Radiology 2012 applicants

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drizzt3117 said:
Mt Auburn is a good program, they feed a lot of people into bid/bwh/mgh fellowships!

I guess that makes sense. In the end I only want ~15 interviews or w/e, I guess it's fine.
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yeah, I'm still hedging on scheduling an interview there regardless. I know where I want to be and really any place else is going to be a disappointment, I already have enough places to go to, I don't think I'd be happy at a place that small, even if fellowship placements are good.

I'm really placing a ton of value on location and happiness of the people there. I made choices based on program reputation for college and med school and sacrificed on location, I don't think I've been a very happy person for the last 8 years.. I don't want to make that mistake again. I'm doing an away rotation where I want to be right now and it's really night and day with how my personality comes to life here. (can't say where, I'm the only student here, it'd be a dead giveaway lol).



edit: also, does anyone know if going into a prelim medicine interview at your place of interest (especially since I directly asked for the interview while rotating at radiology there), armed with only 'I want to do my residency here and naturally prelim here as well would be great too" is sufficient? I dunno how to prepare for this, I hate medicine, and I'm only doing it cuz I have to, I'll basically be lying with any other answer.
 
drizzt3117 said:
It's just odd bc I don't have a lot of interviews relative to others (9) just they're all top programs. Part of that is my app mix but I've gotten no love from places like ccf, mcw, unc, Baylor, and tufts. I can understand not getting UVA, u mich, and Hopkins, but the mid-tiers all hate me haha.

I also only have one prelim surg interview (although I have all 3 tys I applied to, all in wi)
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Yeah the process is just so random. I've gotten no love from mid tiers in my med school region but have gotten good invites from places like Hopkins and Pitt. I gave up a while ago on trying to understand the process, just hoping for enough good interviews.
 
2012mdc said:
Yeah the process is just so random. I've gotten no love from mid tiers in my med school region but have gotten good invites from places like Hopkins and Pitt. I gave up a while ago on trying to understand the process, just hoping for enough good interviews.
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Agreed with the randomness. I got MIR and Mayo but no love from Hopkins or NW. I really do think that these top programs get so many applications that some great applicants will inevitably get passed over for no reason at all, or for reasons that are out of our control (e.g. application reviewer was tired/in a bad mood/distracted/just got off the phone with his wife/(insert anything else here) when looking at your file, etc.)
 
Medstudentquest said:
How many interviews did you get post MSPE? and how many total do you have? Just curious!

I applied mostly last/this week, I have none. I'm very nervous thinking that I may get none even though I've applied to about 70 programs!
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I've gotten 5 since MSPE has gone out...3 rads, 2 TY's. Total of 9 rads, 3 TY's, 1 prelim med so far.
 
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Medstudentquest said:
I still have not heard from a single program on my list, and i applied to about 71! Any thoughts on what could be going on?
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You haven't heard from any programs yet because, as you explained earlier, you didn't complete your application until last week. Do yourself a favor and look at the interview offer thread over at auntminne.

You will find that as of end of October 28th, approximately 110 out of 180 programs had already sent at least one round of offers. How many of your 71 are included in that 110?

The majority of the remaining programs are highly competitive programs. So unless you have a stellar application, you will probably have to patiently wait until mid- and low-tier programs start to offer wait-list spots as they receive cancellations.
 
Civil8 said:
You haven't heard from any programs yet because, as you explained earlier, you didn't complete your application until last week. Do yourself a favor and look at the interview offer thread over at auntminne.

You will find that as of end of October 28th, approximately 110 out of 180 programs had already sent at least one round of offers. How many of your 71 are included in that 110?

The majority of the remaining programs are highly competitive programs. So unless you have a stellar application, you will probably have to patiently wait until mid- and low-tier programs start to offer wait-list spots as they receive cancellations.
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Ok thanks, that helps. What I'm confused about, though, is that there are some programs where I applied on Nov 1 for example, that sent out IV's on Nov 2 and 3. I take it that's not enough time to review the app?
 
Recently received an interview from a place I withdrew from...over a month ago. 😕
 
Medstudentquest said:
Ok thanks, that helps. What I'm confused about, though, is that there are some programs where I applied on Nov 1 for example, that sent out IV's on Nov 2 and 3. I take it that's not enough time to review the app?
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Some one else should correct me if they have more intimate knowledge on the subject, but I understand that most programs have a group of reviewers for the applications. This leads me to believe that application review probably starts a couple of weeks (at least) before interviews are offered. Programs who offered interview on November 2nd or 3rd likely had a list of candidates already prepared on the 1st and took a quick look at the MSPE for any red flag before offering.

Programs such as USF state on their website that they do not even begin their application review process until November 1st. And last year they offered their interviews on November 17th, so it's likely you might be waiting until the third week of November before you receive a "first wave" interview.
 
Got Hopkins and NW but not BID or UW. Really bummed about BID and UW, too, as they were near the top of my list.
 
anyone get MGH? I didn't yet but they offered interviews like 10 times last November so I'm not too worried yet.
 
Weird, I haven't gotten any waitlists, at least not outwardly, unless you count MCW, whatever that was. At least I got one from my home program 😍
 
drizzt3117 said:
Weird, I haven't gotten any waitlists, at least not outwardly, unless you count MCW, whatever that was. At least I got one from my home program 😍
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From what I gather, that is the same place that sent me my latest waitlist.

And no, I'm not counting MCW as a WL. That was a rejection with a hedge.
 
Anyone notice that the email notification from eras is significantly slower than the myeras website? It seems like it's delayed by ~15 minutes for me sometimes, idk if that's due to the email system at my school or not.
 
drizzt3117 said:
Anyone notice that the email notification from eras is significantly slower than the myeras website? It seems like it's delayed by ~15 minutes for me sometimes, idk if that's due to the email system at my school or not.
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15 minutes is critical in getting your preferred date of interview, or in my case, getting the interview date at all. It is insane.
 
Next week should be a huge week. Historically a ton of the big programs start offering then. I'm up to 10 interviews so I figure I'll be happy with 3-5 more total, and I really don't see myself cancelling any of the ones I have with only a few exceptions.
 
No MGH love today but I wasn't expecting an invite after I got the BID waitlist (also waitlisted at Loyola recently/

Congrats on Colorado, I was hoping for that one but nothing so far.

Just hoping to get to 12 interviews and at least 4 or 5 Cali ones. Don't see myself canceling any current IV's and I've kept January free hoping for the post MSPE bolus
 
2012mdc said:
No MGH love today but I wasn't expecting an invite after I got the BID waitlist (also waitlisted at Loyola recently/

Congrats on Colorado, I was hoping for that one but nothing so far.

Just hoping to get to 12 interviews and at least 4 or 5 Cali ones. Don't see myself canceling any current IV's and I've kept January free hoping for the post MSPE bolus
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I think next week is when we're going to see the real post-MSPE bolus, here's hoping 🙂 :luck:
 
I am an applicant from CA and am curious to see what happens in the next few weeks. Most of my current interviews are on the east coast.
 
anyone got anything from CA besides kaiser?
 
killinsound said:
2012 mdc did they tell you were on the waitlist? aka added to a particular date to wait?
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BID just told me I was on their waitlist, no dates given.

For Loyola I had to tell them potential dates
 
i think so far during this season when it comes to "top" programs i've done about as well as i thought i would. i applied very broadly though, and the surprise for me is how many not-so-top interviews i've gotten.

apparently apps are down about 15-20% this year but the quality of the applications is still high. that would explain why i haven't gotten as many reaches as i'd hoped.
 
meister said:
i think so far during this season when it comes to "top" programs i've done about as well as i thought i would. i applied very broadly though, and the surprise for me is how many not-so-top interviews i've gotten.

apparently apps are down about 15-20% this year but the quality of the applications is still high. that would explain why i haven't gotten as many reaches as i'd hoped.
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I'm not sure what to think of this cycle. I applied to 40 programs most of which are top academic programs and my yield has been 0% outside of the top 25 haha. I know my app is very research heavy but that's just a little odd to me.
 
badasshairday said:
Samsung galaxy s2. Best phone on the market right now.
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+1

The EVO Shift is a cheaper option I think as well. It's a touchscreen but has a keyboard which is useful for the email responses
 
meister said:
i think so far during this season when it comes to "top" programs i've done about as well as i thought i would. i applied very broadly though, and the surprise for me is how many not-so-top interviews i've gotten.

apparently apps are down about 15-20% this year but the quality of the applications is still high. that would explain why i haven't gotten as many reaches as i'd hoped.
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Curious if places are interviewing more people or how they are adapting. I'd expect more unmatched spots than last year even.
 
drizzt3117 said:
I'm not sure what to think of this cycle. I applied to 40 programs most of which are top academic programs and my yield has been 0% outside of the top 25 haha. I know my app is very research heavy but that's just a little odd to me.
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I'm not sure if you're trolling anymore, seriously. You're probably in the top 1% of applicants. Why would anyone but a top academic program think they would have a shot at you ranking them? you said it yourself - your application is very research heavy. Why would you go to a non-academic center where they couldn't offer you that?
 
DrBowtie said:
Curious if places are interviewing more people or how they are adapting. I'd expect more unmatched spots than last year even.
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Yeah, I foresee this as well. It was posted that the # of applicants has decreased, but that the quality has remained the same. Programs are probably just interviewing the same group of people. However, if this # has decreased relative to the entire applicant pool, programs are going to feel the pinch come match day.

My guess is that programs are adapting to the decrease in numbers by doing a number of things:

1) increasing the # of interviews -> increasing their rank list depth
2) interviewing a more diverse crowd (read: not granting interviews to all of the superstars that apply to their program)

This may be already happening. It could help explain why a number of posters have been overlooked by programs well within their reach. Just me rambling though.
 
jahbrony said:
Yeah, I foresee this as well. It was posted that the # of applicants has decreased, but that the quality has remained the same. Programs are probably just interviewing the same group of people. However, if this # has decreased relative to the entire applicant pool, programs are going to feel the pinch come match day.

My guess is that programs are adapting to the decrease in numbers by doing a number of things:

1) increasing the # of interviews -> increasing their rank list depth
2) interviewing a more diverse crowd (read: not granting interviews to all of the superstars that apply to their program)

This may be already happening. It could help explain why a number of posters have been overlooked by programs well within their reach. Just me rambling though.
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I agree. I think this may explain why some people above have noted no love from middle tier programs and someone like me who is a middle of the road applicant is getting overburdened by invitations.
 
killinsound said:
I'm not sure if you're trolling anymore, seriously. You're probably in the top 1% of applicants. Why would anyone but a top academic program think they would have a shot at you ranking them? you said it yourself - your application is very research heavy. Why would you go to a non-academic center where they couldn't offer you that?
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There are other people on AM and here whose app is at least as strong as mine. I'm not complaining about it, I'm sure I'll get to the 15-17 invites I want, it's just not what I expected.
 
jahbrony said:
Yeah, I foresee this as well. It was posted that the # of applicants has decreased, but that the quality has remained the same. Programs are probably just interviewing the same group of people. However, if this # has decreased relative to the entire applicant pool, programs are going to feel the pinch come match day.

My guess is that programs are adapting to the decrease in numbers by doing a number of things:

1) increasing the # of interviews -> increasing their rank list depth
2) interviewing a more diverse crowd (read: not granting interviews to all of the superstars that apply to their program)

This may be already happening. It could help explain why a number of posters have been overlooked by programs well within their reach. Just me rambling though.
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No I agree. It's anecdotal evidence but on paper I am the strongest rads applicant at my school but got rejected from UF Gainesville while 2 of my classmates got invites. It's not a huge deal bc I was likely to rank them lower just due to location but it definitely throws a wrench into the idea of casting a wide net/playing it safe. I made a pre interview rank list of every program I applied to based off location/prestige/program size etc and I've gotten 4 interviews in the top half of my list and only 1 in the bottom (and 2 rejections)
 
2012mdc said:
No I agree. It's anecdotal evidence but on paper I am the strongest rads applicant at my school but got rejected from UF Gainesville while 2 of my classmates got invites. It's not a huge deal bc I was likely to rank them lower just due to location but it definitely throws a wrench into the idea of casting a wide net/playing it safe. I made a pre interview rank list of every program I applied to based off location/prestige/program size etc and I've gotten 4 interviews in the top half of my list and only 1 in the bottom (and 2 rejections)
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Regional bias cannot be discounted. Of the "top" programs someone this cycle hasn't gotten, all have been in the midwest (Michigan, Mayo, NW). These are the EXACT same schools that my friend who matched at UCSF/MGH/BWH/Stanford (generalized for anonymity) last year with stats and school rank/location similar to my own got denied. And EXACTLY the same schools that three different people on AM who also got most of the top coastal interviews plus Duke/Hopkins/MIR got denied. Someone on SDN also told me that Mayo said outright at the interview that they only invite people who they think might come to Rochester in so many words (i.e. went to school in the area, otherwise from the midwest, ties to minnesota, etc. I'm guessing). Regional bias is HUGE HUGE HUGE.

I think there are just as many AOA, top step all-stars as last year and the top programs are going to play musical chairs as we snap up the invites. The people who are really going to benefit from the 16-20% applicant drop are the low to mid tier candidates who would otherwise be shut out of community or low/mid-tier academic programs. But the competition at the top is as furious as ever.
 
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drizzt3117 said:
I'm not sure what to think of this cycle. I applied to 40 programs most of which are top academic programs and my yield has been 0% outside of the top 25 haha. I know my app is very research heavy but that's just a little odd to me.
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I've had a similar experience. Lots of research experience, applied to 40, and have had better luck with top programs. It's been an interesting process.
 
Yeah, this is a frustrating cycle for those looking for a bit of diversity in interviews!
I also applied to a very diverse set of programs in very large numbers and have gotten 8 interviews with only 1 that is not in the "top 25." I have told several mid-tier programs that I really want to interview at their program/am considering them strongly but so far really no luck. Look, I'm not complaining by any means (and am honored to be considered by these programs) but as an applicant I am looking for some diversity in the programs I am interviewing at so I'm not a nervous wreck before match day!

Maybe some wait-list spots will open up... who knows?
 
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Radiculous said:
Regional bias cannot be discounted. Of the "top" programs someone this cycle hasn't gotten, all have been in the midwest (Michigan, Mayo, NW). These are the EXACT same schools that my friend who matched at UCSF/MGH/BWH/Stanford (generalized for anonymity) last year with stats and school rank/location similar to my own got denied. And EXACTLY the same schools that three different people on AM who also got most of the top coastal interviews plus Duke/Hopkins/MIR got denied. Someone on SDN also told me that Mayo said outright at the interview that they only invite people who they think might come to Rochester in so many words (i.e. went to school in the area, otherwise from the midwest, ties to minnesota, etc. I'm guessing). Regional bias is HUGE HUGE HUGE.

I think there are just as many AOA, top step all-stars as last year and the top programs are going to play musical chairs as we snap up the invites. The people who are really going to benefit from the 16-20% applicant drop are the low to mid tier candidates who would otherwise be shut out of community or low/mid-tier academic programs. But the competition at the top is as furious as ever.
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Oh I totally understand the regionality bias for the top tier programs. I have no ties to the midwest or east coast so I'm not surprised that I haven't gotten Michigan/MIR/NW/Penn etc.

I just wrongly assumed that regional bias would work in my favor for mid tiers. A large number of my mid tiers are in the South where I'm at for med school yet I haven't received a single invite from a mid tier out here.

With the two regions I have ties to, Cali (no mid tier academic programs in terms of pure match competitiveness) and the South (the mid tiers not showing any love), trying to be "safe" can be frustrating. I'm not worried about going unmatched or anything but it's just weird
 
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