How do you decide where to apply?

[golfman]

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So, I'm applying this upcoming fall to Ophthalmology. Problem is, I don't know exactly where to apply. I've seen the rankings, have a ballpark for where the great programs are, but I don't have any kind of feel for the mid-tier programs.

Any advice on how figure out which programs to apply to? Location doesn't matter much to me, I just want to go to a decent program.

I've heard some past applicants have made excel spreadsheets, or word documents, about programs they've applied to and their thoughts about them. If anybody has any of these, and is willing to PM them to me, that would be splendid.

 

[PRPetrator]

Even if location isn't important to you, programs will think that it is. That was my experience and talking to my fellow applicants seemed pretty common. So, apply heavily in your region of the country, and then add to that great programs/great locations/places with family members/etc...I think the programs close to you geographically should be a good starting point and form the core of your application since you are more likely to get interviews there.

Just my two cents

 

[MR1]

I totally agree, even if location doesn't matter to you it will to the programs. I remember interviewing for fellowship in NYC and I am from the South. Only myself and one other were not from the NE.

Apply broadly in your region, apply to great places all over. Then the hard part is what you asked, mid-tier good programs all over.

Start by talking to your PD, mentor, current residents at your program. I actually had a list of about 50 places and took it to my PD and we went over it one by one. IN the end I applied to 24 places of those. (I applied a few yrs back, I know people apply more broad now)

The bad thing with mid-tier programs is they are often in flux. For example, lose a few great staff all of a sudden and the res training takes a serious step down. So you want to have up to date info and talking to who I said above usually has that. Also you can search individual programs on here, it is just there is not that much info here

 

[ophthoapp2010]

I printed off the list of programs from the SF Match and brought it into my PD. He went through all of them and marked them as "definitely apply", "consider applying", and "do not apply". I applied to all the "definitely apply" programs and then chose programs from the "consider applying" group based on geographical location.