strong programs?

[caribstud]

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I interviewed last week and the program director asked where else I was interviewing which I didn't like. When i rattled off my 13 programs he told me that was too many and that I had listed some strong programs and some not so strong programs. He advised that I prioritize. Ohter than these coments the interview went very well but I'm unsure how to take these remarks. Here are my programs:
Indiana
Ohio State
UT houston
UT southwestern
U Arizona
U New Mexico
UT Knoxville
East Tennesse State
U South Florida
Wayne State
Virginia Commonwealth
U Louiseville
Loyola

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to "prioritize" this list? Any comments or sugestions is very appreciated. Thanks

 

[deleted113029]

First of all, it is completely legitimate for them to ask you about where your interviews are...just answer them.

Do some of your own research but here are some of the stronger programs on your list:
New Mexico
UTSW
Ohio State

The others I haven't heard of.

 

[mlw03]

what the heck did he mean by 'prioritize'? isn't that what the interview season is for, to allow candidates to learn what programs they like the most? unless he was talking about financial resources, which to me doesn't seem like something he needs to be concerning himself with.

 

[Ultra7]

Many program directors and advisors think that 13 interviews is too many, especially in a relatively non-competitive field such as path (or IM). It is not just a money issue. It is also your time and effort. I haven't done many interviews yet, but from what I hear the traveling and galavanting around in a suit all day can get rather tiring after awhile.
If you love traveling and talking to people and dressing up, then by all means do 13. Most people have a limited capacity for at least one of those 3 activities.
It might not be a bad idea to schedule your lowest-priority interviews last. Then you can cancel if you don't want to go. Plus, you are not worn out for what you think has a good chance of bring your number 1 program.

 

[anencephalic]

Many program directors and advisors think that 13 interviews is too many, especially in a relatively non-competitive field such as path (or IM). It is not just a money issue.

Dunno about the validity of this statement...some of the PD's have said that they've been getting ALOT of qualified applicants this season, and that it is one of the more competitive to date. Anyone else hear this? Or are they just patronizing me....😳

 

[deleted113029]

Dunno about the validity of this statement...some of the PD's have said that they've been getting ALOT of qualified applicants this season, and that it is one of the more competitive to date. Anyone else hear this? Or are they just patronizing me....😳

Heard this from Hopkins and others...but who knows. We never see the files, so they could be saying this to make us feel better.

 

[sapience8x]

Dunno about the validity of this statement...some of the PD's have said that they've been getting ALOT of qualified applicants this season, and that it is one of the more competitive to date. Anyone else hear this? Or are they just patronizing me....😳

Well I heard this from a place that i didn't get invited to and also from a place that I did get invited to.

I thought VCU had a decent program?

 

[CameronFrye]

Dunno about the validity of this statement...some of the PD's have said that they've been getting ALOT of qualified applicants this season, and that it is one of the more competitive to date. Anyone else hear this? Or are they just patronizing me....😳

According to our PD (Dr. Wick), the applications are very impressive this year (great grades, boards scores in the 90's, great LORs, etc.). Basically, the ranking of applicants is going to be based more on subjective criteria (will they fit in?, are they crazy?, etc).

 

[fatboy]

I may be totally off base, but does the increased competitiveness have anything to do with path training going from 5 to 4 years? Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a few years ago places were taking a large amount of residents per year (double the number at my home institution) compared to this year. Seems like this year a lot of programs have only a fraction of the spots available. Is this true? Have we missed the golden year of applying?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

According to our PD (Dr. Wick), the applications are very impressive this year (great grades, boards scores in the 90's, great LORs, etc.). Basically, the ranking of applicants is going to be based more on subjective criteria (will they fit in?, are they crazy?, etc).

I have heard the same thing from our PD as well. The # of AMG applicants have risen significantly this year apparently and a good number of them have great stats. But this has been the trend for the past few years, at least.

As for why this is happening...who knows. Perhaps it's the "lifestyle" revolution where more and more med students are applying to fields where the lifestyle is better. Each field goes through ups and downs in terms of applications. I don't know when the pathology applications will plateau but certainly pathology has become relatively more competitive in the recent years.

 

[LADoc00]

I have heard the same thing from our PD as well. The # of AMG applicants have risen significantly this year apparently and a good number of them have great stats. But this has been the trend for the past few years, at least.

As for why this is happening...who knows. Perhaps it's the "lifestyle" revolution where more and more med students are applying to fields where the lifestyle is better. Each field goes through ups and downs in terms of applications. I don't know when the pathology applications will plateau but certainly pathology has become relatively more competitive in the recent years.

Awesome, now there is a COMPLETE DISCONNECT between those going into pathology and the actual job market. Before it was merely FMGs and those with subpar credentials as the peons for Quest and Ameripath, now it will be folks with 250+ Step I scores.

PDs gotta being lauging their asses off on this trend!

I gotta say to everyone:

 

[anencephalic]

Basically, the ranking of applicants is going to be based more on subjective criteria (will they fit in?, are they crazy?, etc).

Why? Does being crazy preclude me from being a great path rez?!😛

 

[anencephalic]

Awesome, now there is a COMPLETE DISCONNECT between those going into pathology and the actual job market. Before it was merely FMGs and those with subpar credentials as the peons for Quest and Ameripath, now it will be folks with 250+ Step I scores.

PDs gotta being lauging their asses off on this trend!

I gotta say to everyone:

Hey LADoc,

LOVE the O'Farrel Theater....😀

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Awesome, now there is a COMPLETE DISCONNECT between those going into pathology and the actual job market. Before it was merely FMGs and those with subpar credentials as the peons for Quest and Ameripath, now it will be folks with 250+ Step I scores.

PDs gotta being lauging their asses off on this trend!

I gotta say to everyone:

I know...quite a tragedy.

 

[pathman2006]

I think prioritizing by diatance from where you live might be the best way. I inetreviewed at some of these programs and found that distance worked for me.

 

[EUA]

Why? Does being crazy preclude me from being a great path rez?!😛

No, in fact, it is desirable. 😉

 

[deschutes]

As for why this is happening...who knows. Perhaps it's the "lifestyle" revolution where more and more med students are applying to fields where the lifestyle is better. I don't know when the pathology applications will plateau but certainly pathology has become relatively more competitive in the recent years.

I am re-reading "House of God" and killing myself laughing. First time I read the book oh, 5 or 6 years ago now, I hadn't a clue I'd be heading for an NPC Specialty myself.

Reproduced from Chapter 24:

PATH
-----
ADVANTAGES
No live bodies
Low malpractice premiums

DISADVANTAGES
Gomers (rare)
Dead bodies
Smell of dead bodies and formalin-type picklers
Basement office
Contempt, daily, of all but other pathologists
Depression​

At my program we teach the 2nd year med student pathology labs - apparently this year nobody's interested in going into Path so far. But I say, give them time.

 

[cytoborg]

I

PATH
-----
ADVANTAGES
No live bodies
Low malpractice premiums

DISADVANTAGES
Gomers (rare)
Dead bodies
Smell of dead bodies and formalin-type picklers
Basement office
Contempt, daily, of all but other pathologists
Depression​

Haha...I forgot that part of the book!

Except that I don't think pathologists are depressed at all. In fact, most of the time they seem to fall on a spectrum from zen-like contentment to smug glee.

 

[SLUsagar]

I interviewed last week and the program director asked where else I was interviewing which I didn't like. When i rattled off my 13 programs he told me that was too many and that I had listed some strong programs and some not so strong programs. He advised that I prioritize. Ohter than these coments the interview went very well but I'm unsure how to take these remarks. Here are my programs:
Indiana
Ohio State
UT houston
UT southwestern
U Arizona
U New Mexico
UT Knoxville
East Tennesse State
U South Florida
Wayne State
Virginia Commonwealth
U Louiseville
Loyola

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to "prioritize" this list? Any comments or sugestions is very appreciated. Thanks

of your list, i think you're good to go for U new mexico (we've had several SP fellows as former UNM-trained grads, and all were awesome), UTSW, or ohio state; also heard decent things of Indiana and Wayne State. (a few brand name attendings there as well).