Official MCW Class of 2009 Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
As of today I have heard the following statement twice from patients:

"I wish I was pregnant.

The first time, it was from a 14 year old girl.
The second time, a 90 year old woman.

I gotta get out of this business.

Man, I feel for you....I mean, having to hear those people use improper grammar! Everybody knows that if/wish clauses are followed by were. I wish I were pregnant.
 
Man, I feel for you....I mean, having to hear those people use improper grammar! Everybody knows that if/wish clauses are followed by were. I wish I were pregnant.

If you were to live in the United Kingdom, you would never hear the subjunctive, unless you were speaking to someone of an older generation. In a similar fashion, cursive is no longer taught there, and people our age cannot read it.

You just like the subjunctive because of German, I bet. 😉
 
As of today I have heard the following statement twice from patients:

"I wish I was pregnant.

The first time, it was from a 14 year old girl.
The second time, a 90 year old woman.

I gotta get out of this business.

Well, I kind if wish you were pregnant, too, Splat. It would be so interesting to follow your gestation and delivery.
 
Well, I kind if wish you were pregnant, too, Splat. It would be so interesting to follow your gestation and delivery.

Pervert. I'd make sure I was speaking a different language so you'd have to use the cyraphone.
 
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9qrZXI9xzE[/YOUTUBE]
 
Lame quote of the day from call last night...in reference to an attending trying to get an ABG: "I need to get this blood sample to know if I'll need to intubate her and save her life." :laugh:
 
was it this guy?
mcdreamy3-787539.jpg
 
I love 4th year. I get to miss a day of clinic to fly to Tucson for homecoming. 😀

My fellow told me to try to change my flight from Friday evening to Friday morning and just not come to clinic. 👍
 
Sounds like fun...I don't think I'll be doing any non-interview related travel this year, though. (Maybe vacation in April if I'm not off looking for housing in some other city, I guess.)

Side note: I love those little fun-size boxes of Nerds candy that people give out as Halloween treats. They make my mouth happy.

Side-side note: I have an interview in Tucson in December! Don't think I'll have much time to spend in the city because I'll have to high-tail it out of there to head to Albuquerque (7 hr drive) for an interview the next day.
 
Side note: I love those little fun-size boxes of Nerds candy that people give out as Halloween treats. They make my mouth happy.

I love the strawberry ones. mmmmmm

yay! for an interview in Tucson! I hope to get one there too. I want my University of Arizona 1999-2004 Undergrad stuff to hold some sway.
 
We only have fruit punch and orange flavored. 🙁 Now my mouth wants strawberry.

You are quick on the draw today, Ashers. Make sure you see my edit to the previous post!
 
We only have fruit punch and orange flavored. 🙁 Now my mouth wants strawberry.

You are quick on the draw today, Ashers. Make sure you see my edit to the previous post!

I already edited mine in response to your edit.

I have to go to clinic now. We had procedures this morning and no clinic until 1, so I've been at home making reservations for Tucson. I also had to call the 1 ortho program probably in the country that pays for my hotel and tell them I'd like a hotel (a program in Akron, OH).

Side note: If you get to spend a few extra hours in Tuxon, let me know. I'll give you hints of where to eat good Mexican food. There's some near campus.
 
man, only 3 interview offers came in today. I was hoping for 5. that's okay though. 12 so far.

Xandie...I got my Kalamazoo!!! And they provide lodging!
 
man, only 3 interview offers came in today. I was hoping for 5. that's okay though. 12 so far.

Xandie...I got my Kalamazoo!!! And they provide lodging!

Nice work Splat!...are you going to be posting your interviews in the EM forum's thread? Looks like Pratik has been doing well so far.

So far only one place I've gotten an interview at has not provided lodging fully (Duke, and they only make you pay $70 of the total.)
 
Last edited:
Nice work Splat!...are you going to be posting your interviews in the EM forum's thread? Looks like Pratik has been doing well so far.

So far only one place I've gotten an interview at has not provided lodging fully (Duke, and they only make you pay $70 of the total.)

nice! mine's maybe 1/3 paying for hotel. ironic that it's the cheaper places in the country that are paying. Not Chicago, NYC, CA.
 
How long are you going to be in Kalamazoo? If you have time (and/or if you take Karen) you should go to the following places: Bilbo's, to get the cheese sticks on wheat with dill dip, and Bells, to buy some beer. Olga's and Chin Chins are also good, but you only need to eat so many meals while there. I usually try to hit all of those places when I go home. 🙂

Congrats everyone on all the interviews. Try to keep an open mind and really get a good view of the program. Ask the residents questions, really look at the curriculum, and see if you can imagine yourself at that program. 🙂
 
nice! mine's maybe 1/3 paying for hotel. ironic that it's the cheaper places in the country that are paying. Not Chicago, NYC, CA.

Yeah, that's the advantage of wanting to stay away from the big/popular cities. No need for those hoity-toity programs to pay for lodging when they have people knocking down the door to live in their city.

and Bells, to buy some beer.

mmmmmm.....Bell's Two Hearted Ale...*drool* I would definitely try to make it out to their brewery tour if I were going to be in the area.

Xandie said:
Congrats everyone on all the interviews. Try to keep an open mind and really get a good view of the program. Ask the residents questions, really look at the curriculum, and see if you can imagine yourself at that program. 🙂

Xandie, can you think of any good questions that are generic to all medical specialties that we should be asking of these programs? I haven't had a chance to sit down and formulate a list of must-cover topics for interview day yet, and each day I get closer to Step 2 (Nov. 5th) the less likely it is going to happen before the plane ride (Nov. 6th) to my first interview!
 
Hey 9'ers; isn't there some way to check Step 2 scores online?

That whole never releaseing my scores thing is coming back to haunt me because it turns out your residencies actually do want some proof eventually that you passed. They said an unofficial printout will do, but I can't find any way to check without getting the $50 transcript.
 
Iserson's Getting into a Residency (pg 376-385) has questions to ask residents and faculty. I'll put both lists here. In the book, they actually have the reasoning behind each question (and a lot of the answers are fairly easy to find online, at least with most ortho programs, so if it's the same for other specialties, I wouldn't ask those).

To faculty:
1. Where are your graduates?
2. How have your graduates done on the specialty's board examinations?
3. Is there much faculty turnover?
4. Are there non-clinical responsibilities?
5. Are there research opportunities?
6. Is there administrative training?
7. What type of resident evaluations? How often?
8. Do you anticipate changes in the program's curriculum?
9. What is the program's accreditation status?
10. Is this a pyramidal program?
11. Have any housestaff left the program?
12. Do you help your graduates find jobs?
13. Could you give me (show me) an example?
--so this uses the example of someone saying "The call schedule is benign"

To ask residents:
1. What contact will I have with the clinical faculty?
2. How much didactic time is there? Does it have priority?
3. What type of clinical experiences will I have?
4. Will I have time to read?
5. what support staff is available?
6. What is the call schedule?
7. What is the patient population I will see?
8. Do the residents socialize as a group?
 
Hey 9'ers; isn't there some way to check Step 2 scores online?

That whole never releaseing my scores thing is coming back to haunt me because it turns out your residencies actually do want some proof eventually that you passed. They said an unofficial printout will do, but I can't find any way to check without getting the $50 transcript.

Hmm, I thought you could on the NBME website, but that must be where you're getting the $50 figure from. According to the help file: "You will receive an e-mail when your score report is available online. The e-mail will direct you to this Website. Your score report will only be available for viewing/printing for 120 days from the Score Report Date. "

What about contacting the school to see if they have a record that will suffice? I would think Lesley Mack could help with something like this.
 
Iserson's Getting into a Residency (pg 376-385) has questions to ask residents and faculty. I'll put both lists here. In the book, they actually have the reasoning behind each question (and a lot of the answers are fairly easy to find online, at least with most ortho programs, so if it's the same for other specialties, I wouldn't ask those).

Dang, I almost forgot I have that book...prolly haven't looked at it since the beginning of 1st year. Thanks for the reminder!

That's the problem, too. Between the online information and the presentation you will get on interview day, there aren't a lot of questions left to ask without looking like you haven't been paying attention or doing your research...
 
Dang, I almost forgot I have that book...prolly haven't looked at it since the beginning of 1st year. Thanks for the reminder!

That's the problem, too. Between the online information and the presentation you will get on interview day, there aren't a lot of questions left to ask without looking like you haven't been paying attention or doing your research...

I bought it last year at the FMSA sale for a dollar, then on the ortho forums, I saw someone who said almost all of his interview questions came from that book, so I decided to finally read i -- the relevant parts anyway.

It's telling me that as a female, I should wear a skirt. yeah right.
 
Hmm, I thought you could on the NBME website, but that must be where you're getting the $50 figure from. According to the help file: "You will receive an e-mail when your score report is available online. The e-mail will direct you to this Website. Your score report will only be available for viewing/printing for 120 days from the Score Report Date. "

What about contacting the school to see if they have a record that will suffice? I would think Lesley Mack could help with something like this.
I just printed a score report. I'm over 90 days out from when it was released, so I think I'd rather save $50.
 
I just printed a score report. I'm over 90 days out from when it was released, so I think I'd rather save $50.

One of my letter of rec writers asked for a copy of my score report, so it's definitely a good idea to print out a hard copy since they aren't sending them in the mail any more.
 
One of my letter of rec writers asked for a copy of my score report, so it's definitely a good idea to print out a hard copy since they aren't sending them in the mail any more.
If you're still at the ME, we've got somebody headed your way. PNB in the field that was basically a DOA. This morning already, I took out a naked girl's navel ring, examined a nice peri-anal abscess, and examined a possible murder victim. Crazy. I definitely feel like I get the full life experience by being in medicine.
 
first rejection today - Colorado. Sad.

Shouldn't complain too much. My calendar is pretty full with some big programs.
 
first rejection today - Colorado. Sad.

Shouldn't complain too much. My calendar is pretty full with some big programs.

Sounds like they really doled them out today. I agree that the scheduling is getting tough, though. I was shooting for going on 10-12 interviews, but I already have more "must visit" places on my list than that, and haven't even heard back from the programs in the Northwest that I want to visit! Speaking of which, why the hell am I getting no love from that region of the country?
 
Sounds like they really doled them out today. I agree that the scheduling is getting tough, though. I was shooting for going on 10-12 interviews, but I already have more "must visit" places on my list than that, and haven't even heard back from the programs in the Northwest that I want to visit! Speaking of which, why the hell am I getting no love from that region of the country?

I hear ya! I am extremely interested in Oregon, UWash, and Virginia Mason, but alas, no love here either. In fact, nothing from the west coast except Irvine.

I don't know how to choose where to interview and what to weed out. I wanna visit everywhere!!

Also, no love yet from Madison. Ah, I always love them, and they never love me back. 🙂

I've seen a couple of our classmates who are interviewing for family medicine while I've been on my sub-i this month. Makes the whole process more real and gets my nerves going for my own upcoming interviews.
 
Sounds like they really doled them out today. I agree that the scheduling is getting tough, though. I was shooting for going on 10-12 interviews, but I already have more "must visit" places on my list than that, and haven't even heard back from the programs in the Northwest that I want to visit! Speaking of which, why the hell am I getting no love from that region of the country?

I'm still waiting for the Dean's letter to go out, but I've gotten 1 rejection.

Most ortho people haven't gotten many interviews except 1 person who hasn't figured out that not everyone sends out every single (or any interviews) on the little listserv thing that was started. This guy's gotten an interview to almost every program that's sent them, except to the programs I'm going to (because he hasn't mentioned those yet).

The ortho listserv is so nervewracking, and really only 2 or 3 people are sending out where they're getting interviews.
 
If you were to live in the United Kingdom, you would never hear the subjunctive, unless you were speaking to someone of an older generation. In a similar fashion, cursive is no longer taught there, and people our age cannot read it.

You just like the subjunctive because of German, I bet. 😉

Total nonsense
 
I'm still waiting for the Dean's letter to go out, but I've gotten 1 rejection.

Everyone has their Dean's letter go out on 11-1.
 
I know, but after the dean's letter is released (since mine was uploaded on 16 Oct) is when ortho programs really start with interview invites and rejections. Hence, that's why I'm waiting for the dean's letter to go out.

Your MSPE is uploaded to your ERAS post office already? Interesting...(mine isn't).
 
Your MSPE is uploaded to your ERAS post office already? Interesting...(mine isn't).

Dr. Simons wrote mine and when I went to ask him for money for senior week activities he was signing all his letters. My letter was uploaded later that day. A bunch of my programs downloaded it, but on ADTS it says "Downloaded at such and such time but not viewable until November 1."
A lot of my programs have 11/1 deadline to receive the letter.
 
I just bought Guitar Hero World Tour band kit (so at some point people can come over and play the band thing).

i just might be a bachelor in need of some post-sub I rawking this weekend, as a matter of fact. But I'm also donating blood or platelets saturday morning so I might be Just-too-weak!


....one more night on call. Last night we didn't reach our cap of 10 patients like we have all the other nights, but as usual, more than half (4 of 7) were admits to the ICU. Last call night it was 6 of 10. This month has practically been a second MICU rotation for me.

I can't wait to get the hell out of there.
 
i just might be a bachelor in need of some post-sub I rawking this weekend, as a matter of fact. But I'm also donating blood or platelets saturday morning so I might be Just-too-weak!


....one more night on call. Last night we didn't reach our cap of 10 patients like we have all the other nights, but as usual, more than half (4 of 7) were admits to the ICU. Last call night it was 6 of 10. This month has practically been a second MICU rotation for me.

I can't wait to get the hell out of there.

That's too bad... I'm flying out to CA on Saturday morning to get ready for CS that I have on 11/4.
 
Gimlet, congrats on all the interviews n' such. Do you have a pre-interview #1 choice?
 
Gimlet, congrats on all the interviews n' such. Do you have a pre-interview #1 choice?

Thanks. I've been pleased with the responses to my app so far. 😎

I flip-flop between wanting to be sensible and stay in Milwaukee where my whole family and house are (which I would get taken to the cleaners on if I had to sell it in this market), and wanting to get out and experience someplace else for a few years. It will be a decision that's made on the interview trail, I suppose. Right now I'm most excited about the three programs that I'm getting no love from in the Pacific Northwest (OHSU, UW, Virginia Mason), and also am interested to see if the Upper Northeast (Dartmouth, Vermont, Maine) holds any attraction for me. Actually, I'm sure I'd love it there....just have to get a feel for whether the wife could stand it.
 
Thanks. I've been pleased with the responses to my app so far. 😎

I flip-flop between wanting to be sensible and stay in Milwaukee where my whole family and house are (which I would get taken to the cleaners on if I had to sell it in this market), and wanting to get out and experience someplace else for a few years. It will be a decision that's made on the interview trail, I suppose. Right now I'm most excited about the three programs that I'm getting no love from in the Pacific Northwest (OHSU, UW, Virginia Mason), and also am interested to see if the Upper Northeast (Dartmouth, Vermont, Maine) holds any attraction for me. Actually, I'm sure I'd love it there....just have to get a feel for whether the wife could stand it.

Maine's really pretty in the summer.

hahaha... Dartmouth. I applied to them for college, no go. Med school, no go. Now maybe at some point I'll hear from them for residency.

Growing up an intended Princetonite, I still couldn't bring myself to apply to Yale or Hah-vahd.
 
Maine's really pretty in the summer.

hahaha... Dartmouth. I applied to them for college, no go. Med school, no go. Now maybe at some point I'll hear from them for residency.

Growing up an intended Princetonite, I still couldn't bring myself to apply to Yale or Hah-vahd.

Hearing about Princeton always makes me think of Uncle Phil on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
 
Hearing about Princeton always makes me think of Uncle Phil on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

I loved the episode when they visited Princeton.

My dad was all depressed this weekend because Princeton lost to Harvard in football, then he was happier when we saw Pete Carroll (USC's coach) in the elevator, USC's president in the elevator at another point -- we stayed at the hotel where everyone from USC was staying, and USC beat Arizona at Arizona's homecoming... boo! My dad's a big supporter of USC.

I also think one of the reasons my dad likes House is so he can see glimpses of Princeton, and I get lectures about a Beautiful Mind and Princeton at the time anytime anyone brings it up since he was there when that was supposedly going on. He never heard of Nash.
 
princeton has a football program? good luck getting a good recruiting class.
 
Top