changes at South carolina(columbia program)?

[anesthesiarocks]

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I can't decide if I want to rank it #1 or another program(lets call it program B) #1. I feel pretty sure I can go to program B and would be ok with that.

However, south carlolina's psych program is famous for it's "no call" thing(it's really sort of a mixed/extremely limited confusing home call type of thing), but for practical purposes it amounts to no or little call. On the other hand program B, although far from a malignant program, makes their first years do about 5 overnight calls per month and the second years do about 2 per month. Thats reasonable I suppose and about the norm, but obviously compared to the columbia program it's very different.

But now Im hearing rumors how the columbia program is going to change it's famous no-call schedule. if thats the case I dont want to rank it. That changes everything.....anyone familar with usc heard any talk like that?

 

[chameleonknight]

My initial response to this was, "oh, it's you again."

But I'm going to bridle my counter-transference 😉 and say if you think you'd be happier with the training at program B, then you'll probably be happier there.....even on call. 🙂

 

[anesthesiarocks]

My initial response to this was, "oh, it's you again."

But I'm going to bridle my counter-transference 😉 and say if you think you'd be happier with the training at program B, then you'll probably be happier there.....even on call. 🙂

the difference in how I "view" the programs is roughly the same. the citys are roughly the same. The rep of the programs is roughly the same. Right now now I'm leaning towards programB because it's *slightly* closely to my family.....but the no call thing would way overcome that. Just wondering if anyone knew if the rumors of the changes at USC are true...

 

[BobA]

I don't want to encourage your sloth (b/c it makes all psychiatrists look bad, not just you - and it does make you look particularly bad and makes me worry for your future patients) but in the spirit of being helpful:

I wouldn't ask the PD or PC directly, but don't you have contacts there? Did you meet any residents on your visit? You could email them and find out. I doubt they'd rat you out to the PD.

Also, I think DebDynamite is a resident there (maybe I'm wrong) but you could search for her posts and PM her and see if you could ask anonymously that way.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

oh please....everyone knows the reason usc(columbia) has always had no problem filling their program with pretty good american allopathic grads is the no call thing. So it's not like Im the only one who feels that way, so enough with the lazy comments....

no I dont have any resident contacts since I lost all their cards they gave me.

 

[Interestedparty]

the usc columbia program has increased its call since last year and maybe looking at changes for the future. If that is the deciding factor for you, do not rank there.

 

[DebDynamite]

I am only responding to this post for the sake of clarity. It's my understanding that in the distant past, USC had less call than we do now. Perhaps this has generated some confusion on your part?

If you had bothered to search the boards, you would have found my prior post with the call schedule at USC, which I have just edited. I removed some of the details of our call schedule, because at this point I would rather you not have timely access.

Good luck matching at USC, and thanks for the compliment. Last time I checked, the rest of my "pretty good" colleagues were also hard working and motivated. Which I why, I assure you, luck won't be enough in your case.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

I am only responding to this post for the sake of clarity. It's my understanding that in the distant past, USC had less call than we do now. Perhaps this has generated some confusion on your part?

If you had bothered to search the boards, you would have found my prior post with the call schedule at USC, which I have just edited. I removed some of the details of our call schedule, because at this point I would rather you not have timely access.

Good luck matching at USC, and thanks for the compliment. Last time I checked, the rest of my "pretty good" colleagues were also hard working and motivated. Which I why, I assure you, luck won't be enough in your case.

1) no the confusion is secondary only to rumors about next years schedule and what it will be. If you have anything to add there, fine. It appears you don't. I already know what the call schedule is for the 1's and 2's *this* year from multiple people. My question was would that be changing next year.

2) I think you might be overestimating how I think of your "colleagues". They are good in the sense that they all seem to be able to speak english well and most are american grads. Compared to other non-researched focused pysch programs(as USC Columbia is), they do a little better than others....but it's not like USC is UNC or Duke or anything when comparing it to others in the region.

3) go to scutwork.com. You have multiple supposed residents at that program bragging about how they have tons of half days, get out at 2pm many days, etc.........those aren't my words, those are your "colleagues" words, so enough with the hard working and motivated hyperbole....

At this point i don't know that I'm going to rank USC above UF(where I go to med school) or USF anyways......all three are in the running. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

the usc columbia program has increased its call since last year and maybe looking at changes for the future. If that is the deciding factor for you, do not rank there.

it's not *the* deciding factor, but it's certainly a factor. Everyone in the southeast knows that one of the compelling aspects of the program is their *very* light call schedule and relatively light workload on the wards.

If usc at columbia keeps increasing call/workload to a normal psych program, the quality of their residents will decline over time. Thats just common sense. The reason they have to go lower on their rank list now to fill as compared to programs like university of tennessee, university of kentucky, etc is because of that.

I mean really, columbia is not as cool as charleston, tampa, etc....and yet they do about as well as USF and MUSC in terms of bringing people into the program. And it's not a reseach-focused "name" program either. If they suddenly become a normal program wrt call and hours, then they're eventually going to be no different than programs like South alabama, East carolina, etc........thats just the way it is.

 

[Doc Samson]

Wow! Seriously... Wow! You've just told a resident at a program that you're interested in that you're only considering ranking them b/c of a perceived light workload and that you don't really think that much of her and all her colleagues. You think she's not going to tell her PD? How hard do you think it's going to be to find the applicant from UF with a 192 on Step 2? Call me paranoid if you like, but I don't think that the call schedule at USC is going to be of any concern to you for the next 4 years.

 

[Interestedparty]

1. I do hope you match in a place that will be what you are looking for, but I do want to clarify some of your points which are interesting--in addition, I do not think it is helpful to post false information for your fellow students and potential applicants.
2. To be clear: The quality of the USC residents has only been increasingly stronger over the past 4 years, with each class being among the program's top 10 ranked--this is even after adding more call experiences. If you look at national awards/APA fellowships in psychiatry over the past 10 years, you will likely find a USC grad. Also, the program does not presume to promote itself as comparable to the larger research programs (UNC, Duke, ect) but in fact promotes itself as a smaller, family oriented program that still provides excellent training.
3. Finally, I do not fault you for looking at scutwork, etc, but I do recommend that you take the information you receive there/and here with a grain of salt, because people DO lie on these message boards------in fact, some of the scutwork info may have been placed by someone who is no longer in the program and who is unaware of the specifics of the current curriculum.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Solideliquid]

Just out of curiosity, what was program B? Now that you know, you probably aren't getting into USC... and all that...

 

[anesthesiarocks]

Wow! Seriously... Wow! You've just told a resident at a program that you're interested in that you're only considering ranking them b/c of a perceived light workload and that you don't really think that much of her and all her colleagues. You think she's not going to tell her PD? How hard do you think it's going to be to find the applicant from UF with a 192 on Step 2? Call me paranoid if you like, but I don't think that the call schedule at USC is going to be of any concern to you for the next 4 years.

you're making a few assumptions:

1) I was truthful about going to UF
2) I was truthful about my step2 score

For all you know I could be a UF student with a 184 who is interested in USC and knows another UF student with a 192 and am just trying to muddy the picture 🙂

The bottom line is this is a forum for information, and I asked a legitimate question about possible changes in the call schedule at USC. Nobody here seems to know(or knows but doesnt seem to want to say) which is fine, but there is certainly no need to get snippy.

 

[anesthesiarocks]

1. I do hope you match in a place that will be what you are looking for, but I do want to clarify some of your points which are interesting--in addition, I do not think it is helpful to post false information for your fellow students and potential applicants.
2. To be clear: The quality of the USC residents has only been increasingly stronger over the past 4 years, with each class being among the program's top 10 ranked--this is even after adding more call experiences. If you look at national awards/APA fellowships in psychiatry over the past 10 years, you will likely find a USC grad. Also, the program does not presume to promote itself as comparable to the larger research programs (UNC, Duke, ect) but in fact promotes itself as a smaller, family oriented program that still provides excellent training.
3. Finally, I do not fault you for looking at scutwork, etc, but I do recommend that you take the information you receive there/and here with a grain of salt, because people DO lie on these message boards------in fact, some of the scutwork info may have been placed by someone who is no longer in the program and who is unaware of the specifics of the current curriculum.

Hope this is helpful!

thanks...when you say the call has increased though, do you know of any plans for a further increase?

 

[anesthesiarocks]

just out of curiosity, what was program b? Now that you know, you probably aren't getting into usc... And all that...

usf

 

[Doc Samson]

you're making a few assumptions:

1) I was truthful about going to UF
2) I was truthful about my step2 score

For all you know I could be a UF student with a 184 who is interested in USC and knows another UF student with a 192 and am just trying to muddy the picture 🙂

The bottom line is this is a forum for information, and I asked a legitimate question about possible changes in the call schedule at USC. Nobody here seems to know(or knows but doesnt seem to want to say) which is fine, but there is certainly no need to get snippy.

Not snippy, just incredulous. Why would you have lied about your score in a separate forum last week?

 

[surftheiop]

seeing as this thread is presumably being read by a bunch of people related to USC-SOM in some way, I was curious if any of you did did your MD there?

In a year im going to be applying to MUSC and USC (im SC resident) and obviously MUSC is more well funded/established/owns hospitals/etc. but i've heard great things about USC in relation to class size, personal attention, things like that. Was curious if any of you could weigh in (i could go to other forums but they are mostly populated by other pre-meds giving 3rd or 4th hand info).

 

[Interestedparty]

thanks...when you say the call has increased though, do you know of any plans for a further increase?

To my knowledge there are no current plans to change the call for next year. However, I will say that the residents and faculty discuss yearly the balance between workload and education, and there is always that possibility. Because it is a smaller program the residents will never be expected or able to cover the amount of beds that may be required at other places. But to say that the call will not change within 4 years is an assumption I would not make. That is why I said not to rank there if this is one of your important factors that would make you unhappy as a resident.

 

[Interestedparty]

seeing as this thread is presumably being read by a bunch of people related to USC-SOM in some way, I was curious if any of you did did your MD there?

In a year im going to be applying to MUSC and USC (im SC resident) and obviously MUSC is more well funded/established/owns hospitals/etc. but i've heard great things about USC in relation to class size, personal attention, things like that. Was curious if any of you could weigh in (i could go to other forums but they are mostly populated by other pre-meds giving 3rd or 4th hand info).

I believe you are asking about med school? Forgive me if I'm wrong--
USC & MUSC are both great institutions with their own pros/cons. It really depends on what you are looking for. USC would be a smaller class size and faculty, with more opportunity for individualized attention. MUSC has a larger group and more research at this time, but I know USC has also ramped up their grants,etc at the medical school & basic science. Also, location seems to play a part for people. Of course CHarleston is more historic, which can be a draw. However, being from SC you may prefer to be in the center of the state due to family, etc.I think you should interview at both before making any decisions and go with your gut. You will get a great education either way. Good Luck