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I'm deciding between 2 programs for my top choice, USC and MGH.
I feel like I'll be happier at USC since I'm from LA and 80% sure I wanna do private practice which makes prestige not as relevant(but what if I change my mind later), and I also wanna do fellowship afterward. But it seems like MGH will open up more doors for me. From talking to the residents, they have no problem getting fellowships and jobs from anywhere in the country, whereas at USC, it would limit me to staying in socal (which I don't mind at this point since my plan is to practice in socal, but then again my plan could change).
Is anyone facing the same dilemma? What do you guys think? I know people say to go where you'll be happiest but I feel like I'll be set for life if I go to MGH no matter what the future brings and I'm just afraid I'm gonna regret it down the road for turning down such rare opportunity.
I'm deciding between 2 programs for my top choice, USC and MGH.
I feel like I'll be happier at USC since I'm from LA and 80% sure I wanna do private practice which makes prestige not as relevant(but what if I change my mind later), and I also wanna do fellowship afterward. But it seems like MGH will open up more doors for me. From talking to the residents, they have no problem getting fellowships and jobs from anywhere in the country, whereas at USC, it would limit me to staying in socal (which I don't mind at this point since my plan is to practice in socal, but then again my plan could change).
Is anyone facing the same dilemma? What do you guys think? I know people say to go where you'll be happiest but I feel like I'll be set for life if I go to MGH no matter what the future brings and I'm just afraid I'm gonna regret it down the road for turning down such rare opportunity.
Yea it's U of southern california and mass general. That's another thing, I won't know anyone in Boston, which could be hard; all my family and friends are in west coast. I think I'm leaning towards USC now just because I'm pretty sure I wanna do private practice in cali and I'm kinda ready to settle down and tired of delaying my life for 4 more years. I'm gonna meet with my advisor next week and see what he thinks.
this is a no brainer. You would be a fool to chase the MGH name if your goal is to do private practice in southern cal. You will not be guaranteed to be set for life. I know plenty of medical students at top tier schools who couldn't match in California. I know residents at top tier programs who cannot find jobs/fellowships in California, even the ones from there.
When people talk about the doors MGH opens, they talk mainly about academics. But even academically, SC would be better connected to UCLA, Cedars, USC than MGH. How on earth would going to LITERALLY the farthest place from southern cal be better for getting a job there?
What about UCLA? That would probably offer more academic/fellowship opportunities than USC and you could stay in the area.
Rank MGH higher, it's only 3 years and your job prospects will likely be just as good if not better in SoCal going to MGH compared to USC. If you decide to specialize MGH is by far a better choice. Again it's only 3 years, this is a pretty good problem to have.
Isn't this type of thinking dangerous?
"It's only 3 years" -> does residency in crappy place and probably less happy than would be otherwise. Maybe misses out on cute SoCal Girl
It's only 3 years" -> does fellowship in crappy place and probably less happy than would be otherwise. Maybe misses out on cute SoCal Girl
It's Only 3-5 years just to pay down some of my debt -> Declines Lower Paying but more pleasant job in better location. Generally Unhappy, has lots of money and prestige though
Wants to leave job but decides has built up too much practice to leave and would take salary hit -> Another 5-10 years. Gets depressed
Finally gets tired of prestige -> hello laides how you doin?
"Eww who let grandpa out of the convalescent home"
Disclosures: I live and go to school in SoCal. Why would anyone ever leave? Life is fun here
Rank MGH higher, it's only 3 years and your job prospects will likely be just as good if not better in SoCal going to MGH compared to USC. If you decide to specialize MGH is by far a better choice. Again it's only 3 years, this is a pretty good problem to have.
The field im going into is anesthesiology. I only applied to east coast and west coast. I didn't get interviews to UCSF, stanford, or UCLA. I got UCSD which Im ranking is #1. But as you know ucsd is pretty competitive so i don't wanna get my hopes up, so this is for #2. Other socal programs that I got interviews are usc, uci and loma linda. East coast programs I have MGH, brigham, hopkins, cornell, yale, NYU. Basically the question is whether I should rank mid tier programs in socal (usc, uci) where I would be happier over these big name east coast programs if my end goal is to practice in cali.
Did you send a picture of yourself without pants to stanford/ucsf/ucla? what happened?
p diddy
...80% sure I wanna do private practice which makes prestige not as relevant.
this is a no brainer. You would be a fool to chase the MGH name if your goal is to do private practice in southern cal. You will not be guaranteed to be set for life. I know plenty of medical students at top tier schools who couldn't match in California. I know residents at top tier programs who cannot find jobs/fellowships in California, even the ones from there.
When people talk about the doors MGH opens, they talk mainly about academics. But even academically, SC would be better connected to UCLA, Cedars, USC than MGH. How on earth would going to LITERALLY the farthest place from southern cal be better for getting a job there?
If you are ranking mid-ish-tier UCSD above massive anesthesia powerhouses like Hopkins, BWH, and Cornell, then geography certainly is the deciding factor for you.