Northwest residency programs -- 2008-09 application cycle

[FutureFP]

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I love the Northwest and wanted to get this thread going. Submitted application beginning of September.

Applied to:
UW
Swedish - Cherry Hill
Swedish - First Hill
Group Health
Valley
OHSU

Interviews at:
Group Health

Anyone been hearing from the other programs?

 

[MsEvolution]

This is a good thread for me, too! I applied late... 9/30.

Applied to:
Swedish
Group Health
Valley Medical
Vancouver
St Pete's
Tacoma Multicare
Yakima
Klamath Falls
Milwaukie
Alaska
Wyoming

Interview invitations (so far)
Alaska


Wish me luck... I wonder how long I should wait before I start getting nervous... 😕

 

[surfgirl2]

Just curious... when did you get your Group Health interview?


Places applied to-
OHSU
UW
Swedish Cherry Hill
Swedish First Hill
Valley Family Medicine
Group Health

Interviews to date-
OHSU
UW
Valley

Our official transcript goes out next week and technically my Swedish applications are not complete until those are received.

 

[FutureFP]

Congrats! Group health came a few weeks ago, just got UW. When did you hear from OHSU? Would love to get an invite from them and Swedish. They're all such great programs.

 

[surfgirl2]

Congrats! Group health came a few weeks ago, just got UW. When did you hear from OHSU? Would love to get an invite from them and Swedish. They're all such great programs.

Congrats to you. OHSU came about 2 wks ago- I got their interview and UW on the same day 🙂 Lets hope they keep coming!

 

[surfgirl2]

Update- Yesterday I received invites for Swedish Cherry Hill and Group Health! Lets hope they keep coming! Good luck to all of you!

 

[MsEvolution]

This is a good thread for me, too! I applied late... 9/30.

Applied to:
Swedish
Group Health
Valley Medical
Vancouver
St Pete's
Tacoma Multicare
Yakima
Klamath Falls
Milwaukie
Alaska
Wyoming

Interview invitations (so far)
Alaska


Wish me luck... I wonder how long I should wait before I start getting nervous... 😕

Update! The latest one coming in Friday... (so, from 9/30 to 10/10)... my interviews are now:

Anchorage
Klamath Falls
Yakima
Providence Milwaukie (Oregon)
Casper, Wyoming
GHC Seattle
Tacoma Multicare
Providence St. Pete's (Olympia)

Happy with the response so far... I think I'm going to turn down Wyoming since I'm having good luck closeby. Does anyone have any idea what the ideal # of FP apps are if you're only applying FP? Or how many interviews are enough?

How's everyone else doing?

 

[aparecida]

Applied:
UW
Group Health
Swedish - First Hill
Swedish - Cherry Hill

Interviews:
UW
Group Health

(I haven't applied to OHSU as yet; if I do, it'll be in the next few days.)

 

[yumita]

I applied to OHSU
Swedish Cherry Hill
UW

 

[aparecida]

Applied:
UW
Group Health
Swedish - First Hill
Swedish - Cherry Hill

Interviews:
UW
Group Health

Cherry Hill came yesterday (our registrar uploaded our transcripts Tuesday).

First Hill sent an email a week or so ago saying they were reviewing apps and I'd get an update shortly. I assume this was sent to most people.

 

[FutureFP]

Just an update, heard from OHSU and First Hill. Congrats to everyone else. Sounds like everyone's doing great! 🙂

 

[surfgirl2]

Congrats FutureFP on you recent interviews. I just also heard from Tacoma but I am hoping First Hill will arrive shortly....

 

[MsEvolution]

Interviews from Vancouver and Cherry Hill yesterday.

Good luck to everyone! Has anyone done an interview yet? How are they going? I don't start mine until mid-November.

 

[surfgirl2]

Anyone else hear from First Hill? I got the email about 10 days ago that they were just starting to review applications, however one of my classmates got an interview invitation on Friday 10/17. I still have yeat to hear anything and I am starting to get slightly nervous... 🙁

 

[FutureFP]

Well, have heard from all my programs now, so it's time to start interviewing! Some of my classmates got interviews from First Hill over the past week. Maybe your application wasn't complete until later in the review process? If not, you could always check in and ask for a status update. Good luck! Hope you hear from them!

 

[secretwave101]

Glad to see NW interest! Love it up here 😀

Here's a little basic advice you all probably already know:

I recommend around 10 interviews and ranking 6-8. You are very unlikely to scramble if you rank that many FP programs. I interviewed at about a zillion, but only ranked 3 and got my top choice, but that was a bit lucky.

I only ranked those 3 because the other programs weren't ones I would FOR SURE want to go to. I've seen really strong people end up at their 4th and 5th rank spots up here in the NW where the spots are competitive, so be judicious about what goes on your rank list.

If you're totally committed to this area, I advise applying to everything from Portland to Seattle. All the programs are excellent. We're all accredited (ALWAYS check the length of a program's accreditation - the best is 5 years, the worst is 1 year or probation) and basically teach the same stuff. You increase your odds of staying in the area if you hit all programs with apps.

Good Luck!

 

[aparecida]

surfgirl2, I am still waiting on First Hill as well. They are the only program I applied to that I haven't heard from at this point. My app was not complete until 10/14 (that's when our registrar sends our transcripts). I'm still waiting, just getting a bit impatient because my other Seattle interviews are scheduled and I'd like to make my travel arrangements!

 

[surfgirl2]

any more updates this week?

 

[Karhu]

applied to both NE and NW-
NW- anchorage, pocatello ID, Klamath Falls

interviewing in anchorage and pocatello.

strangely i'm rotating in klamath next month but haven't heard about an interview.

 

[Horseradish99]

Don't worry- you'll get interviewed sometime during the rotation!

 

[aparecida]

First Hill finally came (10/28).

Frustratingly, they say they only interview on Thursdays. This makes my life more difficult.

 

[surfgirl2]

I just heard from First Hill too yesterday 10/28. Finally! I got an email saying they added 2 more dates for interviews - 12/8 and 12/15- Mondays.

 

[FutureFP]

Congrats guys! It'll be interesting to hear what you guys think about the programs. I already know it's going to be a tough decision...

 

[AFugaxx]

Interview invites:
Renton
Vancouver
Group Health
Swedish Cherry Hill (on the waiting list!)
Tacoma

Waiting to hear from:
Swedish First Hill
OHSU
Providence Milwaukie

I am also applying in other states and only want to do maybe 4 interviews in the Northwest. I'm thinking definitely Cherry Hill, Tacoma, and Renton. Does anyone have input on Group Health or Vancouver? I'm leaning towards programs that are strong in OB and procedures but also really want good didactics/EBM. Thanks!

 

[MsEvolution]

Ok, so now that we've probably all finished up our interviews... should we exchange some thoughts on these programs? What did you all think?

I think most of them are good programs and they all turn out good doctors. Mostly, the differences I saw were in OB #'s, night float vs not, geography/climate, # of mandatory away rotations, and vacation days.

Patient population is also a variable.

I whittled my rank list down to 4. How's everyone else doing?

 

[surfgirl2]

Hi- glad you resurrected this topic! I had a great time interviewing in the Northwest and I have compiled my top 4. In no particular order they are UW, First Hill, Cherry Hill, and Valley. Not going to rank Group Health. I think there were some major differences in curriculum, resident life, patient population, and location of training. I can't wait to have this process over with!

 

[Birdeee]

I would love to hear some feedback about the Portland/Vancouver FM sites. My husband is in Med school AND we are in our early fifties and really want to stay in Portland where our grown children and 25 years of life have been.

 

[4Shizzle]

I'm a 1st year DO originally from the Northwest that is studying in Missouri. Eventually I'd like to go back to the NW, hopefully for residency. Not sure what field I'd like to pursue yet. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do now to help this dream come true in the future? Any advice from folks who are on the way to a NW residency/in the NW?
Missing my mountains and ocean in MO.

 

[MsEvolution]

I'm a 1st year DO originally from the Northwest that is studying in Missouri. Eventually I'd like to go back to the NW, hopefully for residency. Not sure what field I'd like to pursue yet. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do now to help this dream come true in the future? Any advice from folks who are on the way to a NW residency/in the NW?
Missing my mountains and ocean in MO.

Arrange some rotations out in the PNW--get recommendation letters from those doctors. The programs will know them professionally and respect their opinion. I would also do one or two sub-I's in residency programs you are eyeing... but be careful here. It can be a double edged sword--you don't want to make a weak impression. Be sure you do this once you've completed your 3rd year and have had a nice amount of inpatient exposure. Programs out here seem to be wary of DO's since we apparently come into residency soft on inpt experience. I've been asked about this at almost every interview. So make sure you seek out rigorous experiences during your 3rd year in order to be able to make a good impression on your 4th year sub-I's if you plan on scheduling some around here.

And... I feel your pain! School in the midwest is tough... missing the scenery every day, having to rely on your PNW calendar pictures to be your mountains and oceans fix! 🙁

 

[WamWammy]

Anyone have info/input on Spokane?