Priorities

[avgjoe]

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I've put together a basic list of factors involved in choosing which program's to rank high:

Reputation of program
Happiness level of residents/80 hr week compliance
Availability of research one wants to be involved with
Livability of the city - cost of living, friends, etc
Significant other's ability to relocate (and how soon)
Recent fellowship matches at said program

What other major factors should I be looking at? Anyone who has been through this process already have advice as to which priorities they now would rank higher than they might have when initially deciding?

For example, right now it seems as though I would regret choosing based on reputation and research availability if that would mean being away from my significant other.. but have people done that before, stayed with their SO and later regretted not going to "the best" ranking-wise school they could have gone to (and that their advisors told them to go to)?

 

[Pilot Doc]

I've put together a basic list of factors involved in choosing which program's to rank high:

Reputation of program
Happiness level of residents/80 hr week compliance
Availability of research one wants to be involved with
Livability of the city - cost of living, friends, etc
Significant other's ability to relocate (and how soon)
Recent fellowship matches at said program

What other major factors should I be looking at? Anyone who has been through this process already have advice as to which priorities they now would rank higher than they might have when initially deciding?

For example, right now it seems as though I would regret choosing based on reputation and research availability if that would mean being away from my significant other.. but have people done that before, stayed with their SO and later regretted not going to "the best" ranking-wise school they could have gone to (and that their advisors told them to go to)?

I'll write more when I have time, but assuming you are comparing programs which are not completely intolerable

1) personal issues first
2) education second

And you will do much better to make your comparions based on objective, reliable data. Will MGH or Hopkins get you a better fellowship (or St. Community vs. Beth Community). Who knows? Very hard to predict and it will likely change in 5-7 years. But what does my spouse like or is their good skiing nearby is very easy to determine.

 

[toxic-megacolon]

I've put together a basic list of factors involved in choosing which program's to rank high:

Reputation of program
Happiness level of residents/80 hr week compliance
Availability of research one wants to be involved with
Livability of the city - cost of living, friends, etc
Significant other's ability to relocate (and how soon)
Recent fellowship matches at said program

What other major factors should I be looking at? Anyone who has been through this process already have advice as to which priorities they now would rank higher than they might have when initially deciding?

For example, right now it seems as though I would regret choosing based on reputation and research availability if that would mean being away from my significant other.. but have people done that before, stayed with their SO and later regretted not going to "the best" ranking-wise school they could have gone to (and that their advisors told them to go to)?

All excelllent points. I also put value in a programs didactics, sim labs, etc. It just shows that the program takes education seriously, and that residents are they to learn, not just for manpower.

 

[Orange Julius]

For example, right now it seems as though I would regret choosing based on reputation and research availability if that would mean being away from my significant other.. but have people done that before, stayed with their SO and later regretted not going to "the best" ranking-wise school they could have gone to (and that their advisors told them to go to)?

If you choose prestige over love, then you are truly a fool. 😉 😎

 

[geekgirl]

If you choose prestige over love, then you are truly a fool. 😉 😎

but there is love (of those with whom you interview) and love (of the place/vibe/feeling of the city or locale). i bat these around myself. quite a bit.

 

[Orange Julius]

but there is love (of those with whom you interview) and love (of the place/vibe/feeling of the city or locale). i bat these around myself. quite a bit.

Very true.

 

[robotsonic]

These are my priorities:

1. Location (NYC): This pretty much determined where I interviewed.
2. Reputation of hospital and faculty.
3. Opportunity to take time off for research.
4. Fellowship placement.
5. Laparoscopic training, including sim labs and OR experience
6. Happiness of residents. I'm finding that this can be difficult to judge.

Anyone else have a priority list?

 

[AlexRusso]

These are my priorities:

1. Location (NYC): This pretty much determined where I interviewed.
2. Reputation of hospital and faculty.
3. Opportunity to take time off for research.
4. Fellowship placement.
5. Laparoscopic training, including sim labs and OR experience
6. Happiness of residents. I'm finding that this can be difficult to judge.

Anyone else have a priority list?

My list actually looks almost identical to your robotsonic. The only difference is that I'd switch numbers 3 and 4. I care more about fellowship placement than time off for research. Otherwise its pretty much the same. I'm sure I've run into you on the trail somewhere, would be funny if we ended up at the same place.

 

[pry]

From the thoughts of the surgeons I have spoken to # 1 consideration should be to go to a program where you operate alot. Didactics dont mean much b/c as has been the case until now what each individual puts in and is capable of he/she will achieve/ get out of it.

 

[blue2000]

From the thoughts of the surgeons I have spoken to # 1 consideration should be to go to a program where you operate alot. Didactics dont mean much b/c as has been the case until now what each individual puts in and is capable of he/she will achieve/ get out of it.

I would amend this to state that a high priority should be placed on an operative volume over a certain baseline, coupled with cases that vary in complexity from simple to highly advanced, in a setting where the chief residents are granted a significant amount of autonomy and independence in patient managment as well as intraoperative decision making.

More volume does not equal more skill. Look at the breakdowns of what kind of cases, and talk to chiefs about their independence.