Residency Interview Stories

[someonesomething]

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Now that we've gone through most of our interviews and it's getting close to ranking time, I thought it would be nice if we could have a thread about some of our interview experiences (both from the interviewer or candidate side), without naming the residency program of course. It might help you reconsider your thoughts about some places or it might just be fun to talk about things!

Here's one of mine:

At one of my interview sites, the interviewers were super happy, everyone was smiling, pharmacists seemed proud of the program. It seemed like a good fit, but the residents wouldn't speak about the program unless someone asked them questions about it, and even then, they would only answer the question, they wouldn't go out of their way to talk about if they liked anything about the program. They were passionate about what they would change about the program, though, and about what they wish they'd known going into it. When the other candidates and I left, one of them said, "So did anyone else get the feeling that the residents hate it here?"

At another interview, a few of the residents were literally planning a vacation they would take together because of how close they'd gotten through the program. They were going to go somewhere over one of their non-staffing weekends, and they were so excited it got me excited.

 

[TheOracle]

On one of my interviews the residents were 5 minutes late returning from the tour. The residency director scolded them in front of 15 other pharmacists on the panel. As the residents walked us out of the hospital, one of the residents told us off the record "rank everywhere you interview, remember you will only suffer for a year".

 

[lionheart555]

On one of my interviews the residents were 5 minutes late returning from the tour. The residency director scolded them in front of 15 other pharmacists on the panel. As the residents walked us out of the hospital, one of the residents told us off the record "rank everywhere you interview, remember you will only suffer for a year".

That’s terrible. Although I hear stories like this everywhere. Residents are being treated like trash and nobody cares (except the ones treated like trash). I hope you never tell another candidate it’s only a year although I say it all the time myself. I’m a ****head just promoting the same ****.

 

[someonesomething]

On one of my interviews the residents were 5 minutes late returning from the tour. The residency director scolded them in front of 15 other pharmacists on the panel. As the residents walked us out of the hospital, one of the residents told us off the record "rank everywhere you interview, remember you will only suffer for a year".

That’s terrible. Although I hear stories like this everywhere. Residents are being treated like trash and nobody cares (except the ones treated like trash). I hope you never tell another candidate it’s only a year although I say it all the time myself. I’m a ****head just promoting the same ****.

What's everyone's stance on the "it's only a year" thing? I don't know if it's worth ranking a program where all the residents are unhappy and there's a possibility I'll be miserable going in to work every day--but is it worth suffering for that year if at the end I can get the job I want?

 

[rx25295]

What's everyone's stance on the "it's only a year" thing? I don't know if it's worth ranking a program where all the residents are unhappy and there's a possibility I'll be miserable going in to work every day--but is it worth suffering for that year if at the end I can get the job I want?

I think in general residency will be a hellish year, so the "it's only a year" mentality applies pretty much across the board. But if you have major red flags at an interview and know there are aspects unique to that program you would strongly dislike / don't mesh well with the people, I would recommend considering not ranking them. Every year there's someone on this site lamenting about matching somewhere they don't want to be. don't be that person.

Also worth noting, a residency doesn't guarantee a job.

 

[lionheart555]

What's everyone's stance on the "it's only a year" thing? I don't know if it's worth ranking a program where all the residents are unhappy and there's a possibility I'll be miserable going in to work every day--but is it worth suffering for that year if at the end I can get the job I want?

Residents can get an incredible experience out of their one year if they have initiative, focused interests, and have post residency plans and goals. This sounds pretty standard but the problem is where a resident may get opportunities, a business gets cheap labor. That's the baseline. The honest truth is the resident is at the bottom of the totem pole. Residents need to accept this, but make sure they are getting real value out of the program. And then get a real job after that.

 

[DrXenha]

What's everyone's stance on the "it's only a year" thing? I don't know if it's worth ranking a program where all the residents are unhappy and there's a possibility I'll be miserable going in to work every day--but is it worth suffering for that year if at the end I can get the job I want?

I am in a hellish residency program and I will say, being treated like trash by a select few is horrible. However, it is a means to an end. I think there should be a thread on residency horror stories so we can all commiserate. Not all programs are like this. I think if you would rather have a residency than not, the "it's only a year" mentality applies. However, if you would rather only rank programs that you enjoyed and could see yourself thriving in, then I would only rank those. I am being more selective as I apply to PGY2 programs, because I already have the PGY1 underway. I do not want to be miserable for another year. I want to work hard and learn as much as I can without being berated. I think I might be like a wounded bird at this point, but I have grown thicker skin. I have become more autonomous and cynical as well. We did not even have schedules, there has been no interest in my learning, whatsoever. I think I could have still grown at a more positive program with less vile preceptors, for sure.