Official 2012-2013 Heme/Onc fellowship application cycle

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The 2011-2012 cycle got finished 1.5 years ago, with match day being June 2011. The 2012-2013 cycle is getting started, with match day being December 2012.

Unless I am missing something, there were no cycles missed. If we are assuming that the 1 year hospitalists have changed their minds, and were persuaded to apply this year because of the six month delay in the application cycle, then that is the reason why we have an influx of applications. We are getting applications from everyone that was gonna apply + the reapplicants that didn't match + hospitalists who have decided to apply, which is no different than any other year.

It is safe to assume that in heme-onc, just like any IM subspecialty is getting more and more competitive.
 
The 2011-2012 cycle got finished 1.5 years ago, with match day being June 2011. The 2012-2013 cycle is getting started, with match day being December 2012.

Unless I am missing something, there were no cycles missed. If we are assuming that the 1 year hospitalists have changed their minds, and were persuaded to apply this year because of the six month delay in the application cycle, then that is the reason why we have an influx of applications. We are getting applications from everyone that was gonna apply + the reapplicants that didn't match + hospitalists who have decided to apply, which is no different than any other year.

It is safe to assume that in heme-onc, just like any IM subspecialty is getting more and more competitive.

There was no match last academic year. A lot of the people who would have applied as R3s are now applying as attendings, on top of the current R3s who are applying "on schedule." Add on to that all the folks who are applying after X years in practice and I think the applicant numbers this year are larger as a function of the match timeline changing.

I also don't think that it's getting that much more competitive either, I just think that everybody is sending out more apps which makes it look more competitive.
 
Interested in general heme/onc but also have interest in communications research. Applied broadly and have had the following results. Having trouble narrowing the field and plan to interview at 10-12 programs time permitting. Thoughts on any of these programs? Any in particular that have communications research options (might be a long shot)? Pros/Cons?

INVITES:
1. Univ of Utah
2. Boston Univ
3. Georgetown Univ
4. Virginia Commonwealth
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Ohio State
7. Univ of Iowa
8. Tufts
9. Univ of Wisconsin
10. Wake Forest
11. Univ of Minnesota
12. Duke
13. Univ of Vermont
14. Baystate/Tufts
15. Lankenau Hospital (Philadelphia)
16. East Carolina Univ
17. Med College of Wisconsin
18. Roger Williams Med Ctr (Providence RI)
19. UC Irvine

REJECTED:
1. Univ of North Carolina
2. Univ of Washington
3. UCSD
4. UCSF
5. U Mass
6. U Penn

Silence on a number of other programs, like many of you.
 
Interested in general heme/onc but also have interest in communications research. Applied broadly and have had the following results. Having trouble narrowing the field and plan to interview at 10-12 programs time permitting. Thoughts on any of these programs? Any in particular that have communications research options (might be a long shot)? Pros/Cons?

I don't have any idea what you mean by communications research so I'll just list the ones I think you should go to:

INVITES:
1. Univ of Utah
3. Georgetown Univ
4. Virginia Commonwealth
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Ohio State
7. Univ of Iowa
9. Univ of Wisconsin
10. Wake Forest
11. Univ of Minnesota
12. Duke
13. Univ of Vermont
18. Roger Williams Med Ctr (Providence RI)
19. UC Irvine

If you want to drop a few others, I'd skip UVM, Brown and VCU
 
My understanding is that there`s no prematch offers, but someone mentioned earlier that there is. Could u plz comment on that?
 
One program mentions that their department provides stipend for the first year of fellowship (only?). They go on saying that their division supplements the NIH stipends in order to establish a base salary. Does this mean that unless you receive a grant for your research, you are not going to be paid?
 
This part is easy actually. There are basically 2 full years of applicants this year with the recent change in the schedule. There was no fellowship match last year so all of last year's applicants, and all of this year's applicants are applying for the same Match.

I'm actually kind of shocked at how poorly this is understood by both applicants and the people on the committees reviewing apps. I can't tell you how many times one of our, very smart, senior faculty members, looked at an app and said "so if they're such a good candidate, why didn't they apply last year?".

I am one of the applicants that do not understand the double applicant this years. If follow the old schedule, we would be the "last year's applicant", because of the change of the fellowship application schedule, we changed from "last year's applicant" to "this year's applicant". Another change is if follow the old schedule, the applicants would be the PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents, while with the new schedule, the applicants would be the PGY-3 and recent graduated attending physicians. The attending physicians are not fresh graduates should be same to the each schedule. I missed something?
 
There is no "double applicant" phenomenon this year. I think someone misunderstood the timing of the interviews.

So, don't worry about having twice as many applications this year. It isn't happenning.

Good luck to everyone
 
I disagree- I believe there is some validity to the "double-applicant" phenomenon.

I don't have the exact numbers but in the past second year residents were likely split 50/50 or 60/40 on whether to apply during their second year or to take a gap year. My prediction is that there is a sizable proportion of residents who are less willing to take a gap year with the new timeline. Previous applicants who took a gap year may have cited indecision or lack of time to produce sizable research as a reason for delaying their fellowship application. This is less likely given the prolonged time during residency prior to applications.

Again- this is a theory, but I think it does partially explain the impression that the applicant pool has grown this year. We may have the usual number of applicants who waited another year to apply, but I believe the number of residents not taking a gap year has increased compared to previous years. If this theory is true, then the total applicant pool should normalize next year (as there should be a decrease in the number of applicants who took a gap year since a higher proportion of that class applied to the 2012-2013 cycle)

I also wonder if the perception of increased competition for this applicant cycle led everyone to apply more broadly and to a greater number of programs than in previous years. I think someone else suggested that this may be the case.

Lastly- maybe more residents now want to go into hematology/oncology? We will be in greater demand in the decades to come and the same might not be true for GI/cardiology (especially as compensation for procedures will likely diminish)

Anyway, those are my 2 cents.
 
Silence from the last few places I have yet to hear from...i'm guessing rejections. For some reason I was expecting more interviews from some predictable places based on former residents experiences from my program. Anyone else a little surprised this year?

I have had the same experience. I consider myself a mid-tier candidate and have not received interviews (at least not yet hopefully) from a handful of mid-tier programs that I expected based on historical precedents from my program. These programs also were not geographically very far from my home institution either. I don't know if the applicant pool is definitely larger or whether people are applying more broadly; it does seem as if the process is more competitive than in previous years.
 
I have had the same experience. I consider myself a mid-tier candidate and have not received interviews (at least not yet hopefully) from a handful of mid-tier programs that I expected based on historical precedents from my program. These programs also were not geographically very far from my home institution either. I don't know if the applicant pool is definitely larger or whether people are applying more broadly; it does seem as if the process is more competitive than in previous years.
I consider myself mid-tier applicant as well, have only 5 interviews and quite a few rejections. Have not heard from programs I assumed was goint ot hear from. How many interviews did you get? Hopefully a few more will come within the next week.
Good luck, we need it..😉
 
I've fortunately gotten 7 interviews with a decent number of rejections, but I have not gotten any interviews from 3-4 places that I assumed would be relatively easy interviews to get.

Good luck to you as well!
 
Hi, friends. I'm looking for a little input.

So far, I have interviews scheduled at BIDMC, DFCI, MSKCC, Yale, Mt. Sinai, Penn, Fred Hutch, UCSF, and Stanford. I'm thinking about cancelling my Penn interview because 1) I don't think I want to live in Philly, and 2) the other places I'm looking at are stronger in heme (I'm planning to be a translational lymphoma-ologist). Am I doing myself a big disservice not checking out Penn?
 
I've fortunately gotten 7 interviews with a decent number of rejections, but I have not gotten any interviews from 3-4 places that I assumed would be relatively easy interviews to get.

Good luck to you as well!

Thank you!
where did you get your interviews if you don't mind sharing?
Mine:
University of Kentucky
MSSM
Baystate, MA
Umass, MA
Caritas St Elizabeth , MA
thank you!🙂
 
Do you guys think we're at the end of invite season?
 
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Hi, friends. I'm looking for a little input.

So far, I have interviews scheduled at BIDMC, DFCI, MSKCC, Yale, Mt. Sinai, Penn, Fred Hutch, UCSF, and Stanford. I'm thinking about cancelling my Penn interview because 1) I don't think I want to live in Philly, and 2) the other places I'm looking at are stronger in heme (I'm planning to be a translational lymphoma-ologist). Am I doing myself a big disservice not checking out Penn?

Given where you are interviewing, it is unlikely (in my opinion) that you will go below your #3 or #4, and I doubt that UPenn is that high on you list- I guess you could check it out for checking out sake.
 
Hey guys, I am an IMG on J1. Applied to Med/Onc as back up. Want to do Heme/Onc. Please help me decide which interviews I should cancel out of the following and which are the best out of my list of invites-
1. Univ. of Tennessee
2. SUNY Downstate
3. Albert Einstein
4. Univ of Connecticut
5. Cooper Hospital UMDNJ, Camden
6. Baylor Dallas
7. TTU Lubbock
8. Oschner clinic New orleans
9. Jackson Memorial Miami
10. West Virginia University
11. University of Cincinnati
12. Washington Hospital Center
13. Univ of Southern California
14. Univ of Las Vegas
 
i can't comment on most of the those programs but albert einstein is great coming from new york. has a very good reputation
 
Trying to decide on: 1. how many interviews to go on, and 2. Preliminary rank order (which I'm finding a bit tricky given my geographical preference and interests). I'm interested in pursuing research in advanced therapeutics, likely having to do w cellular reprogramming. Clinically interested in heme malignancies, and I have a relatively strong NY preference. Only applied in the northeast.

Jhu
Dfci
Mskcc
Nci
Penn
Columbia
Mssm
Nyu
Fox chase
Yale

Any thoughts appreciated....
 
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just got one today from georgetown today. maybe ppl are dropping out and opening up spots for other people?
 
Just got one from Ohio state.
 
I am interested in Genomics and malignant hem. Can someone comment on the comparative academic strengths in the following places: MSKCC, Cornell, Columbia, NYU, Yale, and BIDMC. Many thanks.
 
Looks like people are coming off the waiting list. Have a friend that received 16 interviews and cancelled 6. Hopefully this will help those with less that 5 interviews.
 

I have the same question about UCLA. They're the last program I'm waiting on. Anyone know about the strengths of their program? Their website appears to be circa 2001 and I can't find any info about their curriculum, current fellows, etc.
 
Given where you are interviewing, it is unlikely (in my opinion) that you will go below your #3 or #4, and I doubt that UPenn is that high on you list- I guess you could check it out for checking out sake.

I decided to bite the bullet and cancel Penn. I also cancelled Mt. Sinai. I hope this opens up a spot for one of you guys!
 
I am getting a bit worried, I have not received any interviews, just rejections. I applied all over the US (avoided highly competitive programs). I had a problem with one of my LORs that didnt get posted until recently into MyEras (almost 1.5 months after I applied to the programs).

I am wondering if interview invites are still being sent. If I don't receive anything by the end of Sept should I start thinking about 2014 instead?
 
yeap, Invitations were sent by cleveland clinic.
 
i can't comment on most of the those programs but albert einstein is great coming from new york. has a very good reputation

Strongly disagree. it's a program based on Bronx not on Manhattan (a common misconception) for those thinking NYC; you will need to spent hours in commute if you want to stay in Manhattan. T

heir EMR is very bad and they are not really rank high in any ranking that I know of.

They are having 8 fellows which is the one of the few positive things. If you are thinking academic check their fellows outcomes (Private practice ) before you commit in a interview.

Hem part of their training is not that friendly to say at least. Finally, the population they are serving is a challenge as many of the pts are without insurance with multiple problems and overwhelmed by unemployment or other issues.
 
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Anyone interview at Tufts or Fox Chase yet and willing to share their experience?
 
Strongly disagree. it's a program based on Bronx not on Manhattan (a common misconception) for those thinking NYC; you will need to spent hours in commute if you want to stay in Manhattan. T

heir EMR is very bad and they are not really rank high in any ranking that I know of.

They are having 8 fellows which is the one of the few positive things. If you are thinking academic check their fellows outcomes (Private practice ) before you commit in a interview.

Hem part of their training is not that friendly to say at least. Finally, the population they are serving is a challenge as many of the pts are without insurance with multiple problems and overwhelmed by unemployment or other issues.

hi, i would disagree to this. yes it is in the bronx but it is definitely not hours away in terms of commute. if you live near the orange or green lines in manhattan, it is accessible.

i recently just came from an interview at the NIH, and even my interviewer, who trained at MSKCC, spoke highly of montefiore, even above other more "name" programs like columbia.

also, serving an underserved population doesn't take away from a program. i would hope that people going into heme/onc would have a little more compassion.
 
Has anyone gotten IV 's from University of Arizona yet?
 
I'm a PGY-2, likely applying for heme/onc next year.

Can someone PLEASE direct me to a list of nationwide programs?? I'm starting to think about where I want to live, and for the life of me cannot find a list of heme-onc programs on the internet......


PLEASE HELP!!!!

thanks!
 
I'm a PGY-2, likely applying for heme/onc next year.

Can someone PLEASE direct me to a list of nationwide programs?? I'm starting to think about where I want to live, and for the life of me cannot find a list of heme-onc programs on the internet......


PLEASE HELP!!!!

thanks!

I'm not sure if there is a master list that exists somewhere, but you can search for programs by state or region using the AMA's FREIDA:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/graduate-medical-education/freida-online.page
 
Does anyone have general information(strengths/weaknesses) about the program at ECU, Tulane and Stony Brook University?
 
I was averaging about 1 interview per day for a couple weeks... and now that have stopped coming. So I think the first wave of interviews should basically be done.

My current count is 27 interviews. Applied to about 80. Have cancelled several, of course. Already been to 3 interviews. Planning on around 14, I guess.
 
which interviews have people been on? Can we get your impressions?
 
Can anybody throw some light on the program at UMDNJ Cooper Hospital Camden NJ?
 
I was averaging about 1 interview per day for a couple weeks... and now that have stopped coming. So I think the first wave of interviews should basically be done.

My current count is 27 interviews. Applied to about 80. Have cancelled several, of course. Already been to 3 interviews. Planning on around 14, I guess.

Congrats on the large number of interviews but does it really pay off to hoard so many interviews when you can only match at one place?

I don't a horse in this race because I am applying next year but I doubt these programs you are visiting know you are going on so many places. I personally would lie and say to them I am going on 8-10 interviews.

In reality, because of the number of interviews I am willing to bet a grand that you will match in your top five. In fact, you will match in your top three.

There are many on this thread with less than 3 interviews. Personally I would not advertise the number of interviews any more. Most of us would give up interviews to help others but I am sure you are looking for the "perfect fit". Hey if willing to shell out another couple grand for places that will land outside of your top ten on your rank list, you have every right to do that. Just let us know in January if you felt it was worth hoarding interviews, when you matched into your top 3.
 
Anyone have info/experience re: University of Arizona? I'm definitely interested in academics, malignant heme>onc but not 100% sure on that aspect. I would be grateful for any input.
 
Someone above said I was "interview hoarding"

I said I have cancelled many... I will certainly cancel most of them.

I plan on going on about 14. You said 8-10. So, I'm going on 4 more than you are?

So, 10 is not too many interviews, but 14 is "interview hoarding". Well okay.

By the way, does anyone have an idea of how many interviews you should go on? Can anyone say about last year's match cycle - how many did your friends go on? How far down did they go in their match list?
 
Someone above said I was "interview hoarding"

I said I have cancelled many... I will certainly cancel most of them.

I plan on going on about 14. You said 8-10. So, I'm going on 4 more than you are?

So, 10 is not too many interviews, but 14 is "interview hoarding". Well okay.

By the way, does anyone have an idea of how many interviews you should go on? Can anyone say about last year's match cycle - how many did your friends go on? How far down did they go in their match list?

Most of my friends went on 6-9 interviews. Most of them matched to their top three.
 
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