BMC
S: Not a good vibe here. Most of the staff seemed disinterested in the interviewees. Day started with an off-the-cuff presentation lasting about 45 min, after a 45 min wait in a small room with some coffee and continental type breakfast. It seemed that the vice pd spoke a lot, but never really said anything. After he excused himself for whatever reason, the other students all kinda looked at each other with a "what happened" look on their face. One was even entertaining the idea of walking out, but decided against it. After a 20 minute period after the vice PD walked out, he came back in mumbling something about "he's not showing up," and decided to start the interviews. I was invited into his office, at which point he opens my file, looks me in the eye, and says "I haven't read your file... what schools did you go to?" So after regurgitating that part of my PS, he asks me what my board score means, and I answer "nobody really knows... the nbme keeps it that way so that they can prevent tampering etc..." then, realizing that he is unprepared, he hits me with "what questions do you have for me?" After I finish interviewing him (b/c that is what really happened) I walked out realizing that he never really answered any of my questions. Turns out, he was vague as hell with the other interviewees too. So fast forward a few mins to interview 2 w/PD "why anesthesia" he asks... so, after reading him that part of my personal statement, he then hits me with "well what questions do you have for me" Again, vague as could possibly be. We go back into our holding area, are fed some lasagna, and a cuppla residents make their way down... one at a time b/c the attendings that were interviewing us had to go upstairs to relieve them... so I figure maybe I can get some meat outta these cats.
me: "how do you like the program?"
res1: "it's good"
me: "how's the teaching?"
res1: "it's good"
me: any negatives
res1: "not really"
me: "do you mind if I borrow your mom for a while... my room gets lonely"
res1: "not really"
the last one was a mental extrapolation. Anyhow, the other residents were pretty vague, and only answered questions that were qualitative, with good being the only option.
The tour of the campus was cancelled b/c our guide was too busy with a case. This last sentence speaks volumes about the program, as well as leads me into...
O: Work hard. CA1= 8 call/mo, 2=6-7, 3=5-6. Call rooms not shown to us. $8 on call food, $4 postcall in a cafeteria that serves termite $hit and eye of newt. Pay=50K. Parking 35/mo. Housing= expensive as all hell. Ancillary staff is hit or miss. No time to study, no time for research, residents looked haggard, and tired. PD makes it clear that they are looking to train people they want to hire into their private group... which works their as$es off. AV room is cutting edge, but small as a closet. Along with this is the web-based access. You can see the lectures b4-hand, and do questions. Board pass last yr=100%. Nice touch screen projector. Strong in peds, regional improving, hearts are strong, only kidney transplants, poor in neuro d/t lack of cranis, ob improving. Residents have no problem getting fellowships in elite neighboring programs. No autochart system= you're charting everything for every case. Boston is cool, tons of things to do.
A: Everyone is so vague b/c they can't really soften the crappy work/learn ratio verbally without scaring off students.
P: I'll quit medicine if this is where I end up matching (negotiable). Even so, I'll rank 'em d/t my fear of not matching. They will be ranked according to above review.
