Hopkins Interview Day

[GoSprout24]

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Hey guys. I have my interview at Hopkins this Monday. I have the morning session, so I'm supposed to be there at 9am. They give the option, though, of attending rounds at 8am.

Anyone that interview at Hopkins already have any advice on whether it's worth going to rounds? I know I should, but frankly I'm worn from interviews and couldn't care less to see rounds at this point. Will I be missing out if I don't go? Will it look bad if I don't go? Do you actually advise that I don't go? 😛

Any thoughts would be appreciated, esp from people that have already interviewed. Thanks!! 🙂

 

[zedpol]

I'd say go as I felt that part of the day was very informative

Z

 

[UVa2005]

If you have the morning interivew your day will pretty much be set up to do your 2 interviews in the morning, then your tour with the residents and then lunch(with a presentation from Julia McMillan our program director) and then dessert with the residents. It is perfectly up to you if you want to attend rounds. It will NOT look bad if you decide not to go - I can understand why you would be tired. I would say that rounds here are a bit unique in that there is not an attending present and are completely senior resident run so it might be worth at least observing. I am not sure why zedpol thought the day was worthless other than to say it is like most places that are interview, tour, talk etc. Good luck with your decision. Looking forward to meeting you Monday. Please msg me with any questions you have about the program.

 

[zedpol]

sorry, Looking back at my post (i'm going to edit it) it came across much more negative than I had intended. I just didn't feel like I got a lot out of the interviews. The people that interviewed me didn't seem to be particularly engaged. I thought rounds were particularly helpful to see how things are run and I also enjoyed meeting with the residents. They seemed like a very dynamic group that got along well.

Z

 

[GoSprout24]

Thanks guys! Ok, I'll go. 😛 I suppose I can drag myself out of bed an hour earlier, especially if it's worth it. 8am is actually later than most interviews start anyhow, so I will just get my lazy bum in gear.

So I just show up on the floors around that time? Seems fishy to me. Who are those sketchy looking people in suits wandering around... 😛

 

[blanche]

I chose NOT to attend rounds on my day...mainly b/c it allowed me to sleep more, having already been on 2 interviews that week (bleh!!) I kindof wish I'd gone, but oh well, what can you do. I've only been to rounds on a few of my interviews, and while they do give you a nice feel for the program, driving to JHH after the AM rush felt ok too (I had afternoon interviews).

I found the interview day to be enjoyable, not sure if I got lucky but my interviewers were awesome. One was my absolute favorate interview of this whole exhausing process. Also, the dinner the night before was a great chance to meet residents. They give you free time to 'explore' the hospital if you want to, and I took advantage of that. I think they're used to people in suits wandering around the children's center..no one seemed to care that I was walking around checking stuff out.

Have fun, it's a great program (I thought)🙂

 

[chhsu]

I say go. I actually got asked in my interview if I enjoyed morning rounds. Glad I went so that I could say yes. So you might be asked if you went to rounds.

I also have to agree with a previous post - JHU interview was one of the best I had ever experienced. One of the interviewers and I shared the same alma mater so we had a lot to talk about. The other interview was just as awsome since he was really into research.

Dinner the night before was excellent. I got to interact with a lot of residents who I thought were great.

Morning rounds works great if your interview is in the AM because I felt the day flowed nicely without huge gaps. Enjoy the day!

 

[panda01]

I thought the interview day was organized pretty poorly. It's a shame because I loved Hopkins and lunch/Dr. McMillan's presentation/the residents were awesome. My first interview was ok, but my second was great. Talking with the residents after lunch was also great--they were incredibly smart but down to earth and nice. But the morning was a mess and really turned me off at first. I liked the places that had a PD (or anyone) greet us in the AM and give a quick feel of the program's philosophy. (Breakfast also made my morning). Rounds were good to see, but the downtime wasn't great (and I had morning interviews). I didn't like the "sure, just roam around the hospital" deal, but maybe that's just me. I also liked the interviews where you got to see some kind of formal teaching--conference, morning report, etc. I think those show a lot about a program--eg. Brown's awesome morning report vs. CHOP's lectures (where the heck was everyone? red flag.)

Anyway, Hopkins is high on my list but I thought the day was kind of a mess. I would definitely change things around because the program has such great people and a I got a good vibe from things in the afternoon.

 

[GoSprout24]

So, after all your advice... I did go to rounds, and I was glad I did. Mainly bc it was the only time I really got to see the residents. At the dinner beforehand, there were 14 applicants and 2 residents. Boo. At the afternoon dessert, there were only 3 residents, none of whom stayed for longer than 15 minutes. It was mainly just the applicants sitting around shootin' the $hit with each other. Big boo. All the free time to "roam the hospital" (yeah, right) equated me, drinking a coffee, by myself in the hospital lobby listening to my iPod. Bigger boo. At least give us some "hang out time" with some residents (like the chiefs?) during that down time. I'm sure Hopkins has a fantatic residency program and of the few residents that I did meet, they were great. But talk about a program putting in zero effort to sell their program. I know it's "Hopkins", but after spending hundreds of dollars to visit the program... it would have been nice to see a little effort. In my opinion, current or future residents should look into changing the interview day...

 

[UVa2005]

So I will have to apologize for Monday. I will agree that there was poor showing at both the dinner and at the dessert with the applicants. In regards to the dessert, I can say that there was an amazing noon conference that day on breaking bad news to families and having difficult discussions (something we had requested) which ran over and may have contributed to the poor showing. However, I can't say that it really makes up for the fact that there was poor attendance. I know the free time during the day is also something that some applicants really enjoy and wish most programs did (because they have the opportunity to go talk with residents on the floors and see what the working environment is like) and some that really don't enjoy it at all because they enjoy having more structure to the day. That being said, I am sorry that your day went so poorly. Hopkins is a great program (and not just because it is 'Hopkins' ) and I would be happy to talk to anyone about the program that has questions. Please feel free to msg me about anything.

 

[GoSprout24]

Hey UVa, I totally understand that my interview day may have been partly a fluke. I was disappointed because I had expected to really love Hopkins, it's just so hard when you don't have a great day. I have been thinking a lot, though, about the effect of the actual interview day on my feelings for a particular program -- and it just sends me into a whole other spiral of confusion. How much should it matter that no one showed up for dinner on my day? Maybe every other dinner was incredibly well attended. I guess it just goes to show you that it's so hard to really learn about a program in only one day or half day... so should I pay more attention to location, then? Ack! I know this is all a great decision for us to make... but it's so darn stressful! 😛

 

[babydr]

I interviewed at Hopkins in the beginning of Jan and was also disappointed by the low turnout at the dinner (3) and desert with the residents(2-3). However, everyone I encountered there was great. I too am wondering if you should let one day influence your rankings.

 

[Pedi07]

For what it's worth, I interviewed at Hopkins in Early December and we had an awesome turnout of residents the night before (at least 15 residents). I had a great time and really enjoyed the program. I especially thought the way they pair you with the class two years above you throughout residency is exceptional.