surgical volume and an amazing camaraderie among faculty and residents (best I saw on the trail) among other things. It is also in a location that my wife loves, where she has friends and it's much closer to family.
I'd love your input on this situation (I think it may be helpful to others as well).
I am currently planning to rank the smaller program higher for the following reasons.
-I would love to be in a happy/positive/sympathetic environment during residency
-I know from my experiences during med school that I function better and am able to give more energy to my work when I know my wife is happy and stable
-I am a great self-starter and feel that a strong motivation to study and read during residency could make up a good bit of ground that might be lost with the less rigorous program
My end goal is fellowship and academics, so do you all think that passing up an opportunity to train at a premier program is a mistake?? (again I realize I'm being quite persumptious here, so consider it a hypothetical question)