I'm looking into a program that only accepts one resident per year. I believe they have a nice mix of surgery and clinic, but I have heard from a few individuals that if a program only takes one resident every year, it's a poor sign since it means they aren't that busy or the training isn't up to pace. It could also imply that the resident has no life because they have to do all the work. I wanted to see what podiatrists on SDN thought about it. Unfortunately, I am unable to contact anyone about that specific program because there are no graduates from my institution who have externed or completed a residency there.
Is it a good or a bad thing if programs take only one resident a year?
- Thread starter xoxo111
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2008
- Messages
- 3,522
- Reaction score
- 4,845
Depends. Could suck for the reasons you listed above. Could be awesome. Totally depends on the director/attendings, case load, call schedule, clinic schedule, etc.
You should just contact the program to see if you can talk with a resident. Or just rotate there because it isn’t going to hurt and you’ll see it first hand.
Nobody here can tell you what it will be like to be a resident at an unknown program just based on how many residents per year they take.
You should just contact the program to see if you can talk with a resident. Or just rotate there because it isn’t going to hurt and you’ll see it first hand.
Nobody here can tell you what it will be like to be a resident at an unknown program just based on how many residents per year they take.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2011
- Messages
- 3,546
- Reaction score
- 8,263
What dtrack said. It will come with some of its own specific limitations.
-You may be dividing call amongst 3 people.
-When the first year is off service they may not take call during the day or something like that - meaning you share 2 person.
-If you don't fill a spot you may be sharing 2 person call all the time.
-You won't have the cameraderie of a larger program.
-A larger program should be definition see more cases and through this theoretically see more diversity.
Of course - perhaps you have the perfect amount of cases and immediate and easy access to your attendings, program director etc. Perhaps you are tight with simply your 3 people and their family. Perhaps the program is a country club and its just what you like or perhaps its just the right of busy and you go to bed every night tired knowing you gave it your all. A lot of programs are honestly too big and have a lot of hungry mouths. Having only 3 people limits those stupid events where everyone gets done early and then has to stand in the back of the room for some final fusion that is taking too long. It also limits the number of students who will visit, usually, and I hate to say this, but students drive residents crazy.
Awhile back I was talking some friends who were doing interviews in Dallas. They were commenting on the silliness of prospective students who didn't know anything about a program and so simply said bland things.
Resident: "Tell me something you know about this program"
Student: "Well, its a big group of residents so ya'll must really get along have great cameraderie"
Resident: "Lots of programs are big - tell me something specific about THIS program".
Size is an important characteristic but nothing beats whatever up close knowledge you can get. Clerk. Visit for a day. Call. Do something.
-You may be dividing call amongst 3 people.
-When the first year is off service they may not take call during the day or something like that - meaning you share 2 person.
-If you don't fill a spot you may be sharing 2 person call all the time.
-You won't have the cameraderie of a larger program.
-A larger program should be definition see more cases and through this theoretically see more diversity.
Of course - perhaps you have the perfect amount of cases and immediate and easy access to your attendings, program director etc. Perhaps you are tight with simply your 3 people and their family. Perhaps the program is a country club and its just what you like or perhaps its just the right of busy and you go to bed every night tired knowing you gave it your all. A lot of programs are honestly too big and have a lot of hungry mouths. Having only 3 people limits those stupid events where everyone gets done early and then has to stand in the back of the room for some final fusion that is taking too long. It also limits the number of students who will visit, usually, and I hate to say this, but students drive residents crazy.
Awhile back I was talking some friends who were doing interviews in Dallas. They were commenting on the silliness of prospective students who didn't know anything about a program and so simply said bland things.
Resident: "Tell me something you know about this program"
Student: "Well, its a big group of residents so ya'll must really get along have great cameraderie"
Resident: "Lots of programs are big - tell me something specific about THIS program".
Size is an important characteristic but nothing beats whatever up close knowledge you can get. Clerk. Visit for a day. Call. Do something.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2007
- Messages
- 5,221
- Reaction score
- 6,618
I would agree with just talk to their current residents asap or do a clerk month there to get best insight. You have to keep in mind current residents there are almost always biased that it is good (or afraid to be candid), but you will gain intel regardless. The best measuring stick, if you can see them in the OR, is usually competence of program alumni... esp recent program alumni (passed board qual, got board cert later, doing variety of cases, good job situation, etc). Small and newer programs don't have a lot of alumni, so that's tougher to eval.
Unless you know recent alumni from the program or something, you can't really "believe they have a nice mix of surgery and clinic" if you haven't talked to anyone there or been there yourself. Are you sure you're not just trying to find a program in an area you want that you can match at... and wanting to believe it might be good due to geography? 🙂 It is fine, and a lot of people do that... but you just have to stay somewhat objective as you make your short list on an important decision.
The main positives and downsides to smaller or newer programs are detailed here:
forums.studentdoctor.net
Unless you know recent alumni from the program or something, you can't really "believe they have a nice mix of surgery and clinic" if you haven't talked to anyone there or been there yourself. Are you sure you're not just trying to find a program in an area you want that you can match at... and wanting to believe it might be good due to geography? 🙂 It is fine, and a lot of people do that... but you just have to stay somewhat objective as you make your short list on an important decision.
The main positives and downsides to smaller or newer programs are detailed here:
What is your opinion on going to a brand new residency program?
Im interested in a program that is scheduled to become official next year. What is your experience with new programs? what should I be asking and looking for ? I realize surgical numbers are very important. How would I gauge the surgical numbers without prior residents? For example : should I be...
forums.studentdoctor.net
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2008
- Messages
- 3,522
- Reaction score
- 4,845
That’s not what I was told…
Do I need a membership to access that?
Honestly less residents means more responsibility, cases, and duties. All of which you should seek out. Its 3 years to go crazy. After that 3 years you cant do it again. Take all you can get during that time.
I didnt have very many coresidents. It was a grind. But I'm happy I did it.
I didnt have very many coresidents. It was a grind. But I'm happy I did it.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2014
- Messages
- 630
- Reaction score
- 1,317
e
Yes, I believe it was e-mailed to me when I was student. I have an old one from 2017 that I can send to you, if that helps at all.
