school reputation

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
P

pj02007

if you are going to be a private practice doctor in california, which school do the patients know best: ucla, usc, nyu, boston u, or dartmouth?

i mean like if you have a diploma of that school in your office, which one will give you most positive feedback? and u vermont would be considered the least reputable of those that i listed, correct?
Members don't see this ad.
 
In the end, patients don't give a rat's as* where you got your training as long as it was in the states. It becomes all about your reputation, hearsay, malpractice suits or the lack thereof.

I guess UCLA would be the most well known, but really only residency selection committees actually care about stuff like this.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
actually, if a patient comes to see you for the first time and it's not emergency (like eye exam or broken ankle..), they'll be happier if you went to harvard. and obviously they would be happier if you went to UCLA over u vermont, which they might think was even a foreign country! oh, and i'm qualified to say this, because i go to doctors often with minor injuries or some other useless stuff.
so if ucla is patients' #1 in california, how would you rank the other schools i listed?
 
I agree with LizardKing that patients generally don't give a flying f*ck what school you went to, they care how much time and concern you are willing to give them.

However, all of the schools you listed are really great, but many Californian's don't know very much about the East coast schools. Like, they might not know that dartmouth is ivy, or that there is a difference between NYU and NY Med. They will know UCLA and USC (the school to go to if you can't get in to UCLA).
 
If I broke my ankle, the last thing I'd ask or wonder about is what school my doctor went to. What's more important is the quality of the hospital I'm at with my broken ankle!
 
i guess it's different, because i only sprained my ankle. and i was picky about my doctors.
thanks for clarifying about usc/ucla and that californians might not know dartmouth is an ivy.
 
I think that the whole issue of where you go to med school is overblown, at least, it is being overblown by you in this case. Your reputation as a physician will be shaped by your work, not your diploma. You seem concerned that people will ask "where did you go to school?" Some may, but even more will ask "who have you treated, and did it turn out well for them?"
 
This might be the silliest thread I have ever seen! If a patient is IN YOUR OFFICE and asking you where you went to medical school, I highly doubt that the information is going to determine whether or not they come back and see you again. They will come back if you are good, seem intelligent and listen to them!

Considering "the most positive feedback" from your future patients should probably be LAST on your list of concerns when picking a medical school.
 
I agree with Wednesday.

I don't know anybody that asks their potential doctor where they went to medical school with the intent to base their decision on that.

One name or another on a diploma means nothing if you're not competent and caring. And if you are competent and caring, any USA med school is just fine.
 
of the good reasons--in my opinion--for going to a prestigious school, this is the last in importance. Patients aren't going to care as long as you do a good job and have a good reputation in your community.
 
•••quote:••• oh, and i'm qualified to say this, because i go to doctors often with minor injuries or some other useless stuff.
••••pj02007, why do you "go to doctors often with minor injuries or some other useless stuff" anyway?!?! And seriously, even if you are in a doctor's office for something useless, and he has a diploma from Chicago Med, are you going to leave? That would be really funny, but I doubt it would happen! Or if you are in an ER, are you going to ask for another doctor, one who went to a more reputable school?! This is seriously a stupid thing to even talk about. Sorry dude, but you really need to find something else to worry about. For example, there was an excellent discussion on a far more important topic when considering schools:
<a href="http://www.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008537" target="_blank">which "us news" top 25 med schools(teaching hospitals) have the best FOOD? </a>
 
well, my parents' optometrist has harvard and yale degree certificates posted in his waiting room, and lots of cool paintings there too.. i went to him to check that my eyes were 20/20, which they were. and i'll come back again if i need to. with sprained ankle, i only went to get an x-ray. but now that i know that's a good doctor, i'll go to him if i break a leg. i can't get much help in picking doctors from friends, because my friends are not sick.
and another thing about degrees, doctors from big name schools have a reputation for being better doctors, and patients know that. they just have to decide what are the big name schools.

another thing, after you just finish residensy, and you're trying to start private practice, you need to find someone who's already established, so you could make a partnership. and that someone would prefer someone from the big name school!

and i don't care about the food in med schools. the food at my school is like cow ****, and i'm still in good shape. but i.e. u vermont is 1 1/2 hours from montreal, so i could go eat there. and also montreal has better chicks :D but i'd be more worried if people recognized my degree from that school after graduation.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•well, my parents' optometrist has harvard and yale degree certificates posted in his waiting room, •••••Harvard and Yale have optometry schools? That's news to me! If the OD went to Yale or Harvard undergrad, well that's something else. If that's the case, I have never seen a Dr's undergrad diploma in an office.
 
it was a long time ago, but i clearly remember the harvard and yale certificates on his wall, don't remember certificates for what. maybe he was an MD? can md's be eye doctors?
also i think he had soem army and gi bill certificates, but it was about a year ago. and he's old and definitely a good doctor.
 
pj02007:

Your reasoning:

"another thing, after you just finish residensy, and you're trying to start private practice, you need to find someone who's already established, so you could make a partnership. and that someone would prefer someone from the big name school!"

This could not be more wrong. Every doctor that I have spoken with says that where you go to medical school means little. Usually they say that studying in the US is more important than anything else. I think you should do a little more research before you generalize your assumptions.

Also, what do you have against UVM?
 
yeah, but HE'S A GOOD DOCTOR. That's why people go to him, your parents included. It has NOTHING to do with whether or not he went to Harvard or Yale. Yes, these schools turn out hundreds of good doctors, but that is because they are good students, good people, good scientists. If you're not "good" but you manage to get in there anyway, being there won't magically make you a good doctor!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•it was a long time ago, but i clearly remember the harvard and yale certificates on his wall, don't remember certificates for what. maybe he was an MD? can md's be eye doctors?
also i think he had soem army and gi bill certificates, but it was about a year ago. and he's old and definitely a good doctor.•••••This person just officially declared what a ***** he/she is with that last post. As for the "where did you go to school" issue, I would much rather know 1) where the doctor did his/her residency and 2) how many years experience do they have. I would much rather have a doc with 20 years experience from Podunk U than a guy fresh out of Hopkins. Also, considering any high school JV football coach can take care of a sprained ankle I wouldn't be too picky about my doctor in that sort of "emergency."
 
bjc, they produce lots of good doctors, so the patients know to expect good doctors with yale diplomas.. they can't say the same if they never heard about the school.

jrazz, i think very highly of uvm. as i said, it has a rather good residensy placement and fabulous location. but if someone who already established a practice was looking for a partner straight out of residense, wouldn't he give preference to someone from harvard?

and yes i don't know much about rankings. i.e. i have no idea how the schools that i listed above are reputed, between each other?
 
fah, aren't you an idiot. you think patients even know what's a residensy?? and you don't go from hopkins straight into practice. after 6 years in residensy you have more than enough experience. and a h.s. coach doesn't have an xray machine to check for fracture.
 
•••quote:••• and i don't care about the food in med schools. the food at my school is like cow ****, and i'm still in good shape. but i.e. u vermont is 1 1/2 hours from montreal, so i could go eat there. and also montreal has better chicks but i'd be more worried if people recognized my degree from that school after graduation. ••••I was being sarcastic... my point is that this thread is stupid and just as pointless, but not nearly as funny. :)
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•but now that i know that's a good doctor, i'll go to him if i break a leg.

and another thing about degrees, doctors from big name schools have a reputation for being better doctors, and patients know that. they just have to decide what are the big name schools.•••••Wow, you've got to be kidding me?

You said you'd go back to him because you now know he's a good doctor. So where does his med school come into that?

And as far as patients decing on their doctor based on the school they went to--quite frankly that's bull. People have no clue about Medical school. They choose people based on a doctor's reputation and continue to go based on their own personal experience with the doctor.

Yeah and as far the the whole "can M.D.'s be eye doctors" wow I won't even touch that one.

I
 
yeah just keep on relieving yourself. there must be a reason why harvard med school is so competitive. else the best doctors would be going to college of north dakota.

and i'm not saying harvard is exclusive. obviously there are other schools that are reputable. but i'd like to know what people think of say nyu and vermont in california
 
DAMN! Stop being bated by this stupid PJ troll!! He's just a high school freshman strokin himself to how much controversy he's stirred up. Sorry spanky, game's up. --Trek
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•fah, aren't you an idiot. you think patients even know what's a residensy?? and you don't go from hopkins straight into practice. after 6 years in residensy you have more than enough experience. and a h.s. coach doesn't have an xray machine to check for fracture.•••••Plus spanky can't even spell "residency". Let's let him slide. --Trek
 
well, i'm not insecure about my size or intelligence, therefore, i won't bark back at you. and if you want to flame me, start your own thread.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•well, i'm not insecure about my size or intelligence, therefore, i won't bark back at you. and if you want to flame me, start your own thread.•••••Shut up, spanky. --Trek
 
Yeah I aggree about the troll thing. I'm sorry I responded at all. How bout we quit this thread.
 
PJ, get the point... every one has tried to tell you hear that patients largely do not care what med school you go to. Grow up and realize that you will need to pick a school based on where you will learn best, excel in your area of interest and ultimately become a better doctor. This is not at all nesessarily related to rankings and epecially not related to the popular concensus of patients.
 
You the MAN Trek!! This pj character is a joke. I wonder if he really believes what he writes?
 
john, then why do most people if they could get accepted, go to harvard? and not to south dakota?

trek, you're some piss of troll
 
Oh my god, I just realized that I was promoted to "senior member" stutus while responding to this troll's thread! Sorry megkudos, I'm all in favor or qitting this one, just had to say that!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•

trek, you're some piss of troll•••••If you started formulating your sentences in ENGLISH, i'd respond. But since you can't, my posting on this thread ends here. Take care everyone- don't step on the troll. --Trek
 
•••quote:••• john, then why do most people if they could get accepted, go to harvard? and not to south dakota? ••••ARGHHH, please stop talking. I can tell you why I would go to harvard orver SD... because south dakota is a crappy place to be, and boston isn't. I have to interest in rural med, and would rather do my clinical rotations in a city such as Boston. However, when it comes down to a decision, will look back at the schools I interviewed at, and pick the one where I believe that I will become a better doctor.
 
I don't think PJ is a total troll, I've seen people like him before; they get labeled trolls because they don't quite fit in. Then they start trolling because it's all that's left for them to do since everyone's tagged them that way.

Reading his posts I think he is likely fairly young, or just recently became interested in seeing what it really take to become a doctor. Some of what he says is funny, but I'm not sure it's intentional, like the stuff about ugly people in the East Coast. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> He sounds like those HS kids who want to be perceived as "kewl" but are too dorky, er, UNAWARE of their surroundings to know what that is. :wink:

In any case I hope y'all don't scare him away. If he gets straight answers he might actually learn something. And if he's trolling, straight answers will not really be as amusing and he'll tire and quit.

Mr. :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
mr, the dickhead who labeled me a troll, notice how he trolls every thread.. and you think i'm really offended if you call me dorky, stupid... since no one in real life would call me that. and yes i just recently became interested in medecine. but i'm sure i'll be more knowledgeable about it if i become a combat medic than kiss some nurse's ass in a hospital.

john, so you're saying you would choose boston u over harvard?? and there are better cities than boston too... but why is harvard most desirable school then?

well so long, have to go back to real life now.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pj02007:
•if you are going to be a private practice doctor in california, which school do the patients know best: ucla, usc, nyu, boston u, or dartmouth?

i mean like if you have a diploma of that school in your office, which one will give you most positive feedback? and u vermont would be considered the least reputable of those that i listed, correct?•••••Hey pj, here is <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bcmed.htm" target="_blank">a link for ranked med schools</a> . If you click on any school, you can go to the bottom and to a comparitive search for any school you want.

Although patients probably won't notice or care which med school you went to, I see where your train of thought is. You often need to be in a competitive med school to get the residency placement you want, however if you work hard in ANY U.S. med school, you might also have a chance at that same residency.

While patients may not care where you did your residency, it may give you a good reputation when you start to practice. So therefore, if you are concerned with competitiveness when you practice, I can see why you are so concerned with which med school to choose.

The problem, however, is that you may not even have such a large range of schools to choose from when you actually go through the application process. I suggest that in the future, just choose what med school fits you the best. If you are still concerned with rank, then just choose the highest ranked school that accepts you :)

Hope this helps. I understand that you are new to this process, so hopefully you can learn a lot from SDN without upsetting too many people :)

good luck
 
MD's can act as eye doctors. Those are called ophthalmologist. Optometrists are not MDs they go to schools for optometry and earn a doctorate of optometry (OD [not DO that's for Doctor's of Osteopathy])

Remember in the end it matters not where you have come from, it matters how good you are as a doctor.
 
pj

You seem to be concerned about what Californians will think of you. As a life-long one, I will try to exlain, making generalizations based on the thousands of Californians I know, and my extensive travels in this state.

We don't care what med school you go to, as long as it is in the USA. "Reputation" is not given much weight. Performance matters. PERIOD. California is, by and large, a very "what have you done for me lately?" kind of place. It doesn't matter if you've gone to Harvard or UCLA or Backwater University. You will get no respect just because you went to a specific school, even if it is a famous California one. Your patients will either go to you or not because of two things: what they hear about you from other people (whose opinions they repect/value) and their own experiences with you. If people don't hear good things about you from other patients, they won't go try you out because you've got a Yale or UCLA diploma.

And by the way, we don't live in a bubble. We've heard of Vermont, just like we've heard of all of the other states in the Union.

Don't go to UCLA because you're worried about name recognition. Go to your own state school and save some money on tuition, so you're not in too much debt when you move out here. The cost of living is high enough.
 
i was speaking to a dermatologist who has a private practice in a D.C. suburb who said his office gets calls everyday from patients wanting to know WHERE he went to med school.

so i don't think it always matters but some people DO care.

honestly, i care more whether a doctor is an M.D. or a D.O.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by vyc:
•honestly, i care more whether a doctor is an M.D. or a D.O.•••••Why is that vyc?
 
because i think their trainings are similar but NOT the same. not to mention, the difficulty of getting into an M.D. program as opposed to a D.O.

now don't flame me. i don't actually know the SPECIFIC differences. but i have a cousin who is in her third-year of getting her D.O. and it sure doesn't seem like she works as many hours or as hard as a med student typically would.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by ussdfiant:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by vyc:
•honestly, i care more whether a doctor is an M.D. or a D.O.•••••Why is that vyc?•••••
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by vyc:
•i don't actually know the SPECIFIC differences. •••••I should flame you for this line alone, but I'm not going to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

J
Schools with reputation for accepting high MCAT, lower GPA?
Replies
31
Views
3K
mudfud26
mudfud26
C
undergrad reputation (+ specifically, McGill)
Replies
3
Views
662
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
S
What are the REAL T10 medical schools by reputation/training/research opportunities?
2 3 4
Replies
153
Views
15K
efle
efle
H
Looking for reputable but affordable pre med program
Replies
4
Views
657
gyngyn
gyngyn
Tungsten5
ATSU SOMA has a bad reputation?
Replies
0
Views
913
Tungsten5
Tungsten5
Top