UVA vs. Yale

[sisyphus22]

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can someone just compare these two programs? i may end up choosing between these two for interviews.

 

[4424]

just from word of mouth, i've heard UVA's facilities are terrible. not that it means that much but that's what i've heard. it might have changed i don't know, it's just what 1 of the residents had told me. i've only heard good things about yale's program so far. if i had to choose, i'd choose yale.

 

[Olddog1]

can someone just compare these two programs? i may end up choosing between these two for interviews.

It's not just the program rep or research $. Think about would you be happier in New Haven or C-ville. College town vs big city. Where is your family? Where do you want to work? I also know the number of residents is different, ie larger vs smaller program. Take all this into account, not just Yale is better than UVA or UVA is better than Yale.

 

[sisyphus22]

Olddog, I agree with you completely that location, program size etc are things I should take into account - but in addition to that, I wanted to compare quality of programs...granted it is all subjective and largely based on hearsay, but it is hard as a student who's never been to these programs to get any sense of what they're really about. i don't want to go to a program simply because it's in a nice town and find out that it offers subpar training....

 

[eyehope]

Unless things have changed recently, I would pick Yale over UVA. When I interviewed there (UVA), the lack of full time faculty and old facilities stood out. Charlottesville is nice, but IMHO, not nice enough to overcome these deficiencies.

 

[Olddog1]

Olddog, I agree with you completely that location, program size etc are things I should take into account - but in addition to that, I wanted to compare quality of programs...granted it is all subjective and largely based on hearsay, but it is hard as a student who's never been to these programs to get any sense of what they're really about. i don't want to go to a program simply because it's in a nice town and find out that it offers subpar training....

I totally agree you don't want a program with poor training, and I doubt that would happen at either of those. However, if you love hiking the blue ridge mountains and don't like the climate in the NE don't go to New Haven. I'm not nocking Yale, my point is go somewhere where you will be happy. You will be somewhere for 3 years, and it can be a short, fun, 3 years or a long and painful 3 years. This is not neurosurg, you will have a life outside of residency, so the environment will be somewhat important to how happy you are during the residency.
One other note on UVA; 6 years ago they did a 3rd year rotation at the VAMC in Roanoke (Salem). I'm not sure if that is still true, but that is about a 2 hour drive and they did put the residents up in an apartment for the 4 month rotation (they usually went back to C-ville on weekends).

 

[kulkarka]

While we're on the subject, could anyone comment on Yale vs. Univ. Illinois-Chicago? I'm in the same boat with regards to interviewing at one or the other.

 

[stutims3]

UVA still sends 3rd year residents to the Salem VA