scutwork.com, where are you?

[allylz]

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where is Scutwork.com when you need it? I'm trying to figure out which programs I should interview at and which I should cancel. Scutwork has not posted new reviews in nearly a month. I know that the reviews are being posted, how can we get them stamped with approval and made public?

by the way... if your program does not have a Scutwork.com review, please post one! It is a huge help to the rest of us and a lot easier than searching SDN for people's random interview impressions of a place.

 

[SLUser11]

where is Scutwork.com when you need it? I'm trying to figure out which programs I should interview at and which I should cancel. Scutwork has not posted new reviews in nearly a month. I know that the reviews are being posted, how can we get them stamped with approval and made public?

by the way... if your program does not have a Scutwork.com review, please post one! It is a huge help to the rest of us and a lot easier than searching SDN for people's random interview impressions of a place.

1. That sounds contradictory......scutwork's not listing new reviews....btw, please write new reviews.....

2. Remember that scutwork is one of the most subjective resources out there, and can give you an extremely biased opinion of a program. It's information is frequently outdated, and when negative, often the product of a scorned resident. On the other side, alot of reviews paint an overly-sunny picture in a hope of snatching up good applicants/justifying the resident's decision.

3. My program has excellent scutwork reviews, so I'm not saying this out of selfish reasoning......

4. Scutwork should still be a resource, but just not your first or most important. When trying to wade through hundreds of programs, when you hear repeatedly that a place sucks, you can only assume that where there's smoke, there's fire.......

 

[zinjanthropus]

1. That sounds contradictory......scutwork's not listing new reviews....btw, please write new reviews.....

2. Remember that scutwork is one of the most subjective resources out there, and can give you an extremely biased opinion of a program. It's information is frequently outdated, and when negative, often the product of a scorned resident. On the other side, alot of reviews paint an overly-sunny picture in a hope of snatching up good applicants/justifying the resident's decision.

3. My program has excellent scutwork reviews, so I'm not saying this out of selfish reasoning......

4. Scutwork should still be a resource, but just not your first or most important. When trying to wade through hundreds of programs, when you hear repeatedly that a place sucks, you can only assume that where there's smoke, there's fire.......

But the point is ---- What the F is wrong with the site? Why haven't new reviews popped up in a month??? It isn't b/c people aren't writing them - many people have said they posted something that hasn't appeared. Is the site dead?

 

[allylz]

1. That sounds contradictory......scutwork's not listing new reviews....btw, please write new reviews.....

2. Remember that scutwork is one of the most subjective resources out there, and can give you an extremely biased opinion of a program.

It's not contradictory. I find Scutwork to be very helpful, so I think people should post more reviews. However, I am annoyed that Scutwork has not posted new reviews in a long time. If they took the time to clear the reviews that have been posted in the past month, perhaps I would not have to look at so much outdated and biased information because there are too few reviews right now.

I agree that Scutwork is subjective, but that comes with the territory. It's not like I have any other way of finding out that kind of information about a program. I like Scutwork because it's not just a list of statistics about a program. It's a detailed impression of a place that gives me a mental picture, which is nice because I've never been to places like Nashville, TN, or Rochester, Minnesota, so I have no idea what those hospitals are like or those locations. I take a balanced look at all the reviews that have been posted for a program and look at themes. For example, med students who are interviewing have nothing to gain by enthusiastically promoting a program. But they have only spent a few hours at the place and are unlikely to know the in-depth information about, for example, changes being made in the department, staff changes, administrative stuff about the program. Most programs in my specialty have quite positive reviews, I like to just look at it more just for fun. Got a problem? 🙂

 

[Dunce]

4. Scutwork should still be a resource, but just not your first or most important.

so what would be the best source(s) to use?

 

[sophiejane]

so what would be the best source(s) to use?

Do you mean a source to research programs or to make your decision about residency?

You shouldn't need scutwork for either, though I think it is an entertaining and interesting site. Agree that it is extremely subjective. You can usually tell the most subjective entries because they will have either 4 stars or 1 star, no middle ground.

If you look at websites really carefully (I mean read every word), consider curriculum, go to as many residency fairs as you can stomach, and don't just collect kuzies and coffee mugs--actually talk to the people and ask GOOD, relevant questions, then ask for recommendations from your dean and advisor, you should come up with a nice list for applications.

To really, really know the program that's right for you, you are going to have to spend more than an interview day. You need to do a rotation there to really see all the good and the bad in a program. Choose the places where you rotate carefully, make sure they are your top choices on paper.

At your interview, if you use your time well and ask appropriate, specific questions, go to the dinner beforehand and talk to as many residents as you can, you should have all the information you need to make a choice to rule in or rule out.

 

[SLUser11]

It's not contradictory. I find Scutwork to be very helpful, so I think people should post more reviews. However, I am annoyed that Scutwork has not posted new reviews in a long time. I like to just look at it more just for fun. Got a problem? 🙂

I guess what I'm saying is there's no motivation to write a review when you just informed me that the reviews aren't being updated. I actually did a review for my program (in surgery, for which I doubt you're applying) 2-3 months ago that's not up, so actually the "Last update 10-10" is pretty misleading, as these reviews are likely even older.

so what would be the best source(s) to use?

There has never been a really good internet source for info on programs that is more intimate/they don't want you to see. FREIDA gives objective data, and going to individual program's websites will give you a sense of their overall mission statement (are they laid back or are they hardcore), and if the program has good scored on inservice exams and boards, they will often list these scores.

If you look at websites really carefully (I mean read every word), consider curriculum, go to as many residency fairs as you can stomach, and don't just collect kuzies and coffee mugs--actually talk to the people and ask GOOD, relevant questions, then ask for recommendations from your dean and advisor, you should come up with a nice list for applications.

The residency fair thing only works in peds/int med/fam prac/sometimes OBGYN, as most of the more competitive specialties don't feel the need to participate in fairs since they don't need to actively recruit. Alot of times there is an inverse relationship between program competitiveness (and sometimes program quality) and their amount of advertising, meds/peds/etc included.

e.g.: Look in SDN's OBGYN forum.......it's turned into an advertisement page, with residents pitching their different programs to the SDN students. Just read the first few posts from this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=313363

Something to think about......