Last minute ROL help

[PsychDocNJ]

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So, I still can't decide who to rank #1, I am really stuck between Harvard-Longwood, Yale, and PENN.

I am working towards a career in academia as a child psychiatrist. As far as my future career goals, I am stuck as to which one would serve me best. While it would be nice to stay for both adult and child, that is not a neccessity, and seems like you can go whereever you want for child coming from a strong adult program? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Chimed]

Child continues to not be that competitive to get into. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that only 65% of the child fellowships filled last year. Of course, the top programs are going to fill and be harder to get into. If you come out of any of those programs and have good letters of rec and get along well with people, you shouldn't have any problem getting into a good child fellowship. With that said, I believe that Yale has the strongest child program out of the three you mentioned. Even if you decide not to stay at Yale, I think it would be cool to get involved with some of the top researchers in the field, especially if you want to go into academics. However, I think you should pick the program that fits you the best overall and not worry so much about child. I've heard good things about all three of the programs. Good luck!

 

[sunbeams end]

I'm a psych intern at Penn. I ranked it #1 last year, ahead of Harvard-Longwood, MGH, Columbia, Cornell, etc . . . didn't apply to Yale. I couldn't be more thrilled with my decision, I'm really happy to be here. Philly is a fantastic, fun, and fairly affordable city. I'm not interested in child psych, but I think this is a great program if you're interested in child because 1) even if you don't want to stay at Penn/CHOP for your child fellowship, you will have no problem getting into the fellowship of your choice after leaving here, 2) the program makes it easy to fast track if you choose, 3) the program director is a child psychiatrist and is extremely supportive of people who choose to do child, and 4) my co-interns in the child track have loved their experiences rotating at CHOP. It's a phenomenal place, and having the opportunity to work there is a pretty unique experience.
In any case, I'm sure all 3 programs are going to prepare you well for a fellowship in child. So make your decision based on things like location, how well you felt you fit in with the program/residents, and gut instinct

 

[rechaim]

Unless yolu're applying to the Integrated Child/Adult Program at Yale, you are not going to get much exposure to Child Psych. The Adult Program offers only one month Adolescent Psych, and that's it. Besides you have to do a 6 month rotation in Internal Medicine....and then 2 months in Adult Neurology...no Family Med and no Peds... so no exposure to sick children either. Penn is outstanding for Child Psych and so is Harvard Longwood, IMHO. Where else have you interviewed?

 

[PsychDocNJ]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I really like that PENN would let me some of my intern year at CHOP. But, I am not sure if doing so would make me feel comfortable as being the MD on call on an adult unit. I love peds, much better than medicine. But, it seems like adults are much more complex as far as medical co-morbities go.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Penn is outstanding for Child Psych and so is Harvard Longwood, IMHO.

Longwood would be great for child psych placement, but for child psych exposure in residency, it's minimal. The residents were pretty candid about how terrible child psych was at Children's, to the point where they now just do a month on child c/l, since time in the unit was so rotten.

That said, child folks from Longwood go to a laundry list of the best places. And the training otherwise is second to none. It's not much of a research faculty compared to Penn, but the clinical training and career setup is as good anywhere.

 

[PsychDocNJ]

Thanks for the input. Luckily, I have had exposure to child psych prior to med school, so I am really not concerned about the exposure to it. I have heard problems with the child experience at other places as well. I am really not into research. I really want to be a strong clinician and educator.