Rank List Advice

[hopefullyhappyresident]

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Hello! First time posting so please bear with me. Applying anesthesia.
Just like other fourth-years, I'm trying to finalize my rank list. I feel like it's set overall, but still having difficulty choosing between top 2, and deciding the order of 3-5. Important to me is proximity to family/friends (Midwest), experiencing a big city, having work-life balance (ability to have good resident camaraderie and time outside of work to pursue hobbies/exercise), capable and solid training, fellowship is up in the air but it would be a work-life balance fellowship.

Additionally, I am single and looking for a partner so keeping that aspect in mind too.

I'm not sure how much prestige matters since prestigious places correlate with great training, but it's not necessary to go to a prestigious place to get great training. Not interested in research, but want to maximize flexibility/preference of future job opportunities/possible fellowship (yes I know that not liking research and considering fellowship are conflicting statements, but that's where I've been at for a while).

Current list:
1 Northwestern
2 U of Chicago
3 Rush
4 Baylor
5 Indiana
6 Iowa
7 U of Illinois Chicago
8 Kentucky
9 Orlando
10 UT Knoxville
11 Loyola
12 UT SW

Thanks for any advice 🙂
Hopefully I didn't dox myself lol

 

[Katheudontas parateroumen]

If location is most important to you (as it probably should be) then that’s a good list. NW and UC are both great. Different patient populations for sure though. I think that just depends on your preference. Idk much about Rush but years back it was considered a “toxic” program, take it for what it’s worth. Baylor is amazing (bias because I trained there 🙂).

 

[aneftp]

I’m assuming you are female. Women tend to want to marry up or the same (and not down)

Saying that. Ur options are limited in places like Iowa and Kentucky (couple of my friends are there on faculty. I’d rank them at the bottom purely on location. Both my friends have families already even there is more of a college town vibe.

Focus on Chicago and Dallas than. That’s my advice.

 

[nimbus]

yes I know that not liking research and considering fellowship are conflicting statements

That’s not true for many fellowship programs.

Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship (mis)MATCH

M. Concetta Lupa, MD and Marco Corridore MD

open.substack.com

 

[ToKingdomCome]

It’s a good list. Maybe Iowa over Indiana in terms but that’s nit picking tbh

 

[abolt18]

It’s a good list. Maybe Iowa over Indiana in terms but that’s nit picking tbh

Really? Indianapolis has a lot more to offer as a city!

 

[Gern Blansten]

Really? Indianapolis has a lot more to offer as a city!

Can you name 500?

 

[ToKingdomCome]

Really? Indianapolis has a lot more to offer as a city!

Maybe. In terms of program i think Iowa is begger

 

[sloh]

I’m assuming you are female. Women tend to want to marry up or the same (and not down)

Saying that. Ur options are limited in places like Iowa and Kentucky (couple of my friends are there on faculty. I’d rank them at the bottom purely on location. Both my friends have families already even there is more of a college town vibe.

Focus on Chicago and Dallas than. That’s my advice.

Underrated advice

 

[hopefullyhappyresident]

Thanks for all your replies everyone, appreciate it.

If location is most important to you (as it probably should be) then that’s a good list. NW and UC are both great. Different patient populations for sure though. I think that just depends on your preference. Idk much about Rush but years back it was considered a “toxic” program, take it for what it’s worth. Baylor is amazing (bias because I trained there 🙂).

Yes I know that UC is in an underserved area, and as far as I know NW has wealthier/healthier population overall.
How much does the patient population between these two programs affect me? At the end of the day, I feel like it boils down to capability
Same question for Baylor
Yeah I heard Rush was toxic, have also heard that they have improved in the last decade but taking it with a grain of salt

 

[hopefullyhappyresident]

I’m assuming you are female. Women tend to want to marry up or the same (and not down)

Saying that. Ur options are limited in places like Iowa and Kentucky (couple of my friends are there on faculty. I’d rank them at the bottom purely on location. Both my friends have families already even there is more of a college town vibe.

Focus on Chicago and Dallas than. That’s my advice.

I'm actually male (I'm not offended that you thought I was female... maybe honored? haha). Yes I had the same thoughts about location, hence ranked lower even though they all probably have solid training.

 

[sloh]

I'm actually male (I'm not offended that you thought I was female... maybe honored? haha). Yes I had the same thoughts about location, hence ranked lower even though they all probably have solid training.

Also a perk as a male to be dating in a pool of intelligent women. Your future partner is going to be navigating life’s complexities with ya!

 

[Katheudontas parateroumen]

Thanks for all your replies everyone, appreciate it.


Yes I know that UC is in an underserved area, and as far as I know NW has wealthier/healthier population overall.
How much does the patient population between these two programs affect me? At the end of the day, I feel like it boils down to capability
Same question for Baylor
Yeah I heard Rush was toxic, have also heard that they have improved in the last decade but taking it with a grain of salt

I did not train at UC or NW so I can’t say for sure. But training at a place the serves underserved patients generally there is a sense of gratitude all around. Also generally a “chiller” environment. Places like NW with high profile or good to do people/patients may make trainees feel like they are inferior. I’m not saying NW is like that, but that’s the general idea of places like NW, Mayo Clinic etc. Also, I’ve found that places with more resources generally have “healthier” patients as in not having other multiple comorbidities. Like I have yet to place an epidural on a patient with a normal-ish BMI lol. But some people like the professional environments and stricter vibe of places like a Mayo Clinic. It’s more structured and academic which has benefits as well. It’s just where you feel most comfortable in. Like I said, I’ve met people from both programs and all are great.

At BCM, your base training was at the county hospital/VA but you get the other specialized stuff at these large well to do places like THI, TCH and St Luke’s. So it’s a nice mix which I liked.

 

[hopefullyhappyresident]

I did not train at UC or NW so I can’t say for sure. But training at a place the serves underserved patients generally there is a sense of gratitude all around. Also generally a “chiller” environment. Places like NW with high profile or good to do people/patients may make trainees feel like they are inferior. I’m not saying NW is like that, but that’s the general idea of places like NW, Mayo Clinic etc. Also, I’ve found that places with more resources generally have “healthier” patients as in not having other multiple comorbidities. Like I have yet to place an epidural on a patient with a normal-ish BMI lol. But some people like the professional environments and stricter vibe of places like a Mayo Clinic. It’s more structured and academic which has benefits as well. It’s just where you feel most comfortable in. Like I said, I’ve met people from both programs and all are great.

At BCM, your base training was at the county hospital/VA but you get the other specialized stuff at these large well to do places like THI, TCH and St Luke’s. So it’s a nice mix which I liked.

That differentiation between those two types of places make sense. I didn't think about it that way so thanks for giving that insight. I was hesitant on Mayo after hearing about wearing business casual .... haha

 

[Izzyman]

I would not place Rush that high.
Altho the clinical volume is high, the anesthesia practice there is private practice and they have a high turnover for their attendings, thus very much a work horse program. Unstable from that standpoint and idk how well the didactics are either

 

[Gern Blansten]

I would not place Rush that high.

Since Neil Peart's passing, Rush has certainly dropped off. But, if you are a working man who does not mind being out of the limelight, use your freewill and your choice will be closer to the heart. It is not a fly by night program and will still eventually lead you to the big money. It will seem as though time stand still and the four years will be gone, though parts will seem like a marathon. While it is not Shangri-La, Rivendell, or even Xanadu, I would not believe those who go on a witch hunt about it. You need to learn lessons and you don't get something for nothing in life. My friend, Tom, saw your list and liked it fine. Just roll the bones and, in the end, take your chances. Then party like it's 2112...

 

[Sevo]

Hello! First time posting so please bear with me. Applying anesthesia.
Just like other fourth-years, I'm trying to finalize my rank list. I feel like it's set overall, but still having difficulty choosing between top 2, and deciding the order of 3-5. Important to me is proximity to family/friends (Midwest), experiencing a big city, having work-life balance (ability to have good resident camaraderie and time outside of work to pursue hobbies/exercise), capable and solid training, fellowship is up in the air but it would be a work-life balance fellowship.

Additionally, I am single and looking for a partner so keeping that aspect in mind too.

I'm not sure how much prestige matters since prestigious places correlate with great training, but it's not necessary to go to a prestigious place to get great training. Not interested in research, but want to maximize flexibility/preference of future job opportunities/possible fellowship (yes I know that not liking research and considering fellowship are conflicting statements, but that's where I've been at for a while).

Current list:
1 Northwestern
2 U of Chicago
3 Rush
4 Baylor
5 Indiana
6 Iowa
7 U of Illinois Chicago
8 Kentucky
9 Orlando
10 UT Knoxville
11 Loyola
12 UT SW

Thanks for any advice 🙂
Hopefully I didn't dox myself lol

I think your top two are good programs. In general, keep in mind that where you train will often be the same geographic area where you will likely ultimately practice unless you plan to work for a national staffing company or you have strong ties to (or better yet, contacts at) a different part of the country. If you train in Knoxville, you are likely to spend your 30s in Tennessee, likewise if you train in Chicago, you are more likely to end up practicing in the Greater Chicagoland area (or Arizona [lol]).