Duke Vs Mayo

Started by Gentle
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Gentle

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So I've interviewed at both places for GS residency. I know they're all v. solid well respected programs. Given that you spend less than 24hrs at these places during interview, it could be difficult to narrow down your choice at times. I know that at the end of the day, I am the one making the final decision based on all the info that I have. So just want to know what you out there think about these 2 places; especially those already in GS residency or MS at these places.

Thanks for ur input.
 
So I've interviewed at both places for GS residency. I know they're all v. solid well respected programs. Given that you spend less than 24hrs at these places during interview, it could be difficult to narrow down your choice at times. I know that at the end of the day, I am the one making the final decision based on all the info that I have. So just want to know what you out there think about these 2 places; especially those already in GS residency or MS at these places.

Thanks for ur input.

Duke has a bigger reputation for being malignant, which has been discussed here previously.....like here.....and here....and here....and here (personal favorite)

I'm sure that they both provide excellent training, but since they are in very different areas of the country, I think geography could factor in to your decision.
 
I'm sure that they both provide excellent training, but since they are in very different areas of the country, I think geography could factor in to your decision.[/QUOTE]

Thanks SLUser. Actually, location carries very little to no weight for me.
 
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My impression is much the same as SLU's

Both will get you where you want to go with your career. They will vary in the overall atmosphere of the program and in terms of the geography/weather.
 
I have no direct experience at either place, but I've had friends train at both. Per my friend who trained in Ortho at Duke, the General Surgery program is still pretty malignant. My two friends who have been through Mayo (one GU, one ENT), had very good things to say about it. Their impression of General Surgery there was that it's fair. It isn't the warm, cuddly program that you get at some places, but they thought the residents got a good education and that the faculty were reasonable people.
 
I have no direct experience at either place, but I've had friends train at both. Per my friend who trained in Ortho at Duke, the General Surgery program is still pretty malignant. My two friends who have been through Mayo (one GU, one ENT), had very good things to say about it. Their impression of General Surgery there was that it's fair. It isn't the warm, cuddly program that you get at some places, but they thought the residents got a good education and that the faculty were reasonable people.

I've also friends trained at both and essentially the lowdown was the same as max's above. Mayo and Duke have different cultures and there is more of an inbred sense at the former but it would be the hands down choice, IMHO.

I've been told that there is new "management" in place at Duke and that perhaps the reputation of yore is a thing of the past. Best to ask current Duke students and residents.
 
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So I've interviewed at both places for GS residency. I know they're all v. solid well respected programs. Given that you spend less than 24hrs at these places during interview, it could be difficult to narrow down your choice at times. I know that at the end of the day, I am the one making the final decision based on all the info that I have. So just want to know what you out there think about these 2 places; especially those already in GS residency or MS at these places.

Thanks for ur input.

If you have the money, go back for a day outside of the "interview" stuff. That way, you won't have the pressure of the interview and you might get a better impression of things that are most important to you. Relying on what you "hear" from others may or may not be accurate. I can also tell you that I didn't make my rank on the basis of less than 24 hours in any one place. I did have the advantage that I didn't apply to places that were far distant from my location so that I could go back outside of the interview day. Every place that I interviewed offered this opportunity and I took full advantage of it.

I can tell you that "reputations" of various programs change from year to year with each incoming residency group and the hiring of new attendings and other administrative changes. You have no control over any of these things.

I can also tell you that unless you are in a program, you can only speculate as to the day-to-day events, learning esperiences and other things that will affect you if you match there. Again, unless you are a resident in a program, you are hearing about a program through the eyes and ears of someone else.

Go back, if you can, and use your own senses, impressions and information gathing. Try to spend some time with the interns (they will be the closest to you if you match there) and get a better sense of how these programs work as they have different environments, locations and other things. In the end, you want to make the best decision that you can.
 
I can tell you that "reputations" of various programs change from year to year with each incoming residency group and the hiring of new attendings and other administrative changes. You have no control over any of these things.

I can also tell you that unless you are in a program, you can only speculate as to the day-to-day events, learning esperiences and other things that will affect you if you match there. Again, unless you are a resident in a program, you are hearing about a program through the eyes and ears of someone else.

Good points.

There is often faculty turn-over in the lengthy surgical residency and what reputation a program may have (good or bad) can change with the changing of the guard. My own program had several unpleasant Chief residents when I was a junior; as the resident "personality" changed, so did the experience, IMHO. Faculty changes can make a difference as well.

These are not things you can change or assess as a student, but you do the best you can (as we all did) to do due diligence and find the place that seems the best fit for YOU.
 
I can tell you that "reputations" of various programs change from year to year with each incoming residency group and the hiring of new attendings and other administrative changes. You have no control over any of these things.

I can also tell you that unless you are in a program, you can only speculate as to the day-to-day events, learning esperiences and other things that will affect you if you match there. Again, unless you are a resident in a program, you are hearing about a program through the eyes and ears of someone else.

That's true to some extent......however, opinions from actual Duke residents are scarce here on SDN....and when given, they're usually defensive, as anyone would be when their program is attacked....they have more motivation than any of us to lie about the amount of malignancy that exists.

Despite the fact that I can't prove it, if I was asked to bet a million dollars one way or the other.....I'd bet Duke is still pretty malignant....
 
If you have the money, go back for a day outside of the "interview" stuff. That way, you won't have the pressure of the interview and you might get a better impression of things that are most important to you. Relying on what you "hear" from others may or may not be accurate. I can also tell you that I didn't make my rank on the basis of less than 24 hours in any one place. I did have the advantage that I didn't apply to places that were far distant from my location so that I could go back outside of the interview day. Every place that I interviewed offered this opportunity and I took full advantage of it.

I can tell you that "reputations" of various programs change from year to year with each incoming residency group and the hiring of new attendings and other administrative changes. You have no control over any of these things.

I can also tell you that unless you are in a program, you can only speculate as to the day-to-day events, learning esperiences and other things that will affect you if you match there. Again, unless you are a resident in a program, you are hearing about a program through the eyes and ears of someone else.

Go back, if you can, and use your own senses, impressions and information gathing. Try to spend some time with the interns (they will be the closest to you if you match there) and get a better sense of how these programs work as they have different environments, locations and other things. In the end, you want to make the best decision that you can.


njbmd, I really do appreciate ur input. That is a great idea, not that I didn't know that 2nd looks exist but it's nice to sometimes get such reminders. I did really spend the most time with interns when I was at Duke for interview and no negative vibes at all. Actually, the intern was telling me that he has been (+vely) so far by what he is experiencing as opposed to what he heard prior to coming to the program. But again, I'm not naive and know that something else could be projected on interview day as oppose to a regular day. Not that I thought the intern was dishonest but it's the nature of the beast.

Some old cultures are being gradually changed for instance, interns no longer wear white pants so u won't tell an intern apart from the seniors just by their attire.

With an open mind, I thank all those who're dropping in ideas/impressions.
 
If you have the money, go back for a day outside of the "interview" stuff. That way, you won't have the pressure of the interview and you might get a better impression of things that are most important to you. Relying on what you "hear" from others may or may not be accurate. I can also tell you that I didn't make my rank on the basis of less than 24 hours in any one place. I did have the advantage that I didn't apply to places that were far distant from my location so that I could go back outside of the interview day. Every place that I interviewed offered this opportunity and I took full advantage of it.

I can tell you that "reputations" of various programs change from year to year with each incoming residency group and the hiring of new attendings and other administrative changes. You have no control over any of these things.

I can also tell you that unless you are in a program, you can only speculate as to the day-to-day events, learning esperiences and other things that will affect you if you match there. Again, unless you are a resident in a program, you are hearing about a program through the eyes and ears of someone else.

Go back, if you can, and use your own senses, impressions and information gathing. Try to spend some time with the interns (they will be the closest to you if you match there) and get a better sense of how these programs work as they have different environments, locations and other things. In the end, you want to make the best decision that you can.


As a fellow student on the trail (only in NYC though, so not competing with you on these two places) I highly recommend the second look. I found it difficult to be able to commit to a place after only seeing it for a day on the interview. I just did a second look on monday at a place with a great reputation, the best affliation for Surg Onc, and with had me star struck on the interview... needless to say, my 2nd look really helped me straighten things out in my mind about where I was looking. And if something seems too good to be true, it likely is...
 
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Are you all aware of what a herculean pain in the ass it is to get to Rochester, MN???