Official 2014-2015 "Please help me rank these IM Programs" Megathread

[drivenby]

Hi! I'm not exactly a veteran, but please help me rank these programs!

They are all Internal Medicine. I'm an IMG. I'm interested in doing a fellowship (cards, pulmcrit , hemonc or ID)

UM/Jackson Memorial
Saint Luke's Roosevelt
Jacobi
Cook County
Morristown hospital
Danbury hospital
Lincoln hospital
Advoate Illinois Masonic
Englewood
NYMC Metropolitan
University of Central Florida

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[obiwan]

Hi! I'm not exactly a veteran, but please help me rank these programs!

They are all Internal Medicine. I'm an IMG. I'm interested in doing a fellowship (cards, pulmcrit , hemonc or ID)

UM/Jackson Memorial
Saint Luke's Roosevelt
Jacobi
Cook County
Morristown hospital
Danbury hospital
Lincoln hospital
Advoate Illinois Masonic
Englewood
NYMC Metropolitan
University of Central Florida

I'd say the U first followed by the rest since it appears most of them are community based programs. not from the northeast so i'm not sure about the reputation of Jacobi.

 

[bobow98]

jacobi is fine if you MUST be in NYC. they match very well to montefiore. fellowships aren't hard to come by at all from there.

 

[Rocher]

Since I may decide I want to stay where I do residency, what order would you rank these for malignant heme? Loved all three equally.

UNC
UVA
OHSU

Thanks!

 

[jdh71]

Since I may decide I want to stay where I do residency, what order would you rank these for malignant heme? Loved all three equally.

UNC
UVA
OHSU

Thanks!

Blood cancer? Groce.

Gutonc may have a other opinion. But I'd suggest going where they do transplants and if they do at all go where they do the most.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Blood cancer? Groce.

Gutonc may have a other opinion. But I'd suggest going where they do transplants and if they do at all go where they do the most.

UW?

 

[jdh71]

UW?

UW does transplant but I don't know about of the three in the list above.

 

[gutonc]

Since I may decide I want to stay where I do residency, what order would you rank these for malignant heme? Loved all three equally.

UNC
UVA
OHSU

Thanks!

OHSU does a crapton of malignant heme and transplant (service is typically 40-50 patients at a time) but you won't touch that at all as a resident as there are no house staff on the BMT or Onc services.

UNC and UVA both have transplant programs although I have no idea what their volume is like.

 

[drivenby]

jacobi is fine if you MUST be in NYC. they match very well to montefiore. fellowships aren't hard to come by at all from there.

Thanks!, so you think Jacobi has better fellowship opportunities than Saint Luke's-R?

My impression from those of those programs is about equal. I liked them both. SLR does have a fancier location, but Jacobi is in a decent (for bronx standards) place too. The residents in jacobi did say they do basic science research in the Albert einstein campus which is right across the street.

 

[bobow98]

Thanks!, so you think Jacobi has better fellowship opportunities than Saint Luke's-R?

My impression from those of those programs is about equal. I liked them both. SLR does have a fancier location, but Jacobi is in a decent (for bronx standards) place too. The residents in jacobi did say they do basic science research in the Albert einstein campus which is right across the street.

PM me for specifics.

 

[McSap]

Objective reputation wise, how would you compare BU vs wake forest vs einstein/monte in terms of competitive fellowship such as pulm?

 

[jdh71]

Objective reputation wise, how would you compare BU vs wake forest vs einstein/monte in terms of competitive fellowship such as pulm?

I don't think one would be more standout than any of the others. Pick your city. Wake is the only program I've personally been to and the one I like the most (they also have a really nice pulmonary and critical care program). I'm not a big city guy. I would probably rank them by pure reputation like BU > Wake > Monte . . . but the differences are fairly negligible in the bigger context really and definitely arguable

 

[GreenLED]

Can someone give me their opinion about the following programs in terms of reputation and opportunities for fellowship in cards. thank you.
Yale, Pittsburgh, UTSW, and Michigan.

 

[jdh71]

Can someone give me their opinion about the following programs in terms of reputation and opportunities for fellowship in cards. thank you.
Yale, Pittsburgh, UTSW, and Michigan.

You'll find a cards match and a *good* cards match out of any of them. My call on a strict reputation would be michigan > SWern > Yale = pburgh

Though SWern might actually have the better cards match. At least it did a few years ago.

Pburgh has a great reputation as a great place to train and would probably be my choice for top of that list for personal reasons. Yale is in new haven. Groce. SWern is in Texas. But I do like guns. Michigan is cold and snows a lot.

Rank em how you like. You'll be fine.

 

[obiwan]

Can someone give me their opinion about the following programs in terms of reputation and opportunities for fellowship in cards. thank you.
Yale, Pittsburgh, UTSW, and Michigan.

I can assuredly say that if you goal is to get into cardiology fellowship, then the name of any of those programs will not be the rate limiting factor. i can only speak for UTSW which matched 15+ applicants into cards from my year.

 

[Inderoll]

.

 

[gutonc]

.

Nailed it.

 

[LATwoFour]

repost

 

[le gangs]

Can someone compare the clinical training between Stanford and Columbia. I prefer Stanford because of location near family, but I think that Columbia may give more autonomy and I like the idea of the two attending system. I'm thinking of working eventually as a hospitalist or oncologist on the west coast.

 

[jdh71]

Can someone compare the clinical training between Stanford and Columbia. I prefer Stanford because of location near family, but I think that Columbia may give more autonomy and I like the idea of the two attending system. I'm thinking of working eventually as a hospitalist or oncologist on the west coast.

There was a big argument about Stanford around here but I don't remember where.

To my way of thinking both programs seems like a bit of a "waste" if all you want to do is hospitalist medicine.

I don't think one can make that convincing an argument that one is going to be that much clinically better than the other.

 

[throwaway19891234]

"To my way of thinking both programs seems like a bit of a "waste" if all you want to do is hospitalist medicine." Care to elaborate?

 

[obiwan]

"To my way of thinking both programs seems like a bit of a "waste" if all you want to do is hospitalist medicine." Care to elaborate?

Everyone coming out of medical school wants to train at the "best" possible place with all the cool pathology which isn't something to be discouraged but in reality, being a hospitalist is just same s**t, different day and really any ACGME accredited program should give you the experience to at least know how to treat decompensated HF/pneumonia/Afib with RVR etc which is the stuff that you see as a hospitalist in a normal community hospital and not Filiariasis.

 

[rd31]

Everyone coming out of medical school wants to train at the "best" possible place with all the cool pathology which isn't something to be discouraged but in reality, being a hospitalist is just same s**t, different day and really any ACGME accredited program should give you the experience to at least know how to treat decompensated HF/pneumonia/Afib with RVR etc which is the stuff that you see as a hospitalist in a normal community hospital and not Filiariasis.

What on earth are you talking about? These are both fantastic programs that do see plenty of bread and butter pathology in addition to rare cases that might get referred in. They have world class research on top of that with expert attendings. No one is "wasting" their training by going to either program, rather quite the opposite.

I mean, how many straightforward cases of HCAP do you really need to see? Not that many before you can start to manage it with your eyes closed.

 

[FrisbeeDocIM]

What on earth are you talking about? These are both fantastic programs that do see plenty of bread and butter pathology in addition to rare cases that might get referred in. They have world class research on top of that with expert attendings. No one is "wasting" their training by going to either program, rather quite the opposite.

I mean, how many straightforward cases of HCAP do you really need to see? Not that many before you can start to manage it with your eyes closed.

I believe they were saying that it's a waste to go to these programs "just" to be a hospitalist. You could leave that spot for someone else who wants to specialize in filariasis (using the same example) while you go to a "lesser" reputation program but still get just as good of training on the bread-and-butter medicine that will comprise >90% of what you see as a hospitalist.

 

[jdh71]

"To my way of thinking both programs seems like a bit of a "waste" if all you want to do is hospitalist medicine." Care to elaborate?

They are stepping stones to academic fellowships of the same caliber. You kind of "waste" that opportunity by just going three and done. Not that I'm particularly against the career choice and residency can beat ya down so you just want to be done. But to go to a Columbia or a Stanford just to do hospitalist medicine, UNLESS, the plan was to be an academic generalist teaching residents because you have a passion for teaching seems to miss the point a bit.

 

[obiwan]

I mean, how many straightforward cases of HCAP do you really need to see? Not that many before you can start to manage it with your eyes closed.

Exactly.

 

[throwaway19891234]

They are stepping stones to academic fellowships of the same caliber. You kind of "waste" that opportunity by just going three and done. Not that I'm particularly against the career choice and residency can beat ya down so you just want to be done. But to go to a Columbia or a Stanford just to do hospitalist medicine, UNLESS, the plan was to be an academic generalist teaching residents because you have a passion for teaching seems to miss the point a bit.

ok, i was going to say i completely disagree with you, except you added the part about academics. I think going to a top IM program if you have the intent of practicing as an academic hospitalist or even academic outpatient is not a waste at all

 

[le gangs]

I'm not sure what I want to do. Any reason to choose one over the other except geography?

 

[gutonc]

I'm not sure what I want to do. Any reason to choose one over the other except geography?

I personally think that the clinical experience at Stanford is broader (Uni/VA/County) than that at Columbia (basically one site with 4 or 5 months at a small community hospital nearby over the course of 3 years). Since Columbia is located where it is though, the University experience there is probably a bit more varied than that at Stanford.

Whether any of this makes 2 sh**s worth of a difference is highly unlikely though and you should decide whether you'd prefer Upstate Manhattan or Shallow Alto.

 

[VagueAbdominalPain]

Hey everyone,

My interview season has concluded and I have made an initial program ranking based solely on my own impression of perceived quality of the training and of my impression of the quality of the residents. My list as of right now doesn't factor in location, salary, facilities, perks, etc so likely will change. I would just like your thoughts as to the order below on quality of training overall. My goals are to do general internal medicine as an academic hospitalist in a university setting working closely with med students and residents. Really more than anything, I'm trying to weigh Indiana vs Utah vs Nebraska. Thanks for any help.

1. Indiana University- Indianapolis, IN
2. University of Utah Health Sciences Center- Salt Lake City, Utah
3. University of Nebraska Medical Center- Omaha, NE
4. University of Kansas Medical Center- Kansas City, KS
5. Mayo Clinic (Arizona)-Scottsdale, AZ
6. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center- Oklahoma City, OK
7. Saint Louis University Hospital- Saint Louis, MO
8. University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics- Columbia, MO
9. Creighton University- Omaha, NE

 

[gutonc]

Hey everyone,

My interview season has concluded and I have made an initial program ranking based solely on my own impression of perceived quality of the training and of my impression of the quality of the residents. My list as of right now doesn't factor in location, salary, facilities, perks, etc so likely will change. I would just like your thoughts as to the order below on quality of training overall. My goals are to do general internal medicine as an academic hospitalist in a university setting working closely with med students and residents. Really more than anything, I'm trying to weigh Indiana vs Utah vs Nebraska. Thanks for any help.

1. Indiana University- Indianapolis, IN
2. University of Utah Health Sciences Center- Salt Lake City, Utah
3. University of Nebraska Medical Center- Omaha, NE
4. University of Kansas Medical Center- Kansas City, KS
5. Mayo Clinic (Arizona)-Scottsdale, AZ
6. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center- Oklahoma City, OK
7. Saint Louis University Hospital- Saint Louis, MO
8. University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics- Columbia, MO
9. Creighton University- Omaha, NE

Finally...a post worth responding to on this thread.

Your 1 and 2 are a total coin flip with respect to program strength overall. I'd personally put Utah first but that's because because every time I think of Indianapolis this song runs through my head.

After this it's hard to argue with basically any order you want to put them in. Nebraska should be #3 but after that, who knows. You hopefully won't have to worry about it.

 

[VagueAbdominalPain]

Finally...a post worth responding to on this thread.

Your 1 and 2 are a total coin flip with respect to program strength overall. I'd personally put Utah first but that's because because every time I think of Indianapolis this song runs through my head.

After this it's hard to argue with basically any order you want to put them in. Nebraska should be #3 but after that, who knows. You hopefully won't have to worry about it.

Thanks for the quick response and your insight. Hoping I don't get outside the top three either as I am really happy with any of those programs. I'll have to play that song again if I match at Indianapolis but definitely didn't think it was hell. Had a really fun time when I was there and had some great food.

 

[ChessMaster3000]

I believe they were saying that it's a waste to go to these programs "just" to be a hospitalist. You could leave that spot for someone else who wants to specialize in filariasis (using the same example) while you go to a "lesser" reputation program but still get just as good of training on the bread-and-butter medicine that will comprise >90% of what you see as a hospitalist.

While this may be true, no med student who wants to be a hospitalist but also has the credentials to go to a top-tier program will, if they don't mind the geographic location of a particular top-tier program, move out of the way so a gunner pre-specialist (such as myself) will have a better shot at a future fellowship. Not saying its right or wrong, that's just how it is.

 

[jdh71]

Hey everyone,

My interview season has concluded and I have made an initial program ranking based solely on my own impression of perceived quality of the training and of my impression of the quality of the residents. My list as of right now doesn't factor in location, salary, facilities, perks, etc so likely will change. I would just like your thoughts as to the order below on quality of training overall. My goals are to do general internal medicine as an academic hospitalist in a university setting working closely with med students and residents. Really more than anything, I'm trying to weigh Indiana vs Utah vs Nebraska. Thanks for any help.

1. Indiana University- Indianapolis, IN
2. University of Utah Health Sciences Center- Salt Lake City, Utah
3. University of Nebraska Medical Center- Omaha, NE
4. University of Kansas Medical Center- Kansas City, KS
5. Mayo Clinic (Arizona)-Scottsdale, AZ
6. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center- Oklahoma City, OK
7. Saint Louis University Hospital- Saint Louis, MO
8. University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics- Columbia, MO
9. Creighton University- Omaha, NE

Hm. I like your top three the way you have them, if that's the way you like them. I'd probably put Utah on top for purely geographic reasons (ski!!) but Indiana is a solid, solid program. I don't much care for Nebraska based on what I know about their PD, and I defintiely would not put them above Indian or Utah. Mayo-AZ, unless you loved it, I might caution you to move down your list. I had a friend who did a fellowship there and they were not impressed with the residency training, at least compared to where we trained, take that with as much salt as you like. Sort of surprised to SLU so low, but you need to go with your gut. Kind of sad to see how Creighton has fallen in the last few decades (I blame their decision to take so many FMGs for so many years, which has always been seen by AMGs as a sign of a program that sucks) - though with their GME changing hands and the University hospital going the way of the dinosaur and then attaching themselves to a non-profit, but largely private sector set-up, it remains to be seen how it will all shake out for training . . .

 

[VagueAbdominalPain]

Hm. I like your top three the way you have them, if that's the way you like them. I'd probably put Utah on top for purely geographic reasons (ski!!) but Indiana is a solid, solid program. I don't much care for Nebraska based on what I know about their PD, and I defintiely would not put them above Indian or Utah. Mayo-AZ, unless you loved it, I might caution you to move down your list. I had a friend who did a fellowship there and they were not impressed with the residency training, at least compared to where we trained, take that with as much salt as you like. Sort of surprised to SLU so low, but you need to go with your gut. Kind of sad to see how Creighton has fallen in the last few decades (I blame their decision to take so many FMGs for so many years, which has always been seen by AMGs as a sign of a program that sucks) - though with their GME changing hands and the University hospital going the way of the dinosaur and then attaching themselves to a non-profit, but largely private sector set-up, it remains to be seen how it will all shake out for training . . .

Thanks for your input. Utah and Indiana were both great and at this point it's just talking with my wife and figuring out culturally where we might better suited. Although the IM program at Utah is very midwest heavy so we'll fit in there I assume as we're from the midwest. It's more the culture of Salt Lake/Utah that I'm just not really sure about. I've read mixed things about being non-LDS in Salt Lake.

Creighton seems to be in a period of change; they are switching to EMRs in the next 1-2 years and are moving into a new hospital in the next few years across town in Omaha. Also, as you mentioned, just very FMG heavy. The program director was very friendly and the residents seemed very happy though.

 

[dyeguy21]

Sort of surprised to SLU so low, but you need to go with your gut.

I was there as well, not super impressed with the program. It's a cheap city to live in and they have the diversity of cases most are looking for, but their results are scary, for instance a 79% board pass rate. The residents at dinner were very friendly and happy, but the following lunch the few that I sat with didn't seem as enthusiastic about the program (in comparison to other programs). It seems like their fellowships are awesome and the program is definitely heading in the right direction, but it seems that if you had other options they would rank higher at this moment.

In the end it really is a gut feeling about most places. As long as basic check-marks are ticked (in this case I prefer places with at least ~85% pass rates, at least over programs with less proven results), the rest is how you "felt" about a program.

 

[Yona33]

Finally...a post worth responding to on this thread.

Your 1 and 2 are a total coin flip with respect to program strength overall. I'd personally put Utah first but that's because because every time I think of Indianapolis this song runs through my head.

After this it's hard to argue with basically any order you want to put them in. Nebraska should be #3 but after that, who knows. You hopefully won't have to worry about it.

I second this thought. If it were me, and taking location out of it, I'd probably put it in the order that you did. But if you flipped #1 and #2 nobody could find fault in it either. Good luck!

 

[Yona33]

Can someone compare the clinical training between Stanford and Columbia. I prefer Stanford because of location near family, but I think that Columbia may give more autonomy and I like the idea of the two attending system. I'm thinking of working eventually as a hospitalist or oncologist on the west coast.

Both really strong programs. Neither is going to limit your options down the line. I personally prefer Stanford for a few reasons, but within the top peer group it probably doesn't make sense to pick nits to make the decision.

The one thing is this: If you want to end up practicing in New York, go to Columbia. If you want to end up practicing in California, go to Stanford. This is particularly true if you end up being a hospitalist, where job opportunities can be so dependent on contacts you make during residency. Plus, if you do end up applying for fellowship, wherever you end up going for residency instantly increases your chance of doing fellowship there, and then you're back to being better off training in the area.

Whatever you decide, good luck. Given the programs we're talking about it sounds like you're in good shape.

 

[DTUD]

.
Hey guys, most of this is really just me getting my thoughts written down to help me make a decision, but obviously I'd appreciate any input.

I'm trying to rank as I go along and a few weeks ago I was at Rush and Loyola and I'm trying to figure out which is a better fit for me. I'd like to keep fellowship (at an academic center) doors open.

These were my impressions based on the brief interview day interaction.

Rush:
+ A lot less time outside of the main university hospital
+ Better match lists overall
+ Under-served inner city population
+ Magnet support staff
- Residents seemed less happy, only really got enthusiasm from chiefs and pre-chiefs
- Faculty also seemed a bit less approachable (although morning report was awesome and the program leadership seemed great)
- Half-day continuity clinic

Loyola:
+ Residents seemed more enthusiastic about the program
+ All the faculty really seemed super-friendly, especially the program leadership
+ 4+1 schedule, plus a half-day of teaching during the +1 week
+ Mix of both under-served city population and well-insured west-Chicago suburb patients
- ~40% of time spent at the VA (we have a VA at my home instituation and honestly I think the struggle of working with the less-than-ideal support staff can be really frustrating, and I've heard from multiple residents that the standard of care isn't always met with treatment). Although I think the patient population is usually great for getting bread-and-butter IM problems, being almost have the time of residency seems a bit excessive.
- Match list was very heavily weighted towards staying at Loyola. Although they said this was because people really wanted to stay, which seemed consistent wit what a lot of residents said. But I would really like to have the option of leaving. Although, this bugs me less because I think ultimately you make your own oppurtunities when it comes to life after residency.


Now obviously, it's hard for you to know what things are important to me, so I tried to list those that matter most to me. Problem is, an interview day is really just a glimpse into the program, so if anyone could comment on the accuracy on some of these impressions, or if any of the things on the list you also thought were important to you going into residency but then realized weren't that big of a deal when you were actually going through it, then I'd appreciate any input.

 

[jdh71]

.
Hey guys, most of this is really just me getting my thoughts written down to help me make a decision, but obviously I'd appreciate any input.

I'm trying to rank as I go along and a few weeks ago I was at Rush and Loyola and I'm trying to figure out which is a better fit for me. I'd like to keep fellowship (at an academic center) doors open.

These were my impressions based on the brief interview day interaction.

Rush:
+ A lot less time outside of the main university hospital
+ Better match lists overall
+ Under-served inner city population
+ Magnet support staff
- Residents seemed less happy, only really got enthusiasm from chiefs and pre-chiefs
- Faculty also seemed a bit less approachable (although morning report was awesome and the program leadership seemed great)
- Half-day continuity clinic

Loyola:
+ Residents seemed more enthusiastic about the program
+ All the faculty really seemed super-friendly, especially the program leadership
+ 4+1 schedule, plus a half-day of teaching during the +1 week
+ Mix of both under-served city population and well-insured west-Chicago suburb patients
- ~40% of time spent at the VA (we have a VA at my home instituation and honestly I think the struggle of working with the less-than-ideal support staff can be really frustrating, and I've heard from multiple residents that the standard of care isn't always met with treatment). Although I think the patient population is usually great for getting bread-and-butter IM problems, being almost have the time of residency seems a bit excessive.
- Match list was very heavily weighted towards staying at Loyola. Although they said this was because people really wanted to stay, which seemed consistent wit what a lot of residents said. But I would really like to have the option of leaving. Although, this bugs me less because I think ultimately you make your own oppurtunities when it comes to life after residency.


Now obviously, it's hard for you to know what things are important to me, so I tried to list those that matter most to me. Problem is, an interview day is really just a glimpse into the program, so if anyone could comment on the accuracy on some of these impressions, or if any of the things on the list you also thought were important to you going into residency but then realized weren't that big of a deal when you were actually going through it, then I'd appreciate any input.

Sounds to me like you liked Loyola more than Rush but are kind of trying to talk yourself out of it with the Rush match list. I promise that are not able to get that much fundamentally different fellowship matches out of either program. And being a super solid resident at Loyola will get you as good a match as being a super solid resident at Rush. The difference in academic reputation at this point is rather negligible.

Rank Loyola higher and be done with it. You clearly like it better. Go with your gut friend. You're not "wrong".

 

[PublicEnema]

.

 

[gaomusic]

Looking for some help with the top/middle of my rank list. Still have a few programs to go but just wanted to keep an updated tally, like some of the other posters here. I am pretty open on location but it looks overall like I'll be staying in the Midwest. Want to eventually specialize, right now it's between heme/onc and pulm/cc. I think I put equal stock in program strength and location/where I would be happy living. I still need to look more into benefits, salary, cost of living, etc so this is still a very rough lit.

1. Case Western (got a "gut feeling" here)
2. Rush (got another "gut feeling here")
3. Ohio State (got along very well with the residents here, seems to be a busy program)
4. Indiana (felt a lot like tOSU)
5. UIC (who wouldn't want to live in Chicago?)
6. Loyola (who wouldn't want to live...just outside Chicago?)
7. Wisconsin (don't know if I could live in Madison)
8. USF (warm weather + beaches)

I like your top 3 especially if you're looking at subspecialty. I'm not familiar with 4 down though.

 

[jdh71]

Looking for some help with the top/middle of my rank list. Still have a few programs to go but just wanted to keep an updated tally, like some of the other posters here. I am pretty open on location but it looks overall like I'll be staying in the Midwest. Want to eventually specialize, right now it's between heme/onc and pulm/cc. I think I put equal stock in program strength and location/where I would be happy living. I still need to look more into benefits, salary, cost of living, etc so this is still a very rough lit.

1. Case Western (got a "gut feeling" here)
2. Rush (got another "gut feeling here")
3. Ohio State (got along very well with the residents here, seems to be a busy program)
4. Indiana (felt a lot like tOSU)
5. UIC (who wouldn't want to live in Chicago?)
6. Loyola (who wouldn't want to live...just outside Chicago?)
7. Wisconsin (don't know if I could live in Madison)
8. USF (warm weather + beaches)

Looks fine. We are a big fan of Wisconsin around here and I'd personally have them higher but you'd got good reasons. So. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Nice list.

 

[Yona33]

Looks fine. We are a big fan of Wisconsin around here and I'd personally have them higher but you'd got good reasons. So. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Nice list.

The two that stand out for me are Rush & Wisconsin. Not sure that Rush should be as high on the list, and at least based on academic reputation Wisconsin is probably #2 on the list. But if you truly don't think you would be happy in Madison, it certainly makes sense to rank as you have done. Just worth potentially thinking more about Rush, but nothing crazy here. Good luck.

 

[smartparts]

general opinions on these 4 programs:
WashU
UCLA
UTSW
Cleveland Clinic

thinking pulm/crit fellowship for now. is UTSW as malignant as people say? i've heard thats a thing of the past. it seems like the insane patient volume at parkland is their biggest strength in producing very confident, sought-after applicants in the fellowship match.

 

[hawksfan]

This is what I get for being cocky about my favorite program so far. Just finished up interviews and feeling confident in my top 3 (got that "gut feeling"), but not sure about the order. Tentatively:

1.) Mayo Clinic (expected to hate this but loved it, everyone was super nice, schedule seems very favorable)
2.) University of Iowa (significant other reasons, again super nice people and seems like a strong academic program with great fellowships)
3.) University of Wisconsin (literally same as #1-3, but also Madison seems great)
-------------------------------------------------
4.) UCSD
5.) University of Minnesota
6.) Wake Forest
7.) MUSC
8.) University of Kentucky

Also feeling a little nervous that I canceled so many interviews hat people here seemed to really like (Case, BU, Rush, Indiana, etc.). Not sure what my future plans are, but really don't want to have any doors closed because of the place I choose. Thanks for any advice you have, esp my top 3!!!

 

[DTUD]

Sounds to me like you liked Loyola more than Rush but are kind of trying to talk yourself out of it with the Rush match list. I promise that are not able to get that much fundamentally different fellowship matches out of either program. And being a super solid resident at Loyola will get you as good a match as being a super solid resident at Rush. The difference in academic reputation at this point is rather negligible.

Rank Loyola higher and be done with it. You clearly like it better. Go with your gut friend. You're not "wrong".

Yeah mulling it over more I was kind of leaning in that direction too. I think I probably would be happier among the Loyola residents, and I like to think that unless one's picking residency between MGH and a community program (bit of hyperbole), then fellowship opportunities lie more in the hands of the applicant than the residency program.

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it.

 

[jdh71]

general opinions on these 4 programs:
WashU
UCLA
UTSW
Cleveland Clinic

thinking pulm/crit fellowship for now. is UTSW as malignant as people say? i've heard thats a thing of the past. it seems like the insane patient volume at parkland is their biggest strength in producing very confident, sought-after applicants in the fellowship match.

The others are better than CCF. That's what everyone will think.

Good luck.

 

[jdh71]

This is what I get for being cocky about my favorite program so far. Just finished up interviews and feeling confident in my top 3 (got that "gut feeling"), but not sure about the order. Tentatively:

1.) Mayo Clinic (expected to hate this but loved it, everyone was super nice, schedule seems very favorable)
2.) University of Iowa (significant other reasons, again super nice people and seems like a strong academic program with great fellowships)
3.) University of Wisconsin (literally same as #1-3, but also Madison seems great)
-------------------------------------------------
4.) UCSD
5.) University of Minnesota
6.) Wake Forest
7.) MUSC
8.) University of Kentucky

Also feeling a little nervous that I canceled so many interviews hat people here seemed to really like (Case, BU, Rush, Indiana, etc.). Not sure what my future plans are, but really don't want to have any doors closed because of the place I choose. Thanks for any advice you have, esp my top 3!!!

Looks fine to me.

Hard to go to Mayo and not like it. Seriously. Lol.

 

[Vairy nicee]

Just finished the trail last week...whew. Pretty much have the bottom half all figured out but I'm not sure about the top half. I am interested in specializing (Pulm/CC or GI) but I might just give up and become a Hospitalist, pref academic.

Top 2
Minnesota & Baylor Houston: Both progs seem very rigorous and residents are well trained. The match list is great as well. Cities are polar opposite but I feel that I can stay in either one. Need help in which one is better in terms of reputation and training

3rd, 4th, and 5th
OSU, UIC, Iowa: Toss up really. Residents at all places seemed great and friendly. Chicago is..well Chicago. Iowa seems to have a better fellowship match. Family ties and badass new hospital in Colombus, OH. Any suggestions, again, in terms of reputation and training?

And a sidenote to some of the above posts, I'm really surprised that Wisc does not top your lists. I would have really killed for an invite from Madison. And I interviewed at CCF...it does not come off as a great program no matter what BS they feed you (although the food they fed us was quite stellar)