How do you all decide how to rank programs if you fell in love with 2 (or more)?
Back story: I have been officiallyunofficially told that I would be ranked at both of my top choice gen surg programs. I trust both of these program directors, one because he has a reputation of telling students how they rank and then sticking to his word, and the other because she normally doesn't tell students how they rank but made an exception for me because I received the nod from the other program.
I rotated at both programs and loved them. (The following lists are mostly for my sake; I want to know what stuff you guys use to compare)
PROGRAM A
Well-established, highly respected program; most residents get the fellowships they apply for
Level II trauma
4 residents per year - got along with all of them
No preggo residents as far as I'm aware (i.e. maybe not great place for starting a family as a female?)
Excellent didactics, great ABSITE scores
Research isn't emphasized much, but the PD is aware and trying to increase that
ACGME pre-accredited, site visit done, awaiting review
3 teams that you rotate through, plus all the typical GS program rotations
No cardio (yes thoracic)
Have clinics with each team; one of the three teams has an essentially resident-run clinic
Hospital was just merged with a large organization that now consists of 8? hospitals. So more money. They're about to start renovating.
Location is in a suburb of a large city - I'm not a city girl at all, but I know this is good for case/patient variety
LOTS of endoscopy
PROGRAM B
Well-established, but not as well known of a program; unsure about fellowship obtainment
Not a trauma center
2 residents per year - one of the interns is a very close friend of mine; got along very well with the rest
Chief resident had just delivered her second baby while I was rotating (i.e. family = possible)
Didactics are decent, but a work in progress; do well on ABSITE
Research is encouraged; they have a research coordinator and many of their residents are involved in projects as opposed to just yearly case studies/poster presentations
ACGME pre-accredited; they were reviewed in October and did not receive accreditation (as far as I know, PCOM is the only DO GS program in the country with accreditation at this point...)
Multiple clinic opportunities, one resident-run clinic that interns and a chief go to every Friday
Excellent case variety; no vascular on-site while I was there, but they had someone getting ready to start
Beautiful hospital, loved the location
I know I'm in an excellent situation, and I'm really not complaining. I also know that I technically don't need to make this decision right now. But for my sake of mind (and so that I can inform my top choice that they are in fact my top choice), I'd like to come to a decision soon.
Back story: I have been officiallyunofficially told that I would be ranked at both of my top choice gen surg programs. I trust both of these program directors, one because he has a reputation of telling students how they rank and then sticking to his word, and the other because she normally doesn't tell students how they rank but made an exception for me because I received the nod from the other program.
I rotated at both programs and loved them. (The following lists are mostly for my sake; I want to know what stuff you guys use to compare)
PROGRAM A
Well-established, highly respected program; most residents get the fellowships they apply for
Level II trauma
4 residents per year - got along with all of them
No preggo residents as far as I'm aware (i.e. maybe not great place for starting a family as a female?)
Excellent didactics, great ABSITE scores
Research isn't emphasized much, but the PD is aware and trying to increase that
ACGME pre-accredited, site visit done, awaiting review
3 teams that you rotate through, plus all the typical GS program rotations
No cardio (yes thoracic)
Have clinics with each team; one of the three teams has an essentially resident-run clinic
Hospital was just merged with a large organization that now consists of 8? hospitals. So more money. They're about to start renovating.
Location is in a suburb of a large city - I'm not a city girl at all, but I know this is good for case/patient variety
LOTS of endoscopy
PROGRAM B
Well-established, but not as well known of a program; unsure about fellowship obtainment
Not a trauma center
2 residents per year - one of the interns is a very close friend of mine; got along very well with the rest
Chief resident had just delivered her second baby while I was rotating (i.e. family = possible)
Didactics are decent, but a work in progress; do well on ABSITE
Research is encouraged; they have a research coordinator and many of their residents are involved in projects as opposed to just yearly case studies/poster presentations
ACGME pre-accredited; they were reviewed in October and did not receive accreditation (as far as I know, PCOM is the only DO GS program in the country with accreditation at this point...)
Multiple clinic opportunities, one resident-run clinic that interns and a chief go to every Friday
Excellent case variety; no vascular on-site while I was there, but they had someone getting ready to start
Beautiful hospital, loved the location
I know I'm in an excellent situation, and I'm really not complaining. I also know that I technically don't need to make this decision right now. But for my sake of mind (and so that I can inform my top choice that they are in fact my top choice), I'd like to come to a decision soon.
