Top Ortho Programs

[2thFairy15]

Ok guys, let's have it. What are the top Ortho residency programs for:

1/ clinical skills
2/ research
3/ most popular

Thanks!!

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[TADpole]

I don't think there really is a "top" program. All have plusses and minuses and anywhere you can get in will be great. Each program has a diffrerent personality too, so a "top" program for one person is not for another. Apply to lots of places and then get a "feel" for the different programs wherever you can get an interview! Good luck!! 😛

 

[Rags2Riches]

I don't think there really is a "top" program. All have plusses and minuses and anywhere you can get in will be great. Each program has a diffrerent personality too, so a "top" program for one person is not for another. Apply to lots of places and then get a "feel" for the different programs wherever you can get an interview! Good luck!! 😛

This is a pretty fair and true statement. I was fortunate to have interviewed at most of the suppossed "top tier" ortho programs this year, ie: Michigan, Washington, Iowa, Baylor, UCONN, UNC, Illinois-Chicago, Florida, and UCLA), one of which was my home school at which I was told after the interview and prior to the MATCH that I was in. However, I chose to rank a different program #1 - one which may not be on everybody's "top tier" list - because it was the top program FOR ME.

I hope this helps all those applying and interviewing in 2009. Good Luck!!!

 

[Jediwendell]

Florida
UNC
UW
Houston
Baylor
UConn
Michigan
VCU
Iowa

Probably some others I have missed, but these are ones I typically hear the most about..

 

[Cyclysm]

the best program is the one that you get into.

 

[yojimbo53]

i was specifically interested in a clinically-oriented program, and with that said, was very impressed with:

Houston
Iowa
UMKC
Baylor
Minnesota

Ok guys, let's have it. What are the top Ortho residency programs for:

1/ clinical skills
2/ research
3/ most popular

Thanks!!

 

[Bodega Do Luiz]

i was specifically interested in a clinically-oriented program, and with that said, was very impressed with:

Houston
Iowa
UMKC
Baylor
Minnesota

There's a common theme here: Perhaps the best clinical programs are the 2 and/or 2.5 year programs

 

[joc]

the best program is the one that you get into.

that is the best answer so far in this thread!

 

[2thFairy15]

There's a common theme here: Perhaps the best clinical programs are the 2 and/or 2.5 year programs

interesting -- especially since you would think 3 year programs would give you more experience.

current residents, what are your thoughts on your schools: pros and cons????

that would be greatly appreciated!

 

[charlestweed]

interesting -- especially since you would think 3 year programs would give you more experience.

current residents, what are your thoughts on your schools: pros and cons????

that would be greatly appreciated!

I went to a 2 year ortho program. Here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Lower tuition (if both 2 and 3 yr programs have similar annual tuition)
- You start to earn money 1 year sooner. Your new practice begins to pick up while the 3 year guy is still in school.
- You start treating ortho patients right away…..no time to waste in a 2 yr program.
- 2 yr program provides the same amount of clinical training as a 3 yr program.
- Most applicants like 2 year programs….only a few of them want to attend 3 year programs b/c they are well known programs (ie Harvard, UNC, Michigan etc.)
Cons:
- Weak in research. A lot of 2 yr programs don’t offer MS (my program does😀). This MS degree is really useless but a lot of ortho residents and I love to have it.
- You cannot finish a lot of cases that you started. I debanded 50% of all my cases and most of my big brother’s cases.

 

[yojimbo53]

not necessarily. washington, which is a 3 year program, has less clinical hours than any 2 year program out there.

interesting -- especially since you would think 3 year programs would give you more experience.

 

[Bodega Do Luiz]

not necessarily. washington, which is a 3 year program, has less clinical hours than any 2 year program out there.

UW is NOT a 3 year program; it's 2.5, but you're right that it offers very little clinical time comparativley.

 

[kato999]

Pretty hard to compare, but I'll give you my top choices. The most competive programs (as if ortho isn't competitive enough) are usually the 2 year programs with a stipend or waived tuition.

My top 5

Minnesota
Baylor
Houston
VCU
UMKC

 

[antidentite]

my top 5:

north carolina
illinois
michigan
california - san francisco
washington

 

[Ligature]

My before and after interview top 5 were different. I think it's really tough to decide what a top program is for you until you've actually met the faculty, residents, etc.

My top 5 were:
UNC
VCU
Baylor
University of Florida
Mayo clinic

In no particular order! I liked all these places for different reasons.

I mean... it depends on where your family is (also whether you like them or not), Do you want 2 or 3 year programs, or don't care? Do you want a small class or a large class of coresidents? Do you care what kind of techniques are taught at the school? How many patients do you want to see? Is a family-friendly program important to you? Do you want to get paid or are you indifferent (nobody WANTS to pay)?

I'm sure I've left out alot of the important questions, but these were some of the questions I thought long and hard about before putting together my rank order list.

 

[gryffindor]

I agree with ligature. You can apply to all the prorams you want, but ultimately the programs you are going to seriously consider are the ones that invite you to interview. Prior to interview invites, I would have considered schools like UNC, UW, UConn, Baylor, VCU top programs. After invites I remade my list based on the programs that actually did invite me.

Almost every school I interviewed or visited told me they were clinically oriented. Most tried to brush off research as not being that important at their programs. Three year programs told me why the third year is worth more than the first two.

Attending the best program is all based on the criteria important to you. Every year there are plenty of candidates who interview at top programs but rank other programs higher because of factors like family, location and money that those top programs don't offer.

 

[Bodega Do Luiz]

my top programs were:

VCU
UW
Iowa
Michigan
UNC

 

[AbuABuAbu]

my top programs:

VCU
UNC
Baylor
Houston
UW

 

[Rags2Riches]

MY TOP PROGRAMS:

VCU
UW
Iowa
Minnesota
Alabama

 

[smurfs4supper]

LOL There has not been a single list posted that did not have VCU in it. That was such an awesome school when I interviewed there. VCU and UNC seems to always be people's favorites, and so this must mean something

 

[Ligature]

LOL There has not been a single list posted that did not have VCU in it. That was such an awesome school when I interviewed there. VCU and UNC seems to always be people's favorites, and so this must mean something

I'll put it to you this way in no specific order, they were #1 and #2 on my rank order list!!!

 

[Bodega Do Luiz]

I'll put it to you this way in no specific order, they were #1 and #2 on my rank order list!!!

Mine too!

 

[OMFS2008]

disregard

 

[Squished Rat]

UCONN was at the top of my list.

I felt that it was balanced between clinic, research and lectures....not to mention a beautiful, clean place to live and only 1.5 hr from the Big Apple and Boston!

Also, Dr. Nanda (Chairman) has written and INSANE amount of articles and some textbooks. Look up his name and you'll see that this guy is a walking leader in the field. I was really impressed!

Oh yea, a guy with 2 posts to his credit and a user name of OMFS2008 has a lot of credit on what ortho programs are topnotch.

 

[OMFS2008]

apologizes as that was a friend using my account and didn't realize it...can you please remove the quote s.rat?

 

[2thFairy15]

I'll put it to you this way in no specific order, they were #1 and #2 on my rank order list!!!

So speaking of rank order lists -- how many programs did you all apply for? I really want to get in somewhere, so I was thinking of applying to as many programs as possible. Is this smart?

 

[Ligature]

I applied to 16 programs, I know ppl that applied to as few as 5 (which I don't advise) and ppl have posted on SDN that they have applied to as many 39 programs. I think a number that many applicants shoot for is 20. But I wasn't able to come up with 20 places my wife was willing to move to 😀

It never really hurts to apply to alot of programs except for the organization aspects. More applications=more headache because everybody wants something different😡

 

[Frederico Albin]

I live in Richmond, Virginia. I am not going to VCU, but the school of dentistry looks awsome!!! Located on a really good area... next to alot of bars/clubs. You can really enjoy the night life if you ever attend VCU.

 

[sakura2006]

Does anyone know about ortho program in Illinoise, from the aspect of clinical skills, research and on the whole ranking of the program?