Competitiveness of BIDMC v BWH Psych

[PabloPabloPablo]

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Hi all,

Since Harvard Longwood split into BIDMC & BWH, I'm having trouble gauging the competitiveness of each. Any insight?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[Amygdarya]

Hi all,

Since Harvard Longwood split into BIDMC & BWH, I'm having trouble gauging the competitiveness of each. Any insight?

Thanks! 🙂

Why should the difference in competitiveness (if there is any) matter?
If you are a prospective applicant and trying to gauge their competitiveness in order to decide which one to apply to, both of these programs are top tier. If you're competitive for top tier programs, apply to both and see what happens.

If you're a current applicant, this question makes even less sense since presumably you've interviewed and formed your own impressions of the programs and how well they fit your goals etc. MGH/McLean is one of the most, if not *the most* competitive program in psychiatry, yet far from everyone who interviews there ranks it on top of their list. Relative competitiveness shouldn't factor into applicants' rankings.

 

[Monocles]

BWH might be just a slight bit more competitive than BIDMC because the Brigham is the "main" teaching site of harvard by proximity.

But they are both great programs though.

 

[thomasina]

Geographic proximity to HMS is not really a factor in competitiveness. Name-wise (in terms of all of medicine, not psych-specific) BWH is probably more well-known. BWH seems more biological than the BI side of things. BIDMC has more therapy (I think?) But I don’t think that either one is different in terms of competitiveness. They’re both good programs and besides they still currently share the upper class residents.

 

[FlowRate]

BWH might be just a slight bit more competitive than BIDMC because the Brigham is the "main" teaching site of harvard by proximity.

But they are both great programs though.

The difference of a block and 100 feet is not significant. BWH/BIDMC/MGH equally share teaching load, along with multiple other affiliate hospitals.

Both programs are competitive. Choosing one or the other--in any context--for the reason of perceived competitiveness (prestige?) is misguided.

 

[Evidence Based]

Interviewed at both programs, as did many other people at both my interview days. Will probably rank BIDMC higher, but this has to do with fit (BWH came off as extremely biologic and consult focused, which I'm less interested in) and nothing to do with "competitiveness."

tl;dr who cares.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Flip a coin. Good an answer as any.