There have been some changes at San Mateo. The former Residency Training Director got poached by another school, and now they have a new one as of this year (2012).
I interviewed there last month, from what I can tell, the new Residency Training Director is a total ditz. My interview with her consisted of an hour and a half of her trying to analyze me. I have been analyzed before at interviews...except she was just really bad at it.
She had no idea where she was going with the interview but was trying to act confident and in charge (which made her sound really fake). She kept asking questions based off of misinterpretations of what I said and then tried to summarize my words based off of what essentially were her views. She seems to be one of those types who thought they would be good at psychiatry simply because they have a nice smile and are likeable, not because they can actually have insight into someone.
Anyway, if the Training Director of San Mateo is this incompetent, it really makes me question whether or not the program has gone downhill after the original Director left. Granted, this is her first year. I hope she improves by the time any of the 2012 applicants get there.