For those who have interviewed at Children's Memorial or UMN can you let me know your opinions of these programs?
Northwestern, University of Minnesota Peds, thoughts?
- Thread starter swirkle
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here are my opinions on northwestern (not my home school):
i think it is a great program. the day of my interview we went to intern morning report, and it is by far the best, most involved and educational one i've been to (and i've been on 13 interviews so far ). i think the residents are dedicated to learning and to each other. Dr. Unti, the program director, is wonderful when you meet her. she is also very dedicated to the residents and the faculty (according to residents) are very dedicated towards their education. they have an organized abroad system to tanzania if interested- but you can go elsewhere, they are almost all paper charting (pls correct me if wrong), and they are front loaded with q4 call: 11 then 6 then 5 months (according to my notes). there is a lot of child advocacy, and i've heard criticism that NW doesn't see lower SES kids. this is untrue, and you will not leave your training at any Chicago program without a decent percentage of lower SES kids, illinois has "all kids" so any kid is insured and can go anywhere, and most everyone knows this. http://www.allkids.com/
chicago as a city is wonderful, more affordable than NY or LA. the midwestern feel is toned down from rural midwest, and something that is irreplaceable, people are open and warm and sincere. there are great neighborhoods, great restaurants, and people of every dimension. it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer (but a TON of festivals in the city, the taste, the jazz and the blues, art fairs), and those extremes make fall and spring all the more gorgeous. CMH is in lincoln park which is an awesome neighborhood.
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It was my last interview. I was totally burned out and didn't really pay much attention, but here's what I can tell you:
-it's a multi-site program, so there seemed to be less resident cohesion (at the dinner the night before, there were only 4 residents and only 2 of them knew eachother).
-the pd is extremely nice and spends 1-on-1 time with each applicant.
-all of my interviewers asked me the exact same questions (they literally read the questions off a sheet of paper). I didn't know what to make of this. Were they comparing my answers for consistency?
-overall, it seems like a really good program, but I didn't like how spread out the sites were from one another
-it's a multi-site program, so there seemed to be less resident cohesion (at the dinner the night before, there were only 4 residents and only 2 of them knew eachother).
-the pd is extremely nice and spends 1-on-1 time with each applicant.
-all of my interviewers asked me the exact same questions (they literally read the questions off a sheet of paper). I didn't know what to make of this. Were they comparing my answers for consistency?
-overall, it seems like a really good program, but I didn't like how spread out the sites were from one another
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I went to college in Chicago and lived 2 blocks from CMH, and also rotated at Northwestern as a 4th year.
As someone previously noted, AM report here was one of the best I saw throughout interview season, and they make a point to get interns involved in conference from the get-go. On days when they have intern AM report, the 2nd years/seniors go to board-review sessions.
Rep is awesome, lots of great fellowship placement locally and nationally. I saw plenty of low SES kids on a subspeciality service, but can't comment on the general stuff. Great support for international rotations as a senior.
Downsides: ER is cramped and overcrowded, they know it. Mostly paper charting (progress notes on some services are typed though, ICU, Cards; its a nice bonus). Some people wont like the front-loaded schedule (intern year is noted to be brutal, but the work hard, play hard attitude exists. I don't think id mind. Intern BBQs as a first year...only place i saw something like this (sign you out on Friday nights if you are on!)
The neighborhood (from living there for 4 years) can't be beat; particularly for a young professional. If you are married w/ kids, its also a great area, although the downside: it's pricy.
PM me with specific questions!
As someone previously noted, AM report here was one of the best I saw throughout interview season, and they make a point to get interns involved in conference from the get-go. On days when they have intern AM report, the 2nd years/seniors go to board-review sessions.
Rep is awesome, lots of great fellowship placement locally and nationally. I saw plenty of low SES kids on a subspeciality service, but can't comment on the general stuff. Great support for international rotations as a senior.
Downsides: ER is cramped and overcrowded, they know it. Mostly paper charting (progress notes on some services are typed though, ICU, Cards; its a nice bonus). Some people wont like the front-loaded schedule (intern year is noted to be brutal, but the work hard, play hard attitude exists. I don't think id mind. Intern BBQs as a first year...only place i saw something like this (sign you out on Friday nights if you are on!)
The neighborhood (from living there for 4 years) can't be beat; particularly for a young professional. If you are married w/ kids, its also a great area, although the downside: it's pricy.
PM me with specific questions!
