second looks...

[flipflopsnsnow]

How important have any of you seasoned veterans at this match game felt that "second looks" at programs helped you?
I just had an interview at a program that I did an elective rotation at, and when leaving had the place number one in my mind. But then today on the interview, that "feeling" I was looking for, just wasnt there and I cant figure out why. So I am considering doing a second look, but the only time I have is in about 3 weeks due to travel constraints.
I am just trying to decide or to ask any of you how second looks may or may not have helped you in your final decision making process.
And do programs take any of that into consideration when ranking you? I mean if you showed enough interest to come back again to see the place, is that, or could that potentially be a good thing?

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[SurgeryChef]

How important have any of you seasoned veterans at this match game felt that "second looks" at programs helped you?
I just had an interview at a program that I did an elective rotation at, and when leaving had the place number one in my mind. But then today on the interview, that "feeling" I was looking for, just wasnt there and I cant figure out why. So I am considering doing a second look, but the only time I have is in about 3 weeks due to travel constraints.
I am just trying to decide or to ask any of you how second looks may or may not have helped you in your final decision making process.
And do programs take any of that into consideration when ranking you? I mean if you showed enough interest to come back again to see the place, is that, or could that potentially be a good thing?

I'm definitely not a seasoned veteran, but since no one else has responded I'll comment... rather ask you a question. Wouldn't it look a little weird if you came back for a second look if you already did an away there? If I were the administration I'd think you were trying to lay it on too thick. The idea of a second look is to see how things operate on a day-to-day basis and see if you'd be happy since clearly you don't get a nice indication of the inner workings of an institution during an interview. You've already had that and more. The other message that you could be sending is that you're still not sure EVEN AFTER a whole month or more there. Just my two cents - but think about it from that standpoint.

 

[orientedtoself]

i agree with the above. you've already been there a month- an extra day isn't going to help you with your decision.

 

[mig26x]

yeah, if you cant decide been there for one month, what could one day do for you??

agree with the two above posts!!

 

[VuDOo]

i agree with the above. you've already been there a month- an extra day isn't going to help you with your decision.

But it might help with THEIR decision!!! The Second Look is one last chance to impress. Especially if you're applying to a very competitive residency or specialty.

 

[Solideliquid]

He/she is most likely an IMG/FMG. They usually look upon second look invites as a chance to impress the PD further.

Second looks are mainly for YOU to make up your mind about the program not the other way around.

 

[Shah_Patel_PT]

He/she is most likely an IMG/FMG. They usually look upon second look invites as a chance to impress the PD further.

Second looks are mainly for YOU to make up your mind about the program not the other way around.

SO you are saying that foreign graduates need to do a 2nd look to impress the PD????

 

[Solideliquid]

No I did not say that.

 

[res-2007]

I posted this in the psych forum but no one replied, so I'll try again.


I interviewed at my top choice in November.
Yesterday (5 weeks later) I received an invitation to a faculty dinner from them.

What's a faculty dinner?
I suspect it's part of the evaluation process, is it really a second interview? They didn't call it that but what else can it be?
Are they formal or casual?
Any insight will be appreciated.


Yes, I am US-IMG and I really need help with this one.

 

[SurgeryChef]

He/she is most likely an IMG/FMG. They usually look upon second look invites as a chance to impress the PD further.

Second looks are mainly for YOU to make up your mind about the program not the other way around.

I agree with this - I don't think you impress on a second look. It's really for your benefit. But in the OP's situation I think it would less-than-impress.

 

[flipflopsnsnow]

first of all, i am not a FMG. i am not sure how my question and being a FMG are connected.....please advise on this one!

second, i should have clarified in my original email. While I did do an away elective at the institution in question, it was NOT a sub-i. In fact, I didnt spend any of the time at the actual hospital, I was working in outpatient and school-based clinics. So, I actually never witnessed the inner workings of the institution.

My bigger question never was really answered. I had hoped to hear from some of you out there with a story of how a second look helped them make a decision, or didnt, or something! I am sure someone out there has done one.

 

[familyfirst]

Did the program in question emphasized to you about second look? If several people (faculty + residents) kept on mentioning it, probably a good idea to go back for a second look just for yourself to separate out your top choices and also to show that you are considering them highly. But don't do it for the program. Do it for youself to separate out where to rank the program among your top choices.

 

[Samoa]

The only second look I'm doing is at a program I didn't rotate at, but that I'm considering ranking highly. And I'm only doing that because my own impression of the place when I interviewed was completely the opposite of its widely acknowledged reputation.

As for your situation, I'd say that if the interview day feels different than the rotation, then they're probably putting on an act for the interviewees. So your sense of the program from the rotation you did there is probably the more correct estimation.

The ONLY situation where I'd do a second look at a program where I'd already rotated, would be if there was some huge personnel change between when I did the rotation and now. Even a major program change won't really change how it feels to work there, if the same people are still running the show.

 

[gutonc]

I did 2 second looks at the places that I thought would be my #1 and 2 places (they ended up 1 and 3) and they just reinforced the feelings I already had about both programs. It mostly served to make me comfortable with the choices I had already more or less made. And it let me meet more people outside of the core of the program such as researchers and subspecialists.

On my 2nd look at the program I ended up matching to, i was rounding in the MICU that morning and we were going over new admissions (it was Monday and the attending was different over the w/e) so they were describing some guy who was intubated and septic at the time who got out of jail, scored some smack, didn't remember the next 2 days and then wasn't feeling so good so he took the bus to the hospital. 2 days later, he's got 3 pressors on board and a pH that, if it were an SAT score, might get you into 3rd grade. But he took the bus to the hospital. Where I went to med school, I had people admitted o/n for bogus ROMI who wanted a wheelchair van to take them to their apt. 6 blocks from the hospital on d/c. I figured I'd choose the place w/ the motivated patients!

 

[Dr. Will]

I was thinking about stopping in at a place I rotated through back in Aug. They don't require us to interview b/c we rotated, but I wanted to peak my head in and remind them I'm still interested.