Programs that rubbed me the wrong way

[therealdeal]

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Okay, now we've had many program reviews this year, however most end up being good and the bad ones have an agenda. Here are some of my REAL thoughts on a few of the programs I interviewed at this year. Since I know some of the program directors follow these post, hopefully they will learn from some of their mistakes. The title is a little misleading. Here goes...enough said.


Medical College of Ohio: Flew into town for this one. I was interested in Toledo because it was a smaller ohio city and I'm from Boston so I'm used to the cold. Showed up...they sat me down with ONE resident, we ate and the Chairman came in and spend 40 minutes explaining why they were on probation. Then I want into my interview and got pimped. If you're listening out there, Mr. PD, don't pimp me on my interview. It's not cool and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. After they explained their incredibly low board pass rate, and four interviews later, the day was finished and they sent me on my merry way. What's up with that? No tour, and I didn't even get to meet other residents. They completely wasted my day...and no...I won't even rank them.

Medical College of Georgia: I sensed a huge clash here between the inbred "old school" faculty and they new Mass General chairman. There is also a clase between the CA1s and the CA3s because they were inbred for the longest time and had cush schedules. Now the new mass general people have made it a little more demanding and the CA3s spend most of their time bitching and complaining. I didn't feel any Southern Hospitality here and really wouldn't be happy. The PD really came accross as if he really didn't know why he was still working at MCG. The chairman came accross as if he really didn't know the names of any of the residents. If you guys are listening, try next season to do a better job at atleast portraying to be happy campers. I'll rank them, but not nearly as high as their Emory rival. Oh ya...they have one of the most dirty and scummy call rooms I've ever seen. Just nasty.

Well that's it for me. Just being honest. Lets here some other negatives. Any other bad interview experiences? C'mon guys don't be shy...it's all about the honesty.

 

[boysetsfire]

Okay, now we've had many program reviews this year, however most end up being good and the bad ones have an agenda. Here are some of my REAL thoughts on a few of the programs I interviewed at this year. Since I know some of the program directors follow these post, hopefully they will learn from some of their mistakes. The title is a little misleading. Here goes...enough said.


Medical College of Ohio: Flew into town for this one. I was interested in Toledo because it was a smaller ohio city and I'm from Boston so I'm used to the cold. Showed up...they sat me down with ONE resident, we ate and the Chairman came in and spend 40 minutes explaining why they were on probation. Then I want into my interview and got pimped. If you're listening out there, Mr. PD, don't pimp me on my interview. It's not cool and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. After they explained their incredibly low board pass rate, and four interviews later, the day was finished and they sent me on my merry way. What's up with that? No tour, and I didn't even get to meet other residents. They completely wasted my day...and no...I won't even rank them.

Medical College of Georgia: I sensed a huge clash here between the inbred "old school" faculty and they new Mass General chairman. There is also a clase between the CA1s and the CA3s because they were inbred for the longest time and had cush schedules. Now the new mass general people have made it a little more demanding and the CA3s spend most of their time bitching and complaining. I didn't feel any Southern Hospitality here and really wouldn't be happy. The PD really came accross as if he really didn't know why he was still working at MCG. The chairman came accross as if he really didn't know the names of any of the residents. If you guys are listening, try next season to do a better job at atleast portraying to be happy campers. I'll rank them, but not nearly as high as their Emory rival. Oh ya...they have one of the most dirty and scummy call rooms I've ever seen. Just nasty.

Well that's it for me. Just being honest. Lets here some other negatives. Any other bad interview experiences? C'mon guys don't be shy...it's all about the honesty.

Medical College of Wisconsin: Great dinner the night before, but on the day of the interview, the PD was 45 min late, gave just a 15 minute or so review of the program with no handout or power point, and seemed very unorganized and aloof about the interviewees. During the interview, he said "well, Ive done a good job telling you about our program, do you have any questions?" and that was it.
I know this is a good program, but for me personally, they took themselves off my rank list. Something about programs with "Medical College of" in their names.

 

[Sugar72]

Medical College of Georgia[/B]: I sensed a huge clash here between the inbred "old school" faculty and they new Mass General chairman. There is also a clase between the CA1s and the CA3s because they were inbred for the longest time and had cush schedules. Now the new mass general people have made it a little more demanding and the CA3s spend most of their time bitching and complaining. I didn't feel any Southern Hospitality here and really wouldn't be happy. The PD really came accross as if he really didn't know why he was still working at MCG. The chairman came accross as if he really didn't know the names of any of the residents. If you guys are listening, try next season to do a better job at atleast portraying to be happy campers. I'll rank them, but not nearly as high as their Emory rival. Oh ya...they have one of the most dirty and scummy call rooms I've ever seen. Just nasty.

Well that's it for me. Just being honest. Lets here some other negatives. Any other bad interview experiences? C'mon guys don't be shy...it's all about the honesty.

I didn't really get a bad feeling about MCG, but while I was at UAB I found out that Dr. Head interviewed for their Department. I thought that was interesting since he and the Mass General guys came off as being so dedicated to the MCG program and making it great. speaking of which anyone hear about the search at UAB ?

 

[madelaine]

[Medical College of Georgia[/B]: I sensed a huge clash here between the inbred "old school" faculty and they new Mass General chairman. There is also a clase between the CA1s and the CA3s because they were inbred for the longest time and had cush schedules. Now the new mass general people have made it a little more demanding and the CA3s spend most of their time bitching and complaining. I didn't feel any Southern Hospitality here and really wouldn't be happy. The PD really came accross as if he really didn't know why he was still working at MCG. The chairman came accross as if he really didn't know the names of any of the residents. If you guys are listening, try next season to do a better job at atleast portraying to be happy campers. I'll rank them, but not nearly as high as their Emory rival. Oh ya...they have one of the most dirty and scummy call rooms I've ever seen. Just nasty.

Well that's it for me. Just being honest. Lets here some other negatives. Any other bad interview experiences? C'mon guys don't be shy...it's all about the honesty.

I am a 4th year student at MCG and this guy has it wrong. well partially wrong. Most of the "old school" faculty have left if they were going to leave so no more clashes.

CA-1 and CA-3 getting along well- yes some differences but both groups get along well together. I expect all places to hav some differences betweeen classes.

PD stays because he is dedicated to the residents and program-at least that is what he told me.

Chairman probably knows all the names- just may confuse the faces at times

CAll room- well that was resident lounge that is tiny and can be filthy-too many sloppy MALE residents. BUT new lounge just opened up which is very nice. Very big so will take the men at least a month to make it dirty. ACtual call rooms are nice

I plan on ranking the program high

 

[byrans]

Medical College of Ohio: Flew into town for this one. I was interested in Toledo because it was a smaller ohio city and I'm from Boston so I'm used to the cold. Showed up...they sat me down with ONE resident, we ate and the Chairman came in and spend 40 minutes explaining why they were on probation. Then I want into my interview and got pimped. If you're listening out there, Mr. PD, don't pimp me on my interview. It's not cool and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. After they explained their incredibly low board pass rate, and four interviews later, the day was finished and they sent me on my merry way. What's up with that? No tour, and I didn't even get to meet other residents. They completely wasted my day...and no...I won't even rank them.

I had the exact same experience this year (2007) at Toledo. One of my interviewers sat me down and pimped me for 20 straight minutes. It was as if he was trying to humble me or something. Very odd and made me pretty upset. Perhaps he could tell I was using Toledo as a safety program. Either way, I will NOT be ranking them. On top of that, the "informative" portion of the day was pretty poor. I left the program not really knowing much more about it than when I went in. Also, the resident that toured me was clearly unenthusiastic about the program. I'm pretty sure he didn't even realize it but every time I asked him a question, his response would start out like "oh its not that good" or "thats a weak point"....

Also, having talked to many other candidates this season, it sounds like I am not at all the only person who had this kind of experience at Toledo.

Bottom line, if you're looking for interviews to cancel this would be it.

 

[fakin' the funk]

This thread has a lot of potential. Keep 'em comin guys...👍

 

[Green912]

Interviewed there last year and got pimped by two interviewers and only met two residents (both unenthused). One even said they wouldn't go there if given the same choice. Fortunitly I was only out a 2 hour drive.

 

[bruwn2002]

I was planning to interview at U of Toledo in late January but after hearing about this, I am having second thoughts. Anyone else feel the same way about the program and the interview day as the poster Byrans? Thanks

 

[rc977]

Medical College of Ohio: Flew into town for this one. I was interested in Toledo because it was a smaller ohio city and I'm from Boston so I'm used to the cold. Showed up...they sat me down with ONE resident, we ate and the Chairman came in and spend 40 minutes explaining why they were on probation. Then I want into my interview and got pimped. If you're listening out there, Mr. PD, don't pimp me on my interview. It's not cool and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. After they explained their incredibly low board pass rate, and four interviews later, the day was finished and they sent me on my merry way. What's up with that? No tour, and I didn't even get to meet other residents. They completely wasted my day...and no...I won't even rank them.


I completely agree. I interviewed there 2 years ago. I was told the night before at another interview that Toledo was on probation. I almost didn't want to go but decided to show up and see what was up. The people there were not very friendly. Again, the PD or chairman (not sure nor did I care) came in explaining why they were on probation and how they expect it to be taken care of by the end of the year (must have been BS).

During my interviews, I was pimped as well. Only program to do that to me. Also, one interviewer often challenged my answers and basically told me I was wrong.

They had one resident there to answer questions but he was from Grenada or maybe an Iraqi medical school, not sure nor did I care. Overall a miserable experience. I believe general surgery is also on probation there. There was no way I was going to rank the program. I think I'd rather do an 8 year residency in STD's than be there. Just my 2 cents ...

 

[Mman]

I didn't interview for anesthesia in Toledo, but did interview for a transitional year program there (can't even recall which one) where they pimped me. It was such stupid questions, too. Patient is tachycardic and having chest pain, what do you do???????

It was the only program (internship or anesthesia) where I got pimped during the interview.

 

[nociceptor]

.they have one of the most dirty and scummy call rooms I've ever seen. Just nasty.

Corpo,

maybe you can verify this but the females I interviewed with at Scott and White said they wouldn't use the call rooms there because they were so filthy. They would sleep on the couch or couches in the resident lounge.

 

[Ferdie]

Rush rubbed me the wrong way. Someone swore at me in the parking garage (not related to the program I know, but still), a lot of the people I met seemed kind of cold, a nurse yelled at the resident for bringing us through the OR, and another nurse really freaked out when they brought us in the pacu. I know it's a good program, but I didn't get a very good vibe.

 

[173291]

Rush rubbed me the wrong way. Someone swore at me in the parking garage (not related to the program I know, but still), a lot of the people I met seemed kind of cold, a nurse yelled at the resident for bringing us through the OR, and another nurse really freaked out when they brought us in the pacu. I know it's a good program, but I didn't get a very good vibe.

I have received 4 different cards/notes/emails thanking me for interviewing there. Sounds suspicious to me. Though I think they are trying extra hard because they didn't fill two yrs in a row or something.

I felt strongly about the program after my interview. Seemed like a pretty solid place. Most of the ??? has to do with it being a "work horse program" and chicago being cold as balls.

 

[173291]

Does anyone know anything about the quality of UT Houston's program?

 

[VentdependenT]

Rush rubbed me the wrong way. Someone swore at me in the parking garage (not related to the program I know, but still), a lot of the people I met seemed kind of cold, a nurse yelled at the resident for bringing us through the OR, and another nurse really freaked out when they brought us in the pacu. I know it's a good program, but I didn't get a very good vibe.

You gotta bring your brass knuckles and clock em in the garage. There is a pile of bodies, generated by me, from such encounters on LEVEL 7.

SOrry your saturday blew.

Vent

 

[Ferdie]

You gotta bring your brass knuckles and clock em in the garage. There is a pile of bodies, generated by me, from such encounters on LEVEL 7.

SOrry your saturday blew.

Vent

No worries, it was a short drive, it just probably isn't the program for me. Good training though and I'm sure it's perfect for other people.

 

[Harry Dunne]

MCW is by far the worst place I interviewed at. Usually it takes a lot for me to even get annoyed, but this place had me totally pissed off by the end of the day. Here are just some of the things that rubbed me the wrong way:

1) During the introduction, the PD went around the room asking everyone if they had a chance to attend the dinner the night before. There was an applicant there who wasn't able to make it b/c she had an interview at Rush. The PD then trashes Rush's program by saying that the MCW dinner is more important then an interview at Rush. That was really bad form in my eyes, considering I am a student at Rush. Later when I interviewed with him, and he saw the big a$$ letters on my nametag saying Rush Medical College, he then apologized to me.

2) One of the interviewers was totally disrespectful. She would ask you a question without even looking at you, and then start doodling on her paper or start playing with a paperclip while you were answering. She could care less about what you had to say. Two of the other applicants there said that she did the same thing to them.

3) One of the other interviewers flat out said that I probably wouldn't even get ranked at all b/c based on my application, I wasn't committed enough to research. I mean seriously, are you kidding me? Well MCW, let me save you the trouble, b/c I won't be ranking your program anyway.

 

[173291]

MCW is by far the worst place I interviewed at. Usually it takes a lot for me to even get annoyed, but this place had me totally pissed off by the end of the day. Here are just some of the things that rubbed me the wrong way:

1) During the introduction, the PD went around the room asking everyone if they had a chance to attend the dinner the night before. There was an applicant there who wasn't able to make it b/c she had an interview at Rush. The PD then trashes Rush's program by saying that the MCW dinner is more important then an interview at Rush. That was really bad form in my eyes, considering I am a student at Rush. Later when I interviewed with him, and he saw the big a$$ letters on my nametag saying Rush Medical College, he then apologized to me.

2) One of the interviewers was totally disrespectful. She would ask you a question without even looking at you, and then start doodling on her paper or start playing with a paperclip while you were answering. She could care less about what you had to say. Two of the other applicants there said that she did the same thing to them.

3) One of the other interviewers flat out said that I probably wouldn't even get ranked at all b/c based on my application, I wasn't committed enough to research. I mean seriously, are you kidding me? Well MCW, let me save you the trouble, b/c I won't be ranking your program anyway.

That interviewers statement seems pretty silly/stupid to me. If they wouldn't rank you based on something that was apparent on your application, then why waste your time and theirs interviewing you? I would have told them to go to hell. 👎

 

[cockblockandrun]

I interviewed here and I didn't get pimped out. I thought it was overall an informative day but it wasn't as organized as other places I have interviewed at.

However, something I wasn't sure about was if MCO/Toledo is on probation. The ACGME website doesn't mention anything about the program on probation. Can anyone give me more information about this? Thanks.

 

[amyl]

they were on probation but are now off. i don't know any further details than that, sorry.