final thoughts

[bucasiabeach]

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Well, I'm finished and put together my rank list. I've given it alot of thought, and in the end, I went with the most favorable impression during interviews. My philosophy was to go where I will enjoy learning the science of Pathology during the next four years. Where I can have good rapport with the faculty. All the places I visited, the graduating residents go wherever they want for fellowship, so what is the point killing myself over where to do training. My list surprised some in my family because the top place has some FMG's, but so what, FMG's make the residency interesting. I wanted to go to a diverse institution, not where everyone is from the same background, and every resident is a clone. Pathology is such an international field, and I enjoy that aspect. I picked the places where I will be the happiest and enjoy the profession, furthermore I know I will come out and enjoy the profession when I am done training and not be embittered.

The entire process was worthwhile. Looking back in retrospect, even interviews where I knew I would'nt want to go there provided good perspective on the places I did like. So, $4000 cheaper after interviews I find myself ready for the match.

Good luck everyone! And congrats on picking a great field in medicine.

 

[yaah]

Well said - I agree that just because a program has a # of FMGs doesn't mean they don't get who they want. It's very americo-centric, and wrong, to think that the best FMG are still not on the caliber of US grads. It raises a red flag to me to see lots of FMGs who weren't necessarily interested in path, just picked it because it was an easier match. Personally, because where I am going will be my home for at least 4 more years, I would prefer to have at least some US grads becauseI feel I can relate better. I have also seen my share of sub-par US graduates. You are right that it is an international field - it always has been. Almost every department has members from all over the world, and this makes things imminently more interesting.