Ranking Advice/Questions

[Sheldor]

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While rank lists aren't due for a couple months I know over the break some of us will start thinking about it.

My question for the wise: How much should we weigh "fit" or a "gut feeling" when deciding on the rank list? As compared to the more objective measures, or prestige?

Also, is a mid-tier in the region your interested in truly better than a more top-tier program?

 

[medgator]

Also, is a mid-tier in the region your interested in truly better than a more top-tier program?

If your goal is private practice in the area where you will be training in, you should be fine in pretty much any program (save a few that might be or are on track to be on probation).

If you decide you really want to academics, you can always spruce up your CV with a fellowship year at one of the coveted programs.

 

[ramsesthenice]

Fit and gut should be the most important thing. If you know academics at a top program is your career dream then prestige matters a good bit. Otherwise, fit and gut feeling are as if not more important.

UOTE=Sheldor;13402648]While rank lists aren't due for a couple months I know over the break some of us will start thinking about it.

My question for the wise: How much should we weigh "fit" or a "gut feeling" when deciding on the rank list? As compared to the more objective measures, or prestige?

Also, is a mid-tier in the region your interested in truly better than a more top-tier program?[/QUOTE]

 

[Sheldor]

How should we deal with "uncertainty" in the department while formulating our lists? Interim chair, faculty turn over, brand new chair, brand new PD, etc.

Is it short sighted to lower a program because you don't know who the chair will be when you start your training?

 

[Pointless]

How should we deal with "uncertainty" in the department while formulating our lists? Interim chair, faculty turn over, brand new chair, brand new PD, etc.

Is it short sighted to lower a program because you don't know who the chair will be when you start your training?

No, that is a very GOOD reason to be wary of ranking a department highly. The entire tone and philosophy of a department starts from the top, and a bad chairman can truly affect your experience as a resident. That being said, if the department is otherwise top-notch and you feel fairly confident that they should be able to secure a reasonable person to fill the position, rank accordingly...

 

[RadSki]

The advice I received is that you should judge a program on what they have the day you interview. Every department has lots of plans for the future, which may or may not become reality. Future equipment upgrades or significant changes to the deparment also may not happen on a timeline that impacts your residency training. For example "plans to get a proton center" could be 5-10 years out, meaning the facility would not be up and running until you are finishing residency or already in practice. Just some food for thought.

 

[Sheldor]

Any thoughts on Roswell Park? They offer an impressive amount of research time, and seem to have great support staff, which is great. Curious what kind of reputation, if any, they have in the oncology community.

To those who have already gone through this, any regrets about the way you made your list that you would advise us to do differently?