OHSU vs Colorado vs Arizona vs UCLA Kern

[silentbill]

I thinking about where to rank these programs... I want to go back to California, and I will be ranking most of the Los Angeles-area and Bay Area programs first. However, if I don't get into those programs, I want to be nearby in order to fly back often.

OHSU had a good location and a reasonable flight schedule. Their call schedule seemed tough. Denver was nice, but Aurora was kind of quiet. They have many flights to Socal. Call here seemed tough too. Arizona also has a lot of flights to California, and the flights might be some of the cheaper ones too. It is very hot there. Banner is at a bigger city than the main Arizona program, but U of A seems to have more of an academic feel. Kern is within driving distance, but the program is new and does not have as many resources some of the above programs. I want to work in California, so perhaps the training, especially when learning about the laws, will be better for my future career.

What do you think of these programs?

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[babel]

What are your career goals (academic vs. private vs. community)? How important is precise location for you (with UCLA Kern in the state but arguably the least well known of the bunch)? I'm an MS3 who hopes/plans to be in a similar position a year from now - at an East Coast school, but hoping to head back to CA.

I guess the big question is (not that I have the answer, but just so that other people on the forum know what info you're seeking) - what is it that you want to know about these programs that will help you sort out this part of your rank list? Location? Prestige? Happiness of residents? etc.

Good luck.

 

[gdbaby]

Being from Colorado I am a little biased, but I can speak to your concerns. Aurora is not quiet, but it is still a little sketchy. The good news is that most of your work in the first two years is at Denver Health and the VA which are in Denver. Also, no one lives in Aurora. Everyone lives in Denver, which is much more lively. Flights to Ca on Frontier and SW are cheap. Call seems rough at times especially the month of night float, but mellows out by 3rd year like most programs.

Hope that helps.

 

[psychotrope]

I thinking about where to rank these programs... I want to go back to California, and I will be ranking most of the Los Angeles-area and Bay Area programs first. However, if I don't get into those programs, I want to be nearby in order to fly back often.

OHSU had a good location and a reasonable flight schedule. Their call schedule seemed tough. Denver was nice, but Aurora was kind of quiet. They have many flights to Socal. Call here seemed tough too. Arizona also has a lot of flights to California, and the flights might be some of the cheaper ones too. It is very hot there. Banner is at a bigger city than the main Arizona program, but U of A seems to have more of an academic feel. Kern is within driving distance, but the program is new and does not have as many resources some of the above programs. I want to work in California, so perhaps the training, especially when learning about the laws, will be better for my future career.

What do you think of these programs?

as someone else said, what are your goals? The arizona programs are in a much different league(from a reputation standpoint and a quality of resident standpoint) than oregon or colorado

 

[silentbill]

What are your career goals (academic vs. private vs. community)? How important is precise location for you (with UCLA Kern in the state but arguably the least well known of the bunch)? I'm an MS3 who hopes/plans to be in a similar position a year from now - at an East Coast school, but hoping to head back to CA.

I guess the big question is (not that I have the answer, but just so that other people on the forum know what info you're seeking) - what is it that you want to know about these programs that will help you sort out this part of your rank list? Location? Prestige? Happiness of residents? etc.

Good luck.

Career goals are still unsure. I feel most comfortable at the academic places, but that might be because my med school is like that too. Private practice seems most likely, but I keep thinking that I might want to have my finger in more pies than that. Location is quite important-- for networking and for being near family and friends. It is probably my biggest priority.

I think I am looking for distance to California to be the highest priority, but I want to make sure that there will not be any big disadvantages going into fellowship or getting a job. Resident happiness is pretty important--I don't want to be at a malignant program or be overworked just so that the flight home will be an hour shorter.

 

[notdeadyet]

I think I am looking for distance to California to be the highest priority, but I want to make sure that there will not be any big disadvantages going into fellowship or getting a job. Resident happiness is pretty important--I don't want to be at a malignant program or be overworked just so that the flight home will be an hour shorter.

Good thinking. Unless you have kids back in California or somesuch, you might find yourself traveling home less often than you think you will. I moved only two hours away from my wife and I's home of 14 years and only make it back 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I think I am looking for distance to California to be the highest priority, but I want to make sure that there will not be any big disadvantages going into fellowship or getting a job. Resident happiness is pretty important--I don't want to be at a malignant program or be overworked just so that the flight home will be an hour shorter.

Colorado kind of concerns me on the resident happiness thing. I have a friend rotating there right now who likes it and plans on ranking it #1, but she said about half the residents she's met seem unhappy, mainly because they have had issues with the PD and feel overworked. I know someone else who rotated there and said several of the residents were mad at the PD about call issues, and some of the residents I met on my interview there seemed a little beaten down by their interaction with the PD. It seems like Colorado has great training, a good reputation and tons of funding for research (it's possibly the most academically strong of your list), but there's enough iffiness about the atmosphere that I'm putting it pretty low on my rol. This might not be a concern for everybody, but, like you, having a supportive residency with a friendly environment is a big priority for me. Colorado might truly have that, but of all the 13 places I interviewed, I walked away being most concerned about the atmosphere there. But people who are at Colorado or have rotated there themselves probably know a lot more about the program and resident happiness than me.