hi, I am a UMASS PGY-2 in IM and I have been very happy here. I did not get an interview offer from UCONN (apparently they turn down a lot of US MD grads who didn't go to their school). That said, I don't know much about UCONN, but I can tell you what I like here:
1)Patient diversity is outstanding; in part as a result of rotating through 3 very different sites. You will see everything here, from various manifestations of sickle cell disease in adults to bread and butter MI's, GI bleeding, CHF, COPD, etc. Cirrhosis secondary to EtOH and/or Hepatitis C is all too common here. Patient population ranges from patients who live in homeless shelters to more well to do persons who live in the more suburban and surrounding rural areas. Many immigrants from Puerto Rico, Ghana, and Brazil live in Worcester.
2)Very comfortable environment for learning and working. With the exception of a very few residents who are either mega gunners or insecure (hey they are everywhere, but much less so here), we all try to help one another out, and people are very accepting. The vast majority of attendings are approachable and VERY knowledgeable, not just in their field of interest. I can be a pretty cantakerous person, and can't believe how much I like my co-workers!
3)Program and medical school are really growing in reputation and in funding.. New cardiac ICU, Nobel Laureate, beautiful new ED (L1 trauma center). Our program director is the greatest, and really open to resident feedback and to positive change.
Needs improvement:
1)Worcester.. eh, could be worse, Springfield is much worse IMO. In fact, Boston is <60 minutes away by car, there are some very decent restaurants in Worcester and Shrewsbury; only 35 minutes away from a respectable ski hill (hey Wachusset isn't Vermont, but I like it), and cost of living is better than in Boston. I wouldn't mind if things were less spread out so I could walk more places, but it's not really bad.
2)I do like our lack of overnight call, but be forewarned that it doesn't extend to all our sites. Milford is q4 o/n, and as an intern, you will cross-cover everyone. It was my hardest month of intern year. Our 2 ICU's and CCU also have q3 o/n call for everyone, no exceptions.
3)Although I've decided not to do a fellowship, fellowship placement can be a bit hit-or-miss; though I'm sure the same is true at many mid-level programs. Some years, matches were outstanding with some very prestigious Cards and GI matches; this year, pretty much everyone stayed at UMASS, and the match rates for competitive specialities were not good.
Good luck in your decision.
