Univ of Chicago

[brainsalads]

Has any one interviewed here, go here, or know someone who's been there? I plan on ranking it number one, but I'd like to hear some opinions last minute.

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[pathdoubled]

Although I personally don't know much about this program, it is definitely a great one if you want to work as an academic pathologist in the future.

However, it seems you also have Hopkins and BIDMC, I would have a really difficult time to decide my rank list if I were you. After all, Hopkins has the biggest name for both private practice and academic career. Anyway, if I were you I would put Hopkins as my number 1, this won't even affect your chance of being accepted into Chicago if you don't match into Hopkins, if only Chicago put you on the top of their rank list.

 

[jackypath]

From what I here, trainees graduated from this program have gone to become successful academic pathologists, but there also have been many others who are in private practice.

 

[medsight]

Is anyone willing to share what their experience has been like with U Chicago in terms of post-interview contact? Whether via forum or PM, I would appreciate the chance to share stories.

 

[brainsalads]

I actually told them Im ranking them number 1 and I got an email back saying "thanks for the vote of confidence, but it is unlikely you will match here"
so I guess that solves my problem of trying to decide between chicago and the other programs. I guess Im not even close to being a top choice of theirs even though they said I'm a great fit for the program and an excellent applicant. I have three research projects under my belt, 250 and 248 on step 1 and 2, average GPA, and good letters.

 

[KeratinPearls]

I actually told them Im ranking them number 1 and I got an email back saying "thanks for the vote of confidence, but it is unlikely you will match here"
so I guess that solves my problem of trying to decide between chicago and the other programs. I guess Im not even close to being a top choice of theirs even though they said I'm a great fit for the program and an excellent applicant. I have three research projects under my belt, 250 and 248 on step 1 and 2, average GPA, and good letters.

Holy cow. I can't even believe that's what they said to you (if those were their exact words)...very rude.

 

[jackypath]

I actually told them Im ranking them number 1 and I got an email back saying "thanks for the vote of confidence, but it is unlikely you will match here"
so I guess that solves my problem of trying to decide between chicago and the other programs. I guess Im not even close to being a top choice of theirs even though they said I'm a great fit for the program and an excellent applicant. I have three research projects under my belt, 250 and 248 on step 1 and 2, average GPA, and good letters.

No PD in his/her sane mind would send such an email... what is your purpose of fabricating this?

 

[2121115]

I actually told them Im ranking them number 1 and I got an email back saying "thanks for the vote of confidence, but it is unlikely you will match here"

I highly doubt any PD sent an email saying that. They want you to rank them #1 so they can be sure that they don't fall below you on their rank list. So even if that were true they would never tell you.

 

[brainsalads]

Not making it up (why would I waste time "fabricating" on a pathology blog, geez). Im sure UChicago doesnt need everyone to rank them number one, they are a great program. I actually appreciate the feedback, though dissapointing. At least they werent blowing smoke up my ass. Gonna still rank em high though, so if an off chance I do match, Ill show up and be like "hey guys, you didn't want me, but im here!"

 

[2121115]

Gonna still rank em high though, so if an off chance I do match, Ill show up and be like "hey guys, you didn't want me, but im here!"

That sounds awkward, for both sides.😳

 

[brainsalads]

Ya. Yale sends emails like that out too. They tell you if you are in their high mid or low rank group. They tell you at the end of the interviews too that even if you rank them high and let them know it will make no difference on what position they rank you. They went down into the 30's last year apparently. The email I got from them said that while I was not a top choice, they liked me a lot and hope I consider them highly, so maybe I was a middle guy for them.

 

[GG1853]

You are having back luck - are you awkward to talk to or something?

I don't think UChicago is a big loss. I personally though the program was a disaster. It has a load of FMGs and the AMGs that are there seemed apathetic. I think Vinay Kumar is great but otherwise no dice for me. And, I think their director of anatomic pathology is weird. Like really weird.

 

[2121115]

And, I think their director of anatomic pathology is weird. Like really weird.

Honestly, this could describe any one of numerous pathology attendings.

 

[Doctor Zaius]

UChicago is an excellent program. The director of surg path is awkward but a great guy who loves to teach and is undisputably the best pathologist in chicago.

They attendings are all excellent and they don't use their residents as grossing fodder. Anybody would be lucky to end up there.

 

[GG1853]

UChicago is an excellent program. The director of surg path is awkward but a great guy who loves to teach and is undisputably the best pathologist in chicago.

They attendings are all excellent and they don't use their residents as grossing fodder. Anybody would be lucky to end up there.

Y'all should put on a better show then.

 

[brainsalads]

maybe they want someone into tons of research. i interviewed well but maybe they are just looking for a different type of person. maybe im too personable. also there were like no male residents. who knows!!!!! rank list now:

BIDMC
Hopkins
Emory
UChicago
MUSC
UAB
UNC
Northwestern
Yale

 

[pathdoubled]

Man, this is weird. But you are a strong candidate and will end up in a great program for sure.

I actually told them Im ranking them number 1 and I got an email back saying "thanks for the vote of confidence, but it is unlikely you will match here"
so I guess that solves my problem of trying to decide between chicago and the other programs. I guess Im not even close to being a top choice of theirs even though they said I'm a great fit for the program and an excellent applicant. I have three research projects under my belt, 250 and 248 on step 1 and 2, average GPA, and good letters.

 

[pathdoubled]

It is not nice to call a program a "disaster". Every program has Pros and Cons. From this forum, I have seen many posts about how great U of C program is, and I believe them.

You are having back luck - are you awkward to talk to or something?

I don't think UChicago is a big loss. I personally though the program was a disaster. It has a load of FMGs and the AMGs that are there seemed apathetic. I think Vinay Kumar is great but otherwise no dice for me. And, I think their director of anatomic pathology is weird. Like really weird.

 

[pathdoubled]

It looks some big name programs had hard time getting their best candidates. I can't believe that Yale had to go down to 30's last year, how did you know? How about other programs? I have heard that UPMC could fill in their spots with their top 10 candidates last year.

Ya. Yale sends emails like that out too. They tell you if you are in their high mid or low rank group. They tell you at the end of the interviews too that even if you rank them high and let them know it will make no difference on what position they rank you. They went down into the 30's last year apparently. The email I got from them said that while I was not a top choice, they liked me a lot and hope I consider them highly, so maybe I was a middle guy for them.

 

[brainsalads]

At the end of the interview, the PD sat everyone down and gave us the info about their match. He was kinda harsh, but str8 up with us, which is better than painting a pretty picture. I was surprised that they went so low on their list to match too, but New Haven looked kind of bleak and the residents looked pretty run down. They have a 1 day surg path schedule too. The senior residents seemed like they were glad to make it out alive than super entusiastic about the program. Happiest residents I've met: UChicago, BIDMC, MUSC, UAB, UNC in no specific order.

 

[jackypath]

It looks some big name programs had hard time getting their best candidates. I can't believe that Yale had to go down to 30's last year, how did you know? How about other programs? I have heard that UPMC could fill in their spots with their top 10 candidates last year.

All the "big" names compete for the same "top" candidate pool (no opinion as how this pool is). It is, therefore, understandable that Yale had to go down to 30's. Some of the top programs purposely rank some FMGs high; so the fact that they got FMGs doesn't mean they got to the "bottom."

 

[djmd]

Not making it up (why would I waste time "fabricating" on a pathology blog, geez). Im sure UChicago doesnt need everyone to rank them number one, they are a great program. I actually appreciate the feedback, though dissapointing. At least they werent blowing smoke up my ass. Gonna still rank em high though, so if an off chance I do match, Ill show up and be like "hey guys, you didn't want me, but im here!"

Don't ever do anything other than rank programs in order of where YOU want to go...

And don't worry too much about what the program direct says about how unlikely you are to match... They may have an idea how far down on their rank list they expect to go, and they may usually only go so far... but flukes happen... and program directors occasionally are wrong about these things...


There is a reason why programs tend to rank roughly x3 more people than they expect to need to... the same reason you should rank everywhere you are interested in going..

 

[pathdoubled]

I kinda like this type of PD.

At the end of the interview, the PD sat everyone down and gave us the info about their match. He was kinda harsh, but str8 up with us, which is better than painting a pretty picture. I was surprised that they went so low on their list to match too, but New Haven looked kind of bleak and the residents looked pretty run down. They have a 1 day surg path schedule too. The senior residents seemed like they were glad to make it out alive than super entusiastic about the program. Happiest residents I've met: UChicago, BIDMC, MUSC, UAB, UNC in no specific order.

 

[jackypath]

UChicago is an excellent program. The director of surg path is awkward but a great guy who loves to teach and is undisputably the best pathologist in chicago.

They attendings are all excellent and they don't use their residents as grossing fodder. Anybody would be lucky to end up there.

The surg path director is also well-known nationally. Plus, believe it or not, Montag and Hart are at the national top in diagnostic pathology, not to mention the heme path guys.

 

[skinknee]

U of C has a stellar faculty line-up. The attendings there are amazing. It's like totally stacked. An all-star team. They don't skut you out.

Biggest drawback I noticed was that if you are a guy it's a bit more of an uphill process to succeed. You need to work harder. Girls for some reason get a little more favoritism. I dunno why, just call it the ol' dirty bastard mentality. ...just keep that in mind--especially if you're a guy! Everything else there is stellar.

You'll notice the program is mostly women. The few guys are FMGs.

Another small drawback is that with senior faculty you may not get as much teaching. A plus about young junior faculty is that they are more enthusiastic about teaching. Senior faculty though are good for helping getting around the word when you're seeking employment. As these veterans have influence and numerous connections

 

[brainsalads]

I did notice the gender disparity while I was there. They were like "ooooh we need some men in the program." I saw a couple guys, def FMG's though.

 

[yaah]

It is not nice to call a program a "disaster". Every program has Pros and Cons. From this forum, I have seen many posts about how great U of C program is, and I believe them.

That's true, but if (if) they really sent that comment it's pretty pathetic and an unprofessional way of operating. I had a good interview day there a few years ago, liked the program a lot more than I thought I would. Surg path director was one of my favorite people that I met on my interview travels.

 

[brainsalads]

I was very impressed with a couple of the faculty as well. Volume is not that high though, around 30K. They are really looking for MD/Phd I think. Anyone wanting to go there would be expected to be a research machine. Northwestern was more clinical, nobody really asked me about research there. The hospital was amazing and in a great area, but I only met three faculty and none stood out to me. I feel prestige and opportunities would be less coming out of Northwestern than UChicago, anyone have any thoughts? Im not ranking either of them that high, but intersted in what people have to say about whether I should rank one over the other.

 

[jackypath]

I was very impressed with a couple of the faculty as well. Volume is not that high though, around 30K. They are really looking for MD/Phd I think. Anyone wanting to go there would be expected to be a research machine. Northwestern was more clinical, nobody really asked me about research there. The hospital was amazing and in a great area, but I only met three faculty and none stood out to me. I feel prestige and opportunities would be less coming out of Northwestern than UChicago, anyone have any thoughts? Im not ranking either of them that high, but intersted in what people have to say about whether I should rank one over the other.

You probably realize that having some kind of research record (presentations at USCAP) won't hurt when you apply for fellowships, particularly when good fellowships are so hard to get. In this regard, U of C seems to have a very high success rate in terms of getting abstracts accepted. Consider some extreme scenarios to make a point: (1) grossing and sign out 20 prostates (volume of specimen) and no time for research project; (2) doing 5 prostates and have sometime left for a project. Which option would you choose, (1), or (2)?