Picking Schools - soooo hard!

[PreMedAdAG]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm not sure where to pick to apply- I've read about schools but wanted to see if people had any input on them


UC Davis (this is my number one)
San Mateo
UCSD
University of Arizona
University of Hawaii
University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
Wash U
OHSU
Stanford
UCSF
CPMC
UCLA - Harbor
Cedar Sinai
UC Irvine
Univ. of Pittsburgh

help?

 

[kumar28]

if you want to go to chicago UIC is your best bet. I heard that U of Chicago's program is not doing so well. UIC is ranked pretty high for all psych programs..not sure where though.

 

[HCE]

if you want to go to chicago UIC is your best bet. I heard that U of Chicago's program is not doing so well. UIC is ranked pretty high for all psych programs..not sure where though.

are you talking about applying to medical school or residencies?

 

[DebDynamite]

It will help you if you first decide what you want out of a program. I loved Arizona. Only ranked it #2 because of location.

If you are an American graduate, passed all steps on the first try with half-way decent scores, it's really up to you. You still have time. Just apply to them all on ERAS, and think about it.

 

[PreMedAdAG]

It will help you if you first decide what you want out of a program. I loved Arizona. Only ranked it #2 because of location.

If you are an American graduate, passed all steps on the first try with half-way decent scores, it's really up to you. You still have time. Just apply to them all on ERAS, and think about it.

Yea - do you think this is an okay number of schools to apply to?

I have a pretty good academic record in terms of psychiatry - so I'm not entirely worried about that - but will need to take step 2 still.

 

[DebDynamite]

Totally.

But, not a good number to interview with- way too many, unless you are a gunner🙂.

How I did it last year, I divided my programs into 2 categories:
-#1 good programs with lots of research opportunities/ ie the "big name" schools
and
#2 good programs where I thought I'd fit into the culture/was the lifestyle of the town for me.

I only applied where there were fellowship opportunities.

Then, like most, I went to Freida.
I used the ROT that I would not trust Freida completely, and would add 10 hours per week to the stated "avg hours worked" (trust no one).

I thought long and hard about which invites to accept. Went on eight interviews total. Actually, 4 were program type "1", four were type "2".

In the end, I ranked according to my gut feeling, assuming that:
-I would probably get my #1.
-I better be prepared not to get my #1.
-Anywhere I ranked, I was prepared to go.

It worked out great, I have zero regrets, my program is perfect for me.
So...the magic formula is bowing ...listen to your instincts. Where do you feel you'll fit in the most? And don't underestimate the power of a second look. It can help a LOT. And, contrary to what many say, consider a sub-I. In the end, they will (probably) want you, and you may not want them. If I hadn't done a sub-I, I'm sure I would have ended up at a different program. I'm glad things turned out differently for me.

Good Luck.