Official 2011-2012 IM "How To Rank" Thread

[jdh71]

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So, I'm having a hard to time deciding on my #2 - 5 for my ROL. I know what I'll put for #1 and I have a general idea for the bottom half, but I want to make my top 5 solid b/c there's no telling what will happen come Match day. How would you all rank the following middle part of my list.

[Some parameters: I'm considering GI in the future, I'm wary of high cost of living b/c I'd like to not only pay my rent but also hopefully start chipping away at my loans (although some friends of mine think this is a stupid thing to worry about now), location is slowly starting to become less of a factor for me (I'm from VA) but I seem to go back and forth on this. Any help is appreciated.]

WashU
Cornell
Northwestern
Yale
UPMC
Vanderbilt
UNC

Vandy = WashU
Cornell = NWern
Yale = UPMC = UNC

 

[jdh71]

A friend and I interviewed at very similar places (about 80% same programs) and while we have some rough rank order lists neither of us is able to get a good idea of how academic strengths and reputation would factor (or not) our lists. I know the places are geographically diverse (and some have different 'personalities') but those are factors that we don't need help with - rather we wanted to get input as to academic strength/reputation (esp for fellowship)/etc since we have less experience in those areas.

We are both interested in doing Cardiology (slight off-chance of Pulm but 85% set on cardiology) for fellowship and wanted to know how the following places would rank in terms of academic strength/reputation/etc when it comes time for a fellowship (i.e. from a Fellowship Director's stance):

Boston University
Case Western Reserve
University of Maryland
University of Iowa
University of Alabama Birmingham
University of Cincinnati
University of Louisville
Ohio State University
Saint Louis University
University of Utah
University of Southern California
UCLA Harbor
Cleveland Clinic
Loyola University Medical Center
Wayne State University
Robert Wood Johnson - UMDNJ

Sorry for the super long list, but given that we both want to do Cardiology (80% certain, 20% Pulm/Critical Care) and just wanted feedback as to academic strength/reputation/etc we figured one post with both lists combined would be more sensible than two posts of 10-12 programs each.

Thanks!

UAB
Maryland = Iowa = Utah
USC = Case = OSU = BU
RWJ = CCF
Harbor
SLU = Cinci = Louisville = Loyola
Wayne

 

[jdh71]

the longer i stare at my list, the more confused and delirious i'm becoming... i'm so stuck! help! i'm not sure what I want to do in terms of fellowship yet...

yale PC
jefferson
temple
UMD
montefiore
Case
Brown

thank you 🙂

Yale
UMD
Case
Brown
Jeff
Monte
Temple

 

[jdh71]

Having trouble with Cornell vs. Colorado vs. Emory vs. UCSD. I don't really like NYC but the opportunities coming from Cornell are good. Liked Colorado but match list was heavily in house. Have heard mediocre reviews on Emory from years past but their most recent fellowship match was very impressive. As for UCSD, I don't really know how academically/clinically strong this program is although I do know their medical school is quite good. Loved San Diego but who doesn't? Anyone have any thoughts to what the pros/cons of these programs are for someone interested in academics who wants to have options for competitive fellowship?

Any of those programs are fine for what you want to do. If you think you won't like NYC, you probably never will. If I were you, and I'm not, I simply rank where I liked the best based on my gut and enjoy San Diego for a few years while I trained.

 

[jdh71]

Where have i heard this before
Preallo- "Rawk the MCAT and you'll be fine"
Allo- "Rawk the boards and be a great medical student and you will be great"

I guess this is the latest iteration.

You disagree?

If you're a great resident you will find a fellowship in your specialty of choice. Everyone without a visa issue from my old shop got their first choice in fellowship and there wasn't anything "top tier" by SDN ranking about where I went. And yet . . . I ended up at a top 10 place for what I want to do. How the **** the did that happen and I didn't even go to hopkins and become a marine.

You're going elitist ******* again? How quaint.

 

[adagio]

You disagree?

If you're a great resident you will find a fellowship in your specialty of choice. Everyone without a visa issue from my old shop got their first choice in fellowship and there wasn't anything "top tier" by SDN ranking about where I went. And yet . . . I ended up at a top 10 place for what I want to do. How the **** the did that happen and I didn't even go to hopkins and become a marine.

You're going elitist ******* again? How quaint.

Being a fellow now and thus an insider, do you think visa status is an immense handicap?

 

[jdh71]

Being a fellow now, do you think visa status is an immense handicap?

For top programs in anything, yes. For MOST Cards and GI programs in general, yes.

 

[gutonc]

Vandy = WashU
Cornell = NWern
Yale = UPMC = UNC

I more or less agree. With the caveat that the differences between the 2nd and 3rd tiers there are miniscule to nonexistent.

 

[bottlehub]

My rol right now:

1. Maryland
2. Alabama at birmingham
3. mayo
4. ccf
5. arizona
6. temple
7. louisville
8. new mexico

sounds right? should i put alabama above maryland and arizona above ccf?

 

[gutonc]

My rol right now:

1. Maryland
2. Alabama at birmingham
3. mayo
4. ccf
5. arizona
6. temple
7. louisville
8. new mexico

sounds right? should i put alabama above maryland and arizona above ccf?

Looks good to me.

Re: UMD/UAB, UAB is definitely the "stronger" program but B'ham is a real turn-off for some people (and a positive for others - not that B'more is Valhalla or anything). So if you think location wouldn't be a big issue, I'd swap them.

UAZ vs. CCF is really a toss-up IMHO.

 

[newspeak]

Hey gutonc,

whats your take on this list? this is how jdh71 put it

Mayo = Emory
Minn = Iowa = Bayor
Case = OSU
CCF = Cinci
Loyola
GWU

 

[Shoryuken]

A friend and I interviewed at very similar places (about 80% same programs) and while we have some rough rank order lists neither of us is able to get a good idea of how academic strengths and reputation would factor (or not) our lists. I know the places are geographically diverse (and some have different 'personalities') but those are factors that we don't need help with - rather we wanted to get input as to academic strength/reputation (esp for fellowship)/etc since we have less experience in those areas.

We are both interested in doing Cardiology (slight off-chance of Pulm but 85% set on cardiology) for fellowship and wanted to know how the following places would rank in terms of academic strength/reputation/etc when it comes time for a fellowship (i.e. from a Fellowship Director's stance):

Boston University
Case Western Reserve
University of Maryland
University of Iowa
University of Alabama Birmingham
University of Cincinnati
University of Louisville
Ohio State University
Saint Louis University
University of Utah
University of Southern California
UCLA Harbor
Cleveland Clinic
Loyola University Medical Center
Wayne State University
Robert Wood Johnson - UMDNJ

Sorry for the super long list, but given that we both want to do Cardiology (80% certain, 20% Pulm/Critical Care) and just wanted feedback as to academic strength/reputation/etc we figured one post with both lists combined would be more sensible than two posts of 10-12 programs each.

Thanks!

UAB
Maryland = Iowa = Utah
USC = Case = OSU = BU
RWJ = CCF
Harbor
SLU = Cinci = Louisville = Loyola
Wayne

Thanks for the input. Not to be a bother but your order left me with a few questions - would this be for general academic strength/reputation or strictly from a Cardiology Fellowship standpoint (and are those the same thing)? How big a difference is there between places in the second group versus the fifth group? And lastly, the match lists of some of the places is worse than for some of the places lower on your list (again, for cardiology) - is that all due to individual resident characteristics or something else not necessarily reflected by the list?

I have been forming a rough Rank Order List in my head and figured I'd use input like this (and a lot of gut feeling) to move places up and down a little but I guess it'd be safe to say it's more important to go somewhere I'd be happy (and thus be able to do well) than to rank higher for 'prestige', right?

Also, if anyone else (like gutonc) has input or would put things differently I'd appreciate it. I figure the more feedback the better!

 

[adagio]

Thanks for the input. Not to be a bother but your order left me with a few questions - would this be for general academic strength/reputation or strictly from a Cardiology Fellowship standpoint (and are those the same thing)? How big a difference is there between places in the second group versus the fifth group? And lastly, the match lists of some of the places is worse than for some of the places lower on your list (again, for cardiology) - is that all due to individual resident characteristics or something else not necessarily reflected by the list?

I have been forming a rough Rank Order List in my head and figured I'd use input like this (and a lot of gut feeling) to move places up and down a little but I guess it'd be safe to say it's more important to go somewhere I'd be happy (and thus be able to do well) than to rank higher for 'prestige', right?

Also, if anyone else (like gutonc) has input or would put things differently I'd appreciate it. I figure the more feedback the better!

I think the way he listed them are based on (Internal medicine training reputation) and not based on cardiology strength.

medicine residency and sub-specialty strength do not go together at all.

as for the fellowship match list: consistency is the clue. if it was a 5 years thing (meaning, for 5 years only 1 or 2 out of 40 resident class got into cards, then that's a problem) otherwise, its very much subjective

 

[gold&black2005]

Vandy = WashU
Cornell = NWern
Yale = UPMC = UNC

So, I'd argue that outside of Pitt and UNC, all the others are more or less equal. But the OP needs clarity that we aren't providing. He said the following:
-he wants GI
-he wants good cost of living...but he also wants good location (which is contradictory in some respects)

If that's the case, it seems you want to maximize your financial and GI potential while finding a location that's either a decent city or near a great one. NYC is too expensive, and Chicago may be more hit or miss (although cheap places can be found, just not near northwestern). Proximity to your home in VA also seems to matter, based on previous posts.

So...in that sense, I'd rank them like this:
Yale (good COL, close to NYC)
NW (fantastic city but more expensive)
Vandy (nashville's got its charms)
WashU (great prog but geographically isolated)
Cornell ($$$$$ but the city is special)
--------
The rest

 

[Shoryuken]

I think the way he listed them are based on (Internal medicine training reputation) and not based on cardiology strength.

medicine residency and sub-specialty strength do not go together at all.

as for the fellowship match list: consistency is the clue. if it was a 5 years thing (meaning, for 5 years only 1 or 2 out of 40 resident class got into cards, then that's a problem) otherwise, its very much subjective

I see, well at all those places it seems people are consistently going into Cardiology, the difference being people lower on that list were going to more competitive places than listed higher on jdh71's list.

Since there is differences in quality of Cardiology training at institutions versus Internal Medicine Residency training - which one factors into the fellowship application process? For the two of us it's not so much Internal Medicine reputation itself that's important, but rather whichever reputation/prestige/etc would be more meaningful with Cardiology Fellowship Directors (or is there no difference?)

I apologize if I'm missing the boat here but I figured Internal Medicine Residency Program strength/reputation would be more valuable when applying for fellowships than the actual sub-specialty strength at the home institution since they're getting internists to train, not sub-specialists...

 

[adagio]

I see, well at all those places it seems people are consistently going into Cardiology, the difference being people lower on that list were going to more competitive places than listed higher on jdh71's list.

Since there is differences in quality of Cardiology training at institutions versus Internal Medicine Residency training - which one factors into the fellowship application process? For the two of us it's not so much Internal Medicine reputation itself that's important, but rather whichever reputation/prestige/etc would be more meaningful with Cardiology Fellowship Directors (or is there no difference?)

I apologize if I'm missing the boat here but I figured Internal Medicine Residency Program strength/reputation would be more valuable when applying for fellowships than the actual sub-specialty strength at the home institution since they're getting internists to train, not sub-specialists...

This is a difficult question, as know one really knows what F PDs look for in terms of (names).

My guess is that if you graduate from a prestigious place, but your letters are soft or you do not have much research experience, or even solid USMLE scores, a mid-tier applicant could easily land the job instead of you.

I wouldnt think that F PDs would say: hey, this is a Cornell grad, lets take him.

 

[adagio]

Also, are you sure you want to be with your (buddy) in the same program? you already seem very competitive to me lol, maybe thats not a very good idea (for your buddy's fellowship match sake)

lol

 

[Deferoxamine]

So, I'd argue that outside of Pitt and UNC, all the others are more or less equal. But the OP needs clarity that we aren't providing. He said the following:
-he wants GI
-he wants good cost of living...but he also wants good location (which is contradictory in some respects)

If that's the case, it seems you want to maximize your financial and GI potential while finding a location that's either a decent city or near a great one. NYC is too expensive, and Chicago may be more hit or miss (although cheap places can be found, just not near northwestern). Proximity to your home in VA also seems to matter, based on previous posts.

So...in that sense, I'd rank them like this:
Yale (good COL, close to NYC)
NW (fantastic city but more expensive)
Vandy (nashville's got its charms)
WashU (great prog but geographically isolated)
Cornell ($$$$$ but the city is special)
--------
The rest

LOL @ you ranking Yale first every time you post in this thread.

 

[holodynamics]

Hi guys, I am extremely confused with regards to my top 3 .. UAB vs UCLA vs OHSU.

How should I rank them?

Also, is Alabama known to have racial discrimination against non-whites in this era? Some people warn me about it, but I'd really want to know if that is the case. Would appreciate responses.

 

[nomorelaziness]

thanks!! I felt residents at temple were very happy, but I guess they do stand a bit lower than the other programs. thanks for help tho.

 

[rv123]

UAB
Maryland = Iowa = Utah
USC = Case = OSU = BU
RWJ = CCF
Harbor
SLU = Cinci = Louisville = Loyola
Wayne

from my perspective- CCF and Wayne should be in group 5 with SLU, Cinci etc. ( I don't have an idea about Harbor)

From your list, you seem like an IMG from middle east who has excellent credentials and good research. Surprised that Tufts and Mayo are not in the list.

I was going to put UAB at top, but then the city depressed me..so I'm going with MD> OSU> UAB> Rest

 

[adagio]

from my perspective- CCF and Wayne should be in group 5 with SLU, Cinci etc. ( I don't have an idea about Harbor)

From your list, you seem like an IMG from middle east who has excellent credentials and good research. Surprised that Tufts and Mayo are not in the list.

I was going to put UAB at top, but then the city depressed me..so I'm going with MD> OSU> UAB> Rest

what are mortgages interest rates for 2018-2023?

 

[rv123]

what are mortgages interest rates for 2018-2023?

dude....EXPERIENCE 😀

 

[gold&black2005]

LOL @ you ranking Yale first every time you post in this thread.

🙄 hey, not every time...

For that OP, though, I do want to point out that cost of living and "location" (as we often define it) can often conflict.

By location, with his list? I'd rank NW or Cornell one and be done with it. (but that's my take. I think St. Louis is a dungeon, and isolated at that. New Haven and Baltimore get sh***ed on a ton but at least they're close to NYC/Boston/DC.)
By cost of living? WashU or Vandy, easily, then Yale or Pitt.
By proximity to his home state? Dunno - I don't think UNC is worth it, and the distance between VA and Nashville is actually longer than the distance between VA and either NYC or New Haven.
By quality? Most of these programs are equal, with the possible exceptions of Pitt and UNC being a smidge weaker.

So...with that in mind, you could come up with ANY rank list. I just chose the one I like. 😉

 

[kentuckyguy84]

🙄 hey, not every time...

For that OP, though, I do want to point out that cost of living and "location" (as we often define it) can often conflict.

By location, with his list? I'd rank NW or Cornell one and be done with it. (but that's my take. I think St. Louis is a dungeon, and isolated at that. New Haven and Baltimore get sh***ed on a ton but at least they're close to NYC/Boston/DC.)
By cost of living? WashU or Vandy, easily, then Yale or Pitt.
By proximity to his home state? Dunno - I don't think UNC is worth it, and the distance between VA and Nashville is actually longer than the distance between VA and either NYC or New Haven.
By quality? Most of these programs are equal, with the possible exceptions of Pitt and UNC being a smidge weaker.

So...with that in mind, you could come up with ANY rank list. I just chose the one I like. 😉

Not to be a total douche and derail the thread for a geography lesson, but this is entirely dependent upon where in VA the OP lives...

 

[Elixir86]

Not to be a total douche and derail the thread for a geography lesson, but this is entirely dependent upon where in VA the OP lives...

Guess I'll step back into this conversation. First of all, thanks to all the posters who replied. I appreciate your input. Black&Gold is a smart guy and I'm pretty sure he knows where I live 😉. I need to take some time this weekend and go through the folders and websites from those hospitals I mentioned to check up on some details, etc. But as one of my classmates nicely put it, I can't go wrong with the schools I've been fortunate enough to choose from.

 

[raj007ml]

Leader my axx......I have met him and understand the strategy he employs to choose the candidates...For IMGs...he would offer prematch positions to the outstanding candidates, who would have definitely matched at some place better had they gone for MATCH. For AMGs..all that looks well on interview day is not well in reality. I'm sure that the sources telling you about his leadership qualities are the ones who have never been to a better place.

I have had a couple of rotations there as med student and what I believe is that CCF is primarily run by Fellows and attendings. Residents just follow their orders and have no patient autonomy. In contrast, Mayo is altogether a different league. I had one rotation there and I could actually tell the difference.

CCF has almost the same potential as Mayo for being an excellent residency program, but leaders like Nielsen can never take it to that level. (One of my friends is ranking MGH>Mayo>Penn>rest)

-----> ------>

 

[KRichards62]

Hi guys, I am extremely confused with regards to my top 3 .. UAB vs UCLA vs OHSU.

How should I rank them?

Also, is Alabama known to have racial discrimination against non-whites in this era? Some people warn me about it, but I'd really want to know if that is the case. Would appreciate responses.

The top 2 on your list are UAB and UCLA. The south is a much different place in 2012 than some people think. I've found that those with negative opinions about it are generally people who have not spent much time in the south and therefore rely on hearsay and opinions based on generations passed. Large academic institutions, such as UAB, have broad representation both nationally and internationally and any concerns otherwise are a non issue.

You can't go wrong at UAB or UCLA - they are both great programs but in entirely different areas of the country. If you are more familiar with the west coast this may make UCLA more comfortable, but UAB could offer a unique opportunity to experience an area you otherwise may have little exposure.

 

[bottlehub]

Looks good to me.

Re: UMD/UAB, UAB is definitely the "stronger" program but B'ham is a real turn-off for some people (and a positive for others - not that B'more is Valhalla or anything). So if you think location wouldn't be a big issue, I'd swap them.

UAZ vs. CCF is really a toss-up IMHO.

Thanks for the input... I agree with what is being said about CCF in this thread. I might just rank Arizona above CCF.

 

[go lakers]

Real quick one:
Interested in cards fellowship in socal and planning to rank UCSD over UCLA, based mostly on my "feel" from interview day/second look, and a strong connection in SD.

Someone tell me I'm not looney.

 

[jdh71]

My rol right now:

1. Maryland
2. Alabama at birmingham
3. mayo
4. ccf
5. arizona
6. temple
7. louisville
8. new mexico
sounds right? should i put alabama above maryland and arizona above ccf?

Probably, but if that's the way you like them, then that's the way you like them.

 

[gold&black2005]

Real quick one:
Interested in cards fellowship in socal and planning to rank UCSD over UCLA, based mostly on my "feel" from interview day/second look, and a strong connection in SD.

Someone tell me I'm not looney.

You're not loony. Be happy. 🙂

 

[jdh71]

Thanks for the input. Not to be a bother but your order left me with a few questions - would this be for general academic strength/reputation or strictly from a Cardiology Fellowship standpoint (and are those the same thing)? How big a difference is there between places in the second group versus the fifth group? And lastly, the match lists of some of the places is worse than for some of the places lower on your list (again, for cardiology) - is that all due to individual resident characteristics or something else not necessarily reflected by the list?

I have been forming a rough Rank Order List in my head and figured I'd use input like this (and a lot of gut feeling) to move places up and down a little but I guess it'd be safe to say it's more important to go somewhere I'd be happy (and thus be able to do well) than to rank higher for 'prestige', right?

Also, if anyone else (like gutonc) has input or would put things differently I'd appreciate it. I figure the more feedback the better!

I called it the way I saw it. It's one man's OPINION. Neither me, nor gutonc, nor any of the other regulars on here have been to every program. We don't know all of the fellowship lists, and I for one don't want to know all that stuff. We're just giving you a list that's based on the general gestalt of these programs nationally and based on our own knowledge, experience, and what we've heard about different places. I can't match you to cardiology now with your list - YOU have to do that. So I don't have some big calculating rationale for every rank list. And YES I think you need to rank where you'll be happy, and grow, and thrive. It's YOUR career and it this whole process take to long and take too much out of you to ever do it again, you've got one shot at this, so get out of your own way and make your list.

 

[jdh71]

So, I'd argue that outside of Pitt and UNC, all the others are more or less equal. But the OP needs clarity that we aren't providing. He said the following:
-he wants GI
-he wants good cost of living...but he also wants good location (which is contradictory in some respects)

If that's the case, it seems you want to maximize your financial and GI potential while finding a location that's either a decent city or near a great one. NYC is too expensive, and Chicago may be more hit or miss (although cheap places can be found, just not near northwestern). Proximity to your home in VA also seems to matter, based on previous posts.

So...in that sense, I'd rank them like this:
Yale (good COL, close to NYC)
NW (fantastic city but more expensive)
Vandy (nashville's got its charms)
WashU (great prog but geographically isolated)
Cornell ($$$$$ but the city is special)
--------
The rest

Yale isn't Vandy and it isn't WashU. I know you like to rep your program hard. I respect that. But I don't see it. Plus I don't care how cheap it is to live in and around New Haven - that kind of ****hole nonsense is for the birds, I don't care how close NYC is.

 

[jdh71]

Real quick one:
Interested in cards fellowship in socal and planning to rank UCSD over UCLA, based mostly on my "feel" from interview day/second look, and a strong connection in SD.

Someone tell me I'm not looney.

You're not looney

 

[gold&black2005]

Hey, hey, all's I said is that's how I'd rank 'em based on the OP's criteria as stated. Plus, that's the beauty of differing opinions, whether on programs or on cities - you couldn't pay me to live in St. Louis. Nashville, on the other hand, I'd take. 🙂

Yale isn't Vandy and it isn't WashU. I know you like to rep your program hard. I respect that. But I don't see it. Plus I don't care how cheap it is to live in and around New Haven - that kind of ****hole nonsense is for the birds, I don't care how close NYC is.

 

[gold&black2005]

Not to be a total douche and derail the thread for a geography lesson, but this is entirely dependent upon where in VA the OP lives...

I was fairly confident he didn't live in Bristol, and from the three VA med schools, the calculation stands. 😀

 

[jdh71]

Hey, hey, all's I said is that's how I'd rank 'em based on the OP's criteria as stated. Plus, that's the beauty of differing opinions, whether on programs or on cities - you couldn't pay me to live in St. Louis. Nashville, on the other hand, I'd take. 🙂

Maybe I was too harsh. I'm running on fumes and lack of sleep. Sorry if I was dick.

 

[TwoSandwiches]

Long time reader, first time poster.

My list - please help me sort through it! I'd like to end up out west (never lived there, sick of the snow). National reputation is important to me (I'd like to do Heme/Onc), but not at the cost of a top-rate education. All in all, my interview days were variations on a theme - nice, generally happy people.

I've read through this thread, and one question I'd like answered is how nationally respected OHSU is. I didn't get a copy of their match list, and it's hard to get a sense. This is especially relative to UW/UCLA/Stanford/Colorado/UCSD

Question 2 - how does UCSD compare to the rest of the schools I listed?

Question 3 - I've seen threads from >1 year ago about Stanford being disorganized - where do people think it ranks nationally?

1. Stanford - Had a good interview day, everybody seemed happy, good match list, tons of research/international opportunities.

2. UCLA - ditto. Like bay > LA, but it's close.

3. OHSU - very nice PD, Portland's relaxed.

4. UW - other than being a big program, a lot like the rest.

5. UCSD - beautiful city.

Any and all thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

 

[EPADHA]

Hi guys, I am extremely confused with regards to my top 3 .. UAB vs UCLA vs OHSU.

How should I rank them?

Also, is Alabama known to have racial discrimination against non-whites in this era? Some people warn me about it, but I'd really want to know if that is the case. Would appreciate responses.

I think it really comes down to what your long term goals are. If you'd like to be on west coast for fellowship then certainly coming to UAB may not not help. My friends who applied in cards and GI from UAB basically ended up interviewing at USC, Loma Linda- so not the same level of institutions as UCLA (if that ranking matters to you). Depending on what specialty you are interested in wd look at faculty members of these institutions to see if they are doing what you are interested in. Can you identify potential mentors, and which institution would fit you better?? Also UAB and UCLA are quite clinically busy programs, so you may have the mentors, but not the time to do meangingful research. UCLA has the STAR program, which UAB does not have etc etc.

Los Angeles >>>>>>> B'Ham any day unless you'd like to live in one of B'ham's suburbs (Mountain Brook is beautiful)

I am currently doing my fellowship in south, and would certainly say that it is a very interesting place after having done my medicine residency in midwest. But it is not for everyone. The least I can say the healthcare and social disparities in south are quite stark.. i dont think there is ANY racism, but the south (and mainly deep south ...think MS, Al) is still quite polarized. I am technically non-white (or 'brown'). Race in southeast is all about white and black, which I find very interesting from a social standpoint.

 

[jdh71]

Long time reader, first time poster.

My list - please help me sort through it! I'd like to end up out west (never lived there, sick of the snow). National reputation is important to me (I'd like to do Heme/Onc), but not at the cost of a top-rate education. All in all, my interview days were variations on a theme - nice, generally happy people.

I've read through this thread, and one question I'd like answered is how nationally respected OHSU is. I didn't get a copy of their match list, and it's hard to get a sense. This is especially relative to UW/UCLA/Stanford/Colorado/UCSD

Question 2 - how does UCSD compare to the rest of the schools I listed?

Question 3 - I've seen threads from >1 year ago about Stanford being disorganized - where do people think it ranks nationally?

1. Stanford - Had a good interview day, everybody seemed happy, good match list, tons of research/international opportunities.

2. UCLA - ditto. Like bay > LA, but it's close.

3. OHSU - very nice PD, Portland's relaxed.

4. UW - other than being a big program, a lot like the rest.

5. UCSD - beautiful city.

Any and all thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

A1/A2: OHSU is a very well regarded program. UCSD and OHSU are probably about the same sitting at the bottom end of the top tier programs, meaning the probably fall somewhere after the top 15-20 programs in that 20-35 range depending on who you ask and how they're feeling about ranking that day.

A3: Stanford is an academic powerhouse. With awesome research potential in just about any subspecialty of medicine. Probably not a "top 10" spot but coming right in, right after. They are once of the more "selective" programs in who they invite based on what I've seen on these boards. A program like Stanford might run into some internal politics related to the academic leadership of the program at the university level, but that shouldn't really effect the house staff and training - it's freaking Stanford and they will sort it out and put great people in the right locations. I wouldn't worry about it, UNLESS you were planning to do basic science research with someone at Stanford and you just saw your potential research mentor bail.

 

[jdh71]

My friends who applied in cards and GI from UAB basically ended up interviewing at USC, Loma Linda- so not the same level of institutions as UCLA (if that ranking matters to you).

Could be a blessing. I bet every month the GI fellow is on the liver service at UCLA he thinks very seriously about ending it all.

 

[frisbee]

Real quick one:
Interested in cards fellowship in socal and planning to rank UCSD over UCLA, based mostly on my "feel" from interview day/second look, and a strong connection in SD.

Someone tell me I'm not looney.

You are not looney. I have no connections to Cali, but ucsd will be several spots higher than ucla on my list. I also had a really good time at my interview and it felt like the right place for me.

 

[rssnrower]

I just wanted to get people's thoughts/opinions. I'm having a tough time choosing between UCLA and MGH as my number one. Loved both programs. MGH has the bigger name behind it, but UCLA is closer to all my family and friends. I like the residents in both places and I know that both are "tougher" programs in the sense that you work a lot, which I'm fine with. Again, just wanted to get some opinions on "what would you do."

 

[jdh71]

I just wanted to get people's thoughts/opinions. I'm having a tough time choosing between UCLA and MGH as my number one. Loved both programs. MGH has the bigger name behind it, but UCLA is closer to all my family and friends. I like the residents in both places and I know that both are "tougher" programs in the sense that you work a lot, which I'm fine with. Again, just wanted to get some opinions on "what would you do."

I like la-la land much more than bahsten.

 

[BHMD3]

I just wanted to get people's thoughts/opinions. I'm having a tough time choosing between UCLA and MGH as my number one. Loved both programs. MGH has the bigger name behind it, but UCLA is closer to all my family and friends. I like the residents in both places and I know that both are "tougher" programs in the sense that you work a lot, which I'm fine with. Again, just wanted to get some opinions on "what would you do."

Go with where you'll be happy. If you think you will be happy at either place, then go to where you think you'll have more support. I was told over and over again to pick some place that you think you can maximally succeed (whether that's location, family/friends, program, administration, etc). Sounds like to me you've answered your own question by suggesting UCLA has more support for you and you would be happier there in the end instead of being all the way across the country.

Do what's best for you.

 

[EPADHA]

Could be a blessing. I bet every month the GI fellow is on the liver service at UCLA he thinks very seriously about ending it all.

true.. UCLA is among the busiest clinical programs for GI in the country. Their cards is not that busy.

 

[stankem]

i hadn't heard that emory was lagging in warmth/friendliness...can anyone comment on that? and if we are on that topic, what about nyu and bcm with warmth/friendliness?

It's a big program with 4 hospitals to cover. That said I never once have felt a lack of warmth and friendliness. Facutly are great, committed to teaching and at Grady truly enjoy the service that hospital provides to Atlanta. Large group of interns hang out at least weekly. Good relationship with the fellows and other departments. I have a good buddy at UTSW and it's borderline ridiculous to lump the two programs. My average hours at Grady are in the 60s.

 

[jdh71]

Go with where you'll be happy. If you think you will be happy at either place, then go to where you think you'll have more support. I was told over and over again to pick some place that you think you can maximally succeed (whether that's location, family/friends, program, administration, etc). Sounds like to me you've answered your own question by suggesting UCLA has more support for you and you would be happier there in the end instead of being all the way across the country.

Do what's best for you.

👍

 

[Instatewaiter]

I just wanted to get people's thoughts/opinions. I'm having a tough time choosing between UCLA and MGH as my number one. Loved both programs. MGH has the bigger name behind it, but UCLA is closer to all my family and friends. I like the residents in both places and I know that both are "tougher" programs in the sense that you work a lot, which I'm fine with. Again, just wanted to get some opinions on "what would you do."

I agree with the other posters that family/personal things should help guide your rankings. Don't just rank MGH higher because of the name. When I interviewed there, I had a visceral reaction and hated it and even considered not ranking it. It just wasn't my bag. Other people absolutely love the place and couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

I think what I am trying to say is don't rank a program just because of the name. If UCLA has intangibles that MGH doesn't don't hesitate to rank UCLA higher