Please Help Narrow Down my Interview List/Your Opinions

[franklinthedog]

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All,

Thanks tons for replying to my previous questions. I find this forum extremely helpful and can't thank you enough. I've been stuck on an AI in peds with 80+ hrs and now on surgery with 80+ hrs, so it's hard for me to find time to comb through threads.

I would like critique on the following places (pick and choose and THANKS). Here's my list of interviews:
--MUSC
-Emory
-U Mich
-U Penn
-Beth Israel
-Mt Sinai
-St Vincents
-UMDNJ (newark location, not camden)
-OHSU Oregon
-U Washington
-Denver
-Vanderbilt
-UNC
-BUMC Boston
-Harbor-UCLA
-U Chicago
-Rush

I love the idea of a big city. I want a program with a good reputation. I also want reasonable work hours though. Another plus is places that allow time for yr 3/4 research or moonlighting (any way to pay back whopping loans). Don't like the idea of traffic, prefer to walk or use public transportation. Love the idea of night float. Not afraid of inner-city work locations but wouldn't want to live in one. I am afraid of small programs (numbers of residents/year) IF there is no subsititue system for call if someone gets sick or quits.

Okay, please give your opinions if you're in the mood and THANK YOU.

 

[jjbmsiv]

Jeez, and you haven't added UMaryland/Sheppard Pratt to your list? Go take a look at us!

 

[rtennis18]

On the interview trail so far, I have heard great things about Emory in Atlanta so I would definitely check that program out. I think it is in a pretty nice area of the city, and there is plenty of research taking place there as well. I know that Univ of Pennsylvania has a really good program as well, especially if you want to be in a city and want opportunities to be involved in research. Finally, I think that Mount Sinai and St. Vincent's would be good choices if you want to be in Manhattan. Mount Sinai is slightly larger with 10 residents/year, while St. Vincent's typically has 8-9 residents/year. Hope this helps a little.

 

[franklinthedog]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the insight you've added so far. I enjoyed my Emory interview as well and look forward to my NY visits. Please keep adding whatever comments/observations you'd like.

Thanks!

 

[whopper]

I would make it a mix between
1-Do you want to live at the location (cost of living, safety, appeal of the location, friends/family there?, cost of living)
2-is the program what you want? (good hrs, good teaching, good clinical, research, little scutwork)

Those are things which only you can answer. I know a little of some of the programs mentioned, not all.

I can tell you that Newark is pretty much one of the worst places to live. You can live outside of Newark, but the commute to the actual hospital is tremendously slow (about 2 miles can take you 45 minutes if you leave during rush hour, and forget about walking--you'd be walking in some of the worst crime ridden streets. Its so bad that a local hospital-St. Mike's provides its residents with a shuttle to escort them simply across the street to the parking lot). Cost of living there is also ridiculously high (As well as Manhattan, but some people are willing to deal with this because its NYC).

If you goto Newark, the closest best place to live is probably Montclair.

 

[Chrismander]

Which Beth Israel--the one in manhattan? I don't know much about their psych program except that the 2 or 3 psych residents i met on a neuro rotation there seemed very happy and liked their program. Also, BI subsidizes housing in a great neighborhood in Manhattan--this was something that residents that i worked with there across every specialty mentioned as a big selling point to them.

 

[franklinthedog]

yes, it's the one in manhattan, the subsidized housing is great news to say the least. let me know if you know anything else, thank you!

 

[Chimed]

If you want to be in a big city, then you'll have to take off UNC, UMich, and MUSC. All there are in great cities and are excellent programs, but it sounds like you're looking for something more like chicago, NYC, or Philly.

 

[golfpropsychguy]

Which Beth Israel--the one in manhattan? I don't know much about their psych program except that the 2 or 3 psych residents i met on a neuro rotation there seemed very happy and liked their program. Also, BI subsidizes housing in a great neighborhood in Manhattan--this was something that residents that i worked with there across every specialty mentioned as a big selling point to them.

There have been some other postings about the housing thing at Beth Israel. Look up "Rasberryswirl" she had some major issues with it as a resident. From working there the housing is not the best in the world and you can get stuck with some pretty bad living arrangements. I would not rank them based on the housing they offer.

Its a descent program but not my top choice by any means.

 

[Doc Samson]

All,

I love the idea of a big city. I want a program with a good reputation. I also want reasonable work hours though. Another plus is places that allow time for yr 3/4 research or moonlighting (any way to pay back whopping loans). Don't like the idea of traffic, prefer to walk or use public transportation. Love the idea of night float. Not afraid of inner-city work locations but wouldn't want to live in one. I am afraid of small programs (numbers of residents/year) IF there is no subsititue system for call if someone gets sick or quits.

Okay, please give your opinions if you're in the mood and THANK YOU.

BUMC meets all of your criteria.

 

[mini doc]

First of all, congrats on the great interviews! If you want to start paying loans back NYC is NOT the way to go, even though it's a great city, it doesn't come cheap. But you said you wanted a big city..I would go for Philly or Chicago. Just my two cents, good luck with whatever you decide!