Underrated Programs?

[yesno]

Could someone post a list of some of the programs that are less competitive to get into (i.e. DO/IMG friendly, etc) but are good quality. I understand the idea is to look for lists of residents to see if they have DOs or IMGs or to just look at programs in less desirable areas. But I am more interested in rankings of the "best" programs without actually including programs that are very competitive to get into.
So things that I am interested in are good interventional vascular experience and any possible research experience in it, such as clinical trials in prostate embolization or PE embolectomy(no interest in oncology) and good diagnostics all around (in case i decide later that i want to become a teleradiologist and want to be very very competent). So if someone would please list "no-name" programs and identify any unusual strengths🙂 thanks.

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[Kaputt]

Well, just look at the lists people have compiled of places that are DO-friendly, and then research those programs. If they are a university program, it's probably pretty solid. Since you're interested in IR, places with IR fellowships are a plus.

 

[shark2000]

Could someone post a list of some of the programs that are less competitive to get into (i.e. DO/IMG friendly, etc) but are good quality. I understand the idea is to look for lists of residents to see if they have DOs or IMGs or to just look at programs in less desirable areas. But I am more interested in rankings of the "best" programs without actually including programs that are very competitive to get into.
So things that I am interested in are good interventional vascular experience and any possible research experience in it, such as clinical trials in prostate embolization or PE embolectomy(no interest in oncology) and good diagnostics all around (in case i decide later that i want to become a teleradiologist and want to be very very competent). So if someone would please list "no-name" programs and identify any unusual strengths🙂 thanks.

Stop here. A program that is not desirable and at the same time has everything including good DR and good research. Does not exist in this world.

And you don't need to be either 100% IR or a teleradiologist. There is a large spectrum between these two extremes.

 

[yesno]

Thank you for the replies. I have been reading past threads and found a lot of useful information. But I am curious to take a look at a more updated list with reviews of strong/weak points of non-top programs. At this point, if I had to choose between a program that is good at IR and sucks at MSK or vice versa, I don't know which one would interest me more.. I suspect teleradiology fits my personality best, but IR is more rewarding. I don't know what I want, but I am sure that a fellowship in msk or neuro would be more useful for a teleradilogist.

 

[shark2000]

Thank you for the replies. I have been reading past threads and found a lot of useful information. But I am curious to take a look at a more updated list with reviews of strong/weak points of non-top programs. At this point, if I had to choose between a program that is good at IR and sucks at MSK or vice versa, I don't know which one would interest me more.. I suspect teleradiology fits my personality best, but IR is more rewarding. I don't know what I want, but I am sure that a fellowship in msk or neuro would be more useful for a teleradilogist.

As I said, it is not white or black. You may be able to do 2-3 days IR and 2-3 days diagnostics. In fact, most jobs are structured in this way.

If you want to do IR, then go for a program that has its own fellowship.

 

[Kaputt]

Thank you for the replies. I have been reading past threads and found a lot of useful information. But I am curious to take a look at a more updated list with reviews of strong/weak points of non-top programs. At this point, if I had to choose between a program that is good at IR and sucks at MSK or vice versa, I don't know which one would interest me more.. I suspect teleradiology fits my personality best, but IR is more rewarding. I don't know what I want, but I am sure that a fellowship in msk or neuro would be more useful for a teleradilogist.

Go sign up on AuntMinnie and look at the threads where people have compiled their interview impressions at various programs. It is more heavily slanted towards top-tier programs though.

No one is really going to do all of this work for you. Research this kind of stuff on your own.

I've taken the liberty of combining two lists of DO-friendly programs that have been posted on this board. Research these programs. Look and see if they have IR fellowships. That sort of thing. No one is going to rattle off all the pros and cons of these programs for you. Show some initiative and do it yourself.

Ohio State
U of Cincinnati
Cleveland Clinic
U of Minnesota
Dartmouth
Temple
U of Missouri - Columbia
U of Missouri - Kansas City
Virginia Commonwealth
Penn State
U of Oklahoma
U of Toledo
U of New Mexico
MCG/Georgia Regents
Cooper University - Camden, NJ (ACGME with DO Program Director)
Drexel University (DO Program Director)
University of Arkansas
Detroit Medical Center
Henry Ford Macomb Hospital , Warren MI
UT San Antonio
UT Houston (in the past, at least)
Baylor College of Medicine - Houston
UTMB
University of Connecticut - Hartfort
St Francis Hospital - Evanston IL
MUSC
University of Illinois - Peoria
Texas Tech - El Paso
EVMS
University of Colorado
LSU - New Orleans
Baystate Hospital - Springfield, Ma
Maimonides Hospital, Brooklyn Ny
University of Kentucky - Lexington

 

[greg1184]

Go sign up on AuntMinnie and look at the threads where people have compiled their interview impressions at various programs. It is more heavily slanted towards top-tier programs though.

Thats an understatement. Aunt Minnie is annoying. The people there think the only radiology programs reside in the Northeast and California. Most of the residents I have encountered were really nice, happy, and seemingly humble. Yet on that website, they are all so arrogant. Must be a regional thing. I remember receiving unsolicited personal attacks by one of their posters.

 

[Kaputt]

Thats an understatement. Aunt Minnie is annoying. The people there think the only radiology programs reside in the Northeast and California. Most of the residents I have encountered were really nice, happy, and seemingly humble. Yet on that website, they are all so arrogant. Must be a regional thing. I remember receiving unsolicited personal attacks by one of their posters.

"Aunt Minnie is annoying" is also an understatement! During the application season, it can be down-right toxic in the Med Student board. If you don't match at Stanford, UCSD, UCSF, MGH, or Brigham you're essentially a piece of crap to them. And it was filled with seemingly armies of sock-puppet job-market ranters (the mods have stepped in lately and cleaned that aspect up, though).

That being said, there are several years worth of program reviews which go over the pros/cons of various programs. Anybody who applies next year should thumb through that thread just to check it out. It might get you to apply to an underrated program you may not have known about otherwise.

 

[greg1184]

"Aunt Minnie is annoying" is also an understatement! During the application season, it can be down-right toxic in the Med Student board. If you don't match at Stanford, UCSD, UCSF, MGH, or Brigham you're essentially a piece of crap to them. And it was filled with seemingly armies of sock-puppet job-market ranters (the mods have stepped in lately and cleaned that aspect up, though).

That being said, there are several years worth of program reviews which go over the pros/cons of various programs. Anybody who applies next year should thumb through that thread just to check it out. It might get you to apply to an underrated program you may not have known about otherwise.

Agreed. I once posted advice on a thread for someone with a low step 1 and applying to radiology. And a poster (Radiografix) decides to personally attack me saying there is "something wrong with me" for not matching despite getting 11 interviews. Unsolicited "advice." But yes, if you take certain threads with a grain of salt, there are years worth of program reviews to help out.

Just watch out for the threads attacking specific programs (eg WVU, CCF, Dartmouth).

 

[tco]

Just watch out for the threads attacking specific programs (eg WVU, CCF, Dartmouth).

This is a great point. My medical school and TY was/is at Wvu. I've spent a lot of time in the radiology department and I don't understand the struggle they've had with filling in the match. It seems like a good department with quality residents (especially the current PGY2 class). For anyone with low scores or from DO programs, I would absolutely check them out. I didn't stay because I hate Morgantown.


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[DrBowtie]

This is a great point. My medical school and TY was/is at Wvu. I've spent a lot of time in the radiology department and I don't understand the struggle they've had with filling in the match. It seems like a good department with quality residents (especially the current PGY2 class). For anyone with low scores or from DO programs, I would absolutely check them out. I didn't stay because I hate Morgantown.


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Looks like 1 of the 4 PGY2s is leaving per AM recruiting opening.

 

[tco]

Looks like 1 of the 4 PGY2s is leaving per AM recruiting opening.

Not sure who it would be. There was one guy who basically said he really missed clinical medicine, so if I had to guess, it would be him. They all seemed happy with the program.

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[greg1184]

This is a great point. My medical school and TY was/is at Wvu. I've spent a lot of time in the radiology department and I don't understand the struggle they've had with filling in the match. It seems like a good department with quality residents (especially the current PGY2 class). For anyone with low scores or from DO programs, I would absolutely check them out. I didn't stay because I hate Morgantown.


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Yeah. People have told me the same thing about the program I am about to start at. In my case its probably location though.

 

[Baller MD]

Agreed. I once posted advice on a thread for someone with a low step 1 and applying to radiology. And a poster (Radiografix) decides to personally attack me saying there is "something wrong with me" for not matching despite getting 11 interviews. Unsolicited "advice." But yes, if you take certain threads with a grain of salt, there are years worth of program reviews to help out.

Just watch out for the threads attacking specific programs (eg WVU, CCF, Dartmouth).

Can you talk more about this? Curious bc I'm not a superstar med student. Pretty average.

 

[tco]

Looks like 1 of the 4 PGY2s is leaving per AM recruiting opening.

It's the resident I thought it was. He loved clinical medicine. When I rotated with him, he talked about how much he missed seeing patients. No surprise that he's lateral transferring to medicine. I wanted to make sure it wasn't something to do with the program, so that I'm not providing the board with misinformation.

 

[greg1184]

Can you talk more about this? Curious bc I'm not a superstar med student. Pretty average.

In sum, my step 1 214 step 2 229. I was interested in radiology prior to getting my step 1 score. It was my first MS3 rotation. When I got my step 1 score I decided to do my rotations and see what happens. I was still interested in radiology so I applied Ultra-broadly. Got 11 interviews, thought they went well, did not match. Why? Who knows. Half my rank list was smaller rads programs. Others interviewed me late in the process probably off their waiting list. I am sure there are many factors. The PD of my home program, who is also my mentor, encouraged me to apply though the soap because my application as a whole was good. Got 5 calls from soap, 4 filled first round, got the last one. My advice would be do not be discouraged over one aspect of your application regarding applying to rads. It may be a much bumpier road (as in my case), but if you have patience and perseverance you will find a spot.

Ironically the program that I SOAPed into didn't interview me the first time. I am glad they had a second look at me.

 

[rule out normal]

In sum, my step 1 214 step 2 229. I was interested in radiology prior to getting my step 1 score. It was my first MS3 rotation. When I got my step 1 score I decided to do my rotations and see what happens. I was still interested in radiology so I applied Ultra-broadly. Got 11 interviews, thought they went well, did not match. Why? Who knows. Half my rank list was smaller rads programs. Others interviewed me late in the process probably off their waiting list. I am sure there are many factors. The PD of my home program, who is also my mentor, encouraged me to apply though the soap because my application as a whole was good. Got 5 calls from soap, 4 filled first round, got the last one. My advice would be do not be discouraged over one aspect of your application regarding applying to rads. It may be a much bumpier road (as in my case), but if you have patience and perseverance you will find a spot.

Ironically the program that I SOAPed into didn't interview me the first time. I am glad they had a second look at me.

My step 1 was 226, step 2 was 256 and I got almost 30 interviews. It also depends on where you apply, but the one thing I learned after going through the process is that after a certain point, scores matter much less than medical students think.

 

[DermViser]

Agreed. I once posted advice on a thread for someone with a low step 1 and applying to radiology. And a poster (Radiografix) decides to personally attack me saying there is "something wrong with me" for not matching despite getting 11 interviews. Unsolicited "advice." But yes, if you take certain threads with a grain of salt, there are years worth of program reviews to help out.

Just watch out for the threads attacking specific programs (eg WVU, CCF, Dartmouth).

Didn't Dartmouth have a Radiology resident lawsuit?