Philly Programs

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cak

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Just wondering what you guys know/think about the programs in Philly (you know - call, atmosphere, attendings, residents, etc.)

Thanks.
 
Hey, where are all the Philly people?

I'm applying for CA1 outside of the match for next year so any info or advice you guys/girls can offer about the programs would be really helpful.
 
I have heard alot of good things about U Penn....and will be applying.

Can anyone tell me how competetive it is...is it in the UCSF/Harvard range, where you should have 230+ Step 1 and or AOA to have a good shot matching, or are mere above average mortals in good shape?
 
Thomas Jefferson seemed pretty cushy. I was amazed how many residents had time to hang out in the luch room all afternoon when we interviewed. The residents seemed pretty happy. Their board pass rate is pretty poor I was told though.
 
I interviewed at PEnn w/ 200/241 scores. I was not taken with their program, though it is a very good one by all accounts. I didn't like the cattle call atmosphere of the interview day, nor did I like the small group interviews. maybe it was disjointed because I interviewed the first day the new chair was there. I also was not impressed with TJU. Residents seemed blah, though they were "happy" for the most part. it kind of irritated me that I felt the chair hadn't even thought about looking at my file before he interviewed me. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the replies...

Anyone know anything about Drexel or Temple?
 
cak said:
Thanks for the replies...

Anyone know anything about Drexel or Temple?


I'm just a med student who has rotated thru anesthesia at Drexel but from my experience, the residents seem truly happy. All the residents and attendings each breakfast and lunch together each day, there's alot of teaching that constantly goes on in the OR, and they get a nice mix of cases. I never once met a malignant attending in the 3 weeks I was there... However, lately there has been alot of faculty who have been coming/going.... When asked in private if the residents like the program, they are all very positive. The hours and call schedule are very reasonable.. In all, it seems like a good program...
 
I read somewhere on the forum a while ago that Drexel may not be participating in the match this year. Does anyone know if this is true? I looked at thier listing on FREIDA and it seems like they're accepting ERAS applications for 2006, so maybe this was just a rumor....
 
cak said:
I read somewhere on the forum a while ago that Drexel may not be participating in the match this year. Does anyone know if this is true? I looked at thier listing on FREIDA and it seems like they're accepting ERAS applications for 2006, so maybe this was just a rumor....


Just a rumor.... as are many things you read on sdn 🙂
 
dbiddy808 said:
Thomas Jefferson seemed pretty cushy. I was amazed how many residents had time to hang out in the luch room all afternoon when we interviewed. The residents seemed pretty happy. Their board pass rate is pretty poor I was told though.


Uuh, our written board pass rate this last year was 8 out of 8 or 100%. Lunch is a 1/2 hour. Believe me, if we had afternoons off, we wouldn't spend it hanging out with applicants 🙄 I wouldn't call the program cushy, but we are treated with respect.
 
How does one apply outside the match???
 
sdboy said:
How does one apply outside the match???


When you fill out you ERAS application, there is a section that asks you if you will be registering for the main match. I don't remember the responses, but you can let programs know that you are not registering for the match on the application.

This is useful when you're applying for PGY-2 spots (like anesthesia CA-1) that have been mostly filled by last year's match. Since I don't want to take a year off and apply for 2006, I'm applying for a position "outside the match". I just send the programs my ERAS application and tell them that I am applying for their open position for this coming year. These kinds of positions you have to call or email and ask about. They are generally not available to "match" into. You would also apply to a program outside the match if you wanted to change programs/specialties mid-year. If you were to do this, you would just fill out a regular application that you get from the program itself, not ERAS.

Other than these circumstances, for most programs you're required to use the match.

I hope this helps.
 
Anyone on the forum going to be at Temple next year?
 
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