Hi. I'm a first-year resident in the Northeast who ranked Houston #2 last year but got my #1 choice up here.
In a word, UT-Houston freakin' rules. It's one of the best-kept secrets around. They only interview about 60 people a year, so if you got as far as that, you're in good shape.
The facilities are incredible, the faculty ultranice, and the training on par with the rest of the country.
People are scared off because of the accreditation problems of the late 90s (that is SO yesterday's news) and a visceral fear of living in Texas.
I can't speak for the rest of Texas, but living in Houston is wonderful. It's the fourth-largest city after NY, LA, and Chicago, and it boasts everything you'd want from a big city: art, music, EXCELLENT restaurants, ethnic diversity, choice apartments (but not at big-city prices) and a major international airport.
There's no good reason not to rank Houston highly unless you have a disdain for warm weather (which some people do).
There may be valid criticism of the program out there, but I don't know any. Please post if you do.
Good luck,
anonymous EM resident in NE
