Evaluating unranked and fairly new programs

[openstage]

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This winter many of us are interviewing at fairly new schools that are un-ranked by any objective magazine or list. Places like Oakland, University of South Carolina, Rowan (Cooper) etc... To save time, let's dispense with these comments which we've all read for years

"The US NEWS List is bull****" or "Outside of the top 20 schools nothing matters" "All they measure are MCAT scores and Research $$"
I'm not saying these comments are, or are not valid - it's just that we've read them for years. We get it.

And let me add one more thing I feel is becoming a cliche' comment on SDN:
"Everyone was really friendly. There was a great sense of community and collaboration..." I feel like 99%.9% of the people who greet you at these schools have that quality or else why would they be chosen (or volunteer) to greet prospective candidates?

What I'm looking for is this: If you are reading about, researching and visiting these un-ranked schools, are there other indicators that you would dig down into closely? Most websites are designed to make every school looks like the best place ever. Are there red flags people have noticed that differ from older, well established programs? While touring one of these schools what catches your eye? Or do you just look at all schools, regardless or rank or age with the same lens?

Thanks for taking the time to respond (snark free)!

 

[82Scout]

As someone who interviewed at several schools some ranked and some unranked.

I was very swayed by the amount of money invested at some new programs. At Cooper for example, Nice new buildings with technological advances, multi million dollar medical complex, state of the art sim labs. Some older and better ranked schools had old antiquated equipment and buildings. Modern architecture and technology were a big woooooh factor for me.

Red flags for me at newer unranked schools were ones unassociated with their own medical complex or hospital. Its obviously nice to have a huge medical complex with cancer centers etc. and huge hospitals on the medical campus rather than a network of hospitals and clinics within the community.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

2) The networks that professors and physicians have for residency placement is wholly unknown. While virtually all schools are associated with existing and established hospitals, it still is a factor. However, this is also mitigated by the fact it will be 3 years before your are looking for residency.

How much harder is it to match into a desirable/competitive residency from a new program than from an established program? Is there anything medical students at new programs should be doing (aside from the obvious - high Step 1, etc.) to improve their match options?

 

[Goro]

How much harder is it to match into a desirable/competitive residency from a new program than from an established program? Is there anything medical students at new programs should be doing (aside from the obvious - high Step 1, etc.) to improve their match options?

Look at match lists at the newest schools. CNU doesn't count as it already had a bad rep coming in.

Newness doesn't seem to be hurting CUSOM grads.

 

[openstage]

Oakland University seems to have a very healthy Match List.

 

[Goro]

Oakland University seems to have a very healthy Match List.

And there ya go.

 

[hopefulpremed2020]

And there ya go.

How do you think step1 switching to P/F will affect students at Oakland?

 

[Goro]

How do you think step1 switching to P/F will affect students at Oakland?

It won't. This business of PDs will only favor the Really Top Schools is projection from pre-clinical med students and pre-meds.

As been been mentioned ad nauseum, PDs will simply use Step 2.

Cue the people screaming "but...but Step 2 mania!!!"

 

[hopefulpremed2020]

It won't. This business of PDs will only favor the Really Top Schools is projection from pre-clinical med students and pre-meds.

As been been mentioned ad nauseum, PDs will simply use Step 2.

Cue the people screaming "but...but Step 2 mania!!!"

Thank you!