child neuro application thread 2010-2011

[samweir]

hello everyone, i am applying to child neurology programs and haven't been able to find much information online or on student doctor. wanted to start a thread for other applicants, where we can share information and post questions. best of luck to everyone who is applying!

to start things off, how many interviews is everyone planning on scheduling? since each program has so few spots, i'm not sure how far down their rank list people usually match. thanks!

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[Rutabaga]

Hi Samweir,
I am in the process of applying to child neuro and have some of the same questions. I applied to 27 programs (many of which were clear reaches for me), and have heard back from 10. My interviews are all over the place geographically, so I have some interest in limiting the number of interviews I ultimately schedule, but then I really don't want to go unmatched. Have you found any answers to this question off the board?

 

[samweir]

Thanks for your reply, rutabaga. I haven't really found an answer to the question of how many interviews to go on yet. I've talked to a few people who said they got their first choice program, but they seem like pretty good applicants. I am in the same boat as you. I applied to about 30 programs and am finding that my schedule is filling up pretty quickly. I'm think that about 15 is the max # of interviews I'll realistically be able to make.

 

[Rutabaga]

Does anyone know when interview offers are generally extended? For any programs that have not invited me to interview, does this mean that they most likely will not after September? Thoughts?

 

[samweir]

I have a feeling that there are a few programs that will wait for the Dean's letter to be sent out before sending invites...but I don't really have anything to base that on.

 

[samweir]

Also, maybe it would help to start a list of places that we've heard from so far.

Invites: UCSD, Stanford, CHLA, Oregon, Northwestern, WashU, SLU, Iowa, Michigan, Cincinnati, Baylor, UTSW, NYU, Albert Einstein, BU, MGH, Children's National

Rejected: Colorado

Haven't heard from: UCSF, Seattle, Boston Children's, Hopkins, Colombia, Cornell, CHOP, UCLA, Duke

 

[Rutabaga]

Ok, sounds like we are waiting on some of the same places.

Invites: Cleveland Clinic, WashU, Duke, Mayo, Cincinnati, Children's National, Pittsburgh, St. Christopher's, Baylor, Vanderbilt, Rainbow Babies, Utah, SLU, UMDNJ-NJMS, Montefiore, Oregon, NYU, UTSW.

No rejections yet.

Haven't heard from: Seattle, UNM, Denver, CHOP, Boston Children's, MGH, Hopkins, Columbia, Cornell.

Not sure if this means we both will not get interviews from a few of these, or that they are not offering interviews until later. I guess we'll see.

 

[samweir]

Thanks for sharing, Rutabaga. I'll update if I hear from other places.

 

[morningbell]

Hi, I'm also a child neurology applicant. I'm glad to see there's a thread on this subject. Here is my information so far, it seems to be similar to your lists.

Invites: Mayo, Cleveland clinic, UTSW, Vanderbilt, Children's Mercy KC, Northwestern, UChicago, BU, UCSD, Stanford, Oregon, Utah, WashU, Michigan, Cincinnati, Baylor, UTSW, Albert Einstein, Children's National

Rejected: Colorado

Haven't heard from: UCSF, Seattle, Boston Children's, MGH, Hopkins, Cornell, CHOP, UCLA, USC, Duke

How many interviews are you planning on going on?

 

[Rutabaga]

I have been told I should try to interview with at least 12 neuro programs (and potentially more for peds), but it may be different depending on how strong an applicant you are. Right now I am planning on attending all of the interviews I have set up, but I only have one week left in which I can realistically fit another interview, so if I hear back from any more, it may come down to cancelling somewhere. I don't know about you, but for me this is going to be very, very expensive.

 

[doctormom18]

12 programs seems like quite a lot. I currently have scheduled 8 peds neuro interviews and 14 peds interviews and I am running into scheduling conflicts right and left at this point, I don't think I can add any more.

invitations: UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Children's National, UVA, VCU, MCG, LSU, Baylor, UT houston, UT dallas

haven't heard back: Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Emory

I am particularly interested in neurodevelopment and non-epilepsy stuff. Any input on which of these programs AREN'T focused on epilepsy (obviously other than neurodevelopmental residency)?

 

[arps1586]

Hello,
Happened to stumble upon the SDN forums today. Good to finally see a CN discussion!

Invites: UT Southwestern, UT Houston, Mayo (Florida), U Iowa, Wayne Sate, Children's Mercy, St.Louis, Cleveland Clinic

Rejections: U Utah, U Washington, LSU, U Michigan, U Colorado, Children's National, U Cincinnati

Haven't heard back: U Pittsburgh, MC Wisconsin, MCG, U Louisville, BIDMC, Barrow NI, UNC, NYP, CWRU

For an IMG who needs a visa, Child Neuro seems to be extremely competitive! Lets see how this goes.

 

[Rutabaga]

Has anyone gotten an peds neuro invite from Seattle or Denver?

 

[samweir]

Has anyone gotten an peds neuro invite from Seattle or Denver?

No, my only updates since my last post are: Columbia, UCLA, Duke.

Also, I recently heard that there are again more spots than applicants this year, so we should be in good shape as long as we interview at a wide variety of programs.

 

[arps1586]

Updates:
Rejection- Columbia
Interview- U of Louisville

 

[Rutabaga]

Updates:
Interviews: Boston Children's, CHOP, MGH, UNM, Columbia, Cornell
Rejection: Colorado

 

[dogsnme2]

Hey all,

I'm applying to Child Neuro this year, and I am honestly not sure how many programs I should expect to interview at in order to match. I'm a US MD senior, my Step scores are not impressive, but I have great leadership on my CV, and have done pretty decently on academics, with my Dean's letter saying good things about me.

Also...does anyone know what the Match stats mean, when they refer to "Average # of offers per applicant?"

Thanks, and good luck!

 

[neurotiger]

Has anyone interviewed here already or will anyone be here this week? I've got a somewhat silly issue and need information about the structure of the interview day...

 

[Rutabaga]

Didn't apply to Chicago, but I would just email the coordinator. The schedule of the day sometimes changes from week to week, and coordinators certainly understand that logistical questions come up.

 

[Rutabaga]

.

 

[neurotiger]

.

 

[neurotiger]

Anyone contemplating doing 2 years of peds somewhere other than where you matched for peds neuro? It's definitely on my mind, but logistics are playing a huge role in this decision...

 

[neurotiger]

.

 

[Neuron22]

I definitely want to do my Peds prelim years at the same place as where I matched to Neuro. The idea of moving now and then moving again in 2 years...and then maybe moving again 3 years thereafter (upon completing fellowship) give me the chills!

 

[neurotiger]

That's understandable...I guess I'm in a unique situation given that the two programs I'm choosing between for peds are in the same city. One is my home school where I'll (happily) stay for neurology and which probably has a better reputation; the other also has a good reputation and has spoken much more positively about wanting to train subspecialists vs community generalists (which is not sitting well with me at the moment). The neuro program has a different attitude, but the thought of being a square peg in a round hole for 2 yrs is making me a little nauseous this week.

 

[Neuron22]

So you are deciding between doing peds at the institution where you matched for neuro...or doing peds at another institution all together?

Will you be relocating for either...or staying put?

The only advantage to doing peds and neuro at the same place...is that you will master the EMR system by the time your fellowship begins...and not have to re-learn one (if the institutions are using different ones).

Otherwise, all else being equal (ACGME accredited, great training, etc)...I say go for the place where you will be happiest and felt was the "best fit."

 

[Neuron22]

Thought I would revive the thread...and ask where are all of us future child neurologists will be heading off too?

I am off to Loma Linda for Peds Prelim and Neuro Fellowship. Very Excited!!!

 

[marinak]

Hi,

I'm a 3rd year interested in Child Neuro and trying to figure more out about this application process. I hope that all of you got into the programs of your choice.

I'm an osteopathic medical student, so I'm particularly interested in figuring out which programs are friendly to DO's. ie. any DO fellows in the programs you interviewed? fellow DO interviewees?
If anyone is willing to answer some questions about how they decided to commit for the 5-yr program and some questions about the interview process, please IM me!

Thanks!