University of Chicago

[Today]

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To those who have interviewed at U of C: When and where did you meet on the interview day? My letter never came and the confirmation email only tells me where to stay and how to get to campus.

 

[Rosenthal]

To those who have interviewed at U of C: When and where did you meet on the interview day? My letter never came and the confirmation email only tells me where to stay and how to get to campus.

I am going next week. The program coordinator sent out a nice information packet through regular mail. You should contact her if you haven't received your package a few days before your interview. Otherwise, send me a message and I can send these information to you.

 

[dockart]

Hi Rosenthal,

I am interviewing there next week as well. I have not received any package in the regular mail as yet. I was wondering if i should email the PC. Do you have any idea how many people are being interviewed there? There does not seem to be much discussion on here about the program or interview.

 

[raspberry009]

That information is posted on the FREIDA website. Last year there was 24 interviews conducted for 6 spots. Its a good resource you should check it out.

 

[Rosenthal]

Hi Rosenthal,

I am interviewing there next week as well. I have not received any package in the regular mail as yet. I was wondering if i should email the PC. Do you have any idea how many people are being interviewed there? There does not seem to be much discussion on here about the program or interview.

My fault. I am actually going this week, and just received the package last Fiday. The program director is actually very nice and called before sending out the package to make sure that I am not traveling. I believe your package will arrive before your interview date, but if you are concerned, you should definitely contact her. I guess you may also check your phone message to see if you have missed calls.

 

[dockart]

Good luck with the IV rosenthal!! I got the package yesterday. Seems like the IV is going to be intense with 6 interviewers. The most i have had so far are 4 interviewers!!

 

[Rosenthal]

Good luck with the IV rosenthal!! I got the package yesterday. Seems like the IV is going to be intense with 6 interviewers. The most i have had so far are 4 interviewers!!

The IVs are not as intense as you may think. People there are all very friendly and are seasoned interviewers. They have personalities and are fun to talk to, so time passes quickly. They only interview 1 or 2 people a day, and all facuty members have read your files well and are prepared. - If that is any help. Good luck with your upcoming interview.

 

[dockart]

Thanks for the advice. How did your IV go? All of my interviewers have their labs (as expected) and I am trying to read up on their areas..a lot of immunology which is not my most favorite subject.
What was your overall impression of the place? I am going there on Monday. I will let you know how it went.

 

[yaah]

6 interviews isn't that many. 4 is unusually low, I would say. They have about 6-7 here. The most I had was I think 8 or 9, can't remember where.

 

[Rosenthal]

Thanks for the advice. How did your IV go? All of my interviewers have their labs (as expected) and I am trying to read up on their areas..a lot of immunology which is not my most favorite subject.
What was your overall impression of the place? I am going there on Monday. I will let you know how it went.

I believe my interview overall went well, and I really liked their program. Faculty members are top-notch and quite laid back. If you are interested in research, you may hook up with any faculty within the University, not necessarilyone in the department. Research within the department is quite strong too. Facilities are among the best that I've visited. I didn't get to meet many of the resident, but the few I met were happy to be there. The university is not located in the best area of the town, but I guess you already knew that. I think you will like it too, and would like to hear your opinions when you come back.

 

[Rosenthal]

What? Does the north side have Ribs & Bibs, Harold's Chicken Shack and the Checkboard Lounge?

I must have missed out! No one told me about those when I was in Chicago. So what else do you know that I don't? 🙄

 

[sleeping beauty]

last year, 11 faculty interviewed me in a Texas program and 9 in a DC program.

 

[raspberry009]

last year, 11 faculty interviewed me in a Texas program and 9 in a DC program.

i'm sorry, you kinda lost me on your post.

 

[yaah]

I arrived late at this interview too (common theme). But this time it was because the program coordinator told me to meet her in the lobby of the hospital at a certain time and if she didn't show up to call her at a certain number. So I arrived early, no one there. I called, no answer. When it got to be my interview time I asked the security guard to tell me where to go, she didn't really know but she gave me a map and we figured it out together. Then I arrived at Kumar's office I think 5-10 minutes late, at which time his secretary told me that the woman who was supposed to meet me broke her arm a couple of weeks ago and wasn't here. I decided NOT to ask why no one else thought about me or why they didn't realize how every other candidate was probably arriving late because of that.

 

[Rosenthal]

I arrived late at this interview too (common theme). But this time it was because the program coordinator told me to meet her in the lobby of the hospital at a certain time and if she didn't show up to call her at a certain number. So I arrived early, no one there. I called, no answer. When it got to be my interview time I asked the security guard to tell me where to go, she didn't really know but she gave me a map and we figured it out together. Then I arrived at Kumar's office I think 5-10 minutes late, at which time his secretary told me that the woman who was supposed to meet me broke her arm a couple of weeks ago and wasn't here. I decided NOT to ask why no one else thought about me or why they didn't realize how every other candidate was probably arriving late because of that.

Maybe the others had all figured a way to stay on time so no one noticed something's wrong for two weeks? After reading both of your stories, I am starting to suspect that it was actually your "being late" Karma that's causing all these things to happen. 😀

 

[yaah]

Maybe the others had all figured a way to stay on time so no one noticed something's wrong for two weeks? After reading both of your stories, I am starting to suspect that it was actually your "being late" Karma that's causing all these things to happen. 😀

No, she had been back into work apparently, because I had emailed her a few days before the interview about something and she got back to me. So she hadn't really been out for two weeks. I think the kicker was she had told someone else I was coming but forgot to give me their phone #. C'est la vie.

 

[Sean2tall]

i'm sorry, you kinda lost me on your post.

In reference to average number of interviewers at each program, above, Dockart said that 6 was a lot to interview with and yaah replied that it is pretty common.

I have had around 3-6 for the most part, but max was 10 or 11 at one program, each 15 minutes.

 

[dockart]

Wow..i could barely do 7..each for 30 mins..out of which i end up speaking for 15 min. 11 would be crazy..you would be going in and out of rooms and it would all be a blur!! As it is, all of these places have crazy hallways and elevators and basements!!

 

[Sean2tall]

Wow..i could barely do 7..each for 30 mins..out of which i end up speaking for 15 min. 11 would be crazy..you would be going in and out of rooms and it would all be a blur!! As it is, all of these places have crazy hallways and elevators and basements!!

It was actually not too hard from my perspective, since there was barely time to sit down, say, "Hey, how's it going?", hear a couple of things about the program, and then, "Oops, well I'd better get you down to your next one." Perhaps they're just trying to make sure your fairly cool and everybody could get along with you. Although this was my home program, so I did know the faculty already. But other than that, I think all have been 6 or less.

 

[dockart]

Hey Rosenthal,

I share the same feelings about UofC. The program is pretty flexible and reisdent-friendly. Research is obviously encouraged and welcomed if the resident can make time for it. Seriously, though Hyde Park leaves a lot to be desired. A UoC undergrad was shot and killed just 2 weeks before and the residents were mentioning it casually!!

 

[Rosenthal]

Hey Rosenthal,

I share the same feelings about UofC. The program is pretty flexible and reisdent-friendly. Research is obviously encouraged and welcomed if the resident can make time for it. Seriously, though Hyde Park leaves a lot to be desired. A UoC undergrad was shot and killed just 2 weeks before and the residents were mentioning it casually!!

Thanks for your thought dockart. The killed student was a graduate student from Africa and lived in the neighborhood. He's due to graduate this month. They say it looked like a random act, as the last time someone was murdered near campus was around 1977. There's increased police patrol near campus because of this. I don't think the gunman is caught yet. The immediate surrounding of the University really isn't that bad. I saw many students walk around and it felt nice. I heard the area south of Hyde park needs some improvement.

 

[dockart]

Yeah, they mentioned that he was from Algeria (i think..could be off here). The immediate blocks around the University are ok..but west of cottage grove it gets shady. If living outside Hyde Park, the Univ shuttles are the safest bet. Another thing i did not notice is the lack of cafe's, coffee shops and the such around the place. Maybe i did not walk extensively, but i spent a few hours the day before my interview walking around and did not see much

 

[Today]

Very sad about the student killed. He was on campus walking from one of the student co-op houses to his dorm. They think it was a botched robbery. 1 professor was robbed at gunpoint last month outside of his lab and 2 staff members were robbed leaving the hospital last month as well. I have a friend who works in peds and her car was broken into in October and one of the medicine residents had her car jacked from a "secure" parking lot even though she had one of those Clubs on it. Unfortunately, the residents said taking the L isn't safe and no one takes it. It is a little ridiculous.

 

[dockart]

So Today and Rosenthal,

What did you think of the interview? Anything that stood out particularly? My overall impression of the program was very positive, although I did not meet that many residents

 

[gbwillner]

Very sad about the student killed. He was on campus walking from one of the student co-op houses to his dorm. They think it was a botched robbery. 1 professor was robbed at gunpoint last month outside of his lab and 2 staff members were robbed leaving the hospital last month as well. I have a friend who works in peds and her car was broken into in October and one of the medicine residents had her car jacked from a "secure" parking lot even though she had one of those Clubs on it. Unfortunately, the residents said taking the L isn't safe and no one takes it. It is a little ridiculous.

😱😱😱😱😱😱

Holy crap... Sounds like Baltimore. Glad I didn't apply.

On the interview schedule side... I probably averaged 9-10 per visit. I seemed to always have more than other applicants... probably because I would always ask to speak to people with similar interests.

Max was 12... from the "infamous" Texas program others here have mentioned... The least was 4 from one of the many New Haven programs... it really wasn't enough.

 

[cozmopak]

Would anyone familiar with the pathology program at the University of Chicago be willing to post their impressions. I gather that this is a strong program, especially on the AP side. The faculty are very impressive. I don't have a sense of a resident's schedule from reading the website, though. Are they on a 3-day grossing schedule, getting enough time to preview, signing out with faculty? How is CP? Thanks!

 

[NoMystery]

I heard they have a very flexible sign-out schedule and that residents are given plenty of time to preview cases.