Vanderbilt vs Wash U

[TBforme]

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What do you guys think of these program in terms of reputation, quality of training, fellowship matching?

I liked Vanderbilt better on interview day, PD is great, residents seemed down to earth normal people, clinical training seems excellent, awesome computer system, decent patient diversity for a university hospital and a VA on campus, lots of productive research in department.

Wash U was also a nice program, PD seems nice, residents friendly (although I had lunch with a strange one), nice research opportunities, good pt mix. Barnes seems overwhelmingly large, continuity clinic seems weak (not enough room, shipping people to other clinics?) and not sure if I liked the night float system.

Wash U seems the "better" program in terms of repuation from what I can gather, but I don't know if this is true or meaningful.

 

[lakerfan]

I agree completely with your assesment. My interview day at Vandy was better than at Wash U, but I can't seem to figure out how much better Wash U's reputation is. Looking at fellowship matching, they're pretty comparable, with a slight edge to Wash U (if there's any edge at all).

If anyone else has any thoughts, I'd love to hear them. The OP makes some good points and I had a very similar experience.

LF

 

[cwy]

Wash U is not "shipping people to other clinics" because of a lack of room in its own clinic. The community clinic experience was established in 2004-2005 as a response to some residents' request for a primary care experience outside of an academic hospital setting. In fact, in the past, each categorical class had 50 residents, and EVERYONE had his/her continuity clinic at the Wohl clinic (resident's clinic). In the last 2 years, the categorical classes have been downsized to 42 residents per class. If there were enough room for more residents in the past, there are certainly more than enough room now for everyone from smaller classes. In fact, there are almost always unused rooms during each clinic session (mostly in the middle hallway). Residents who do their continuity clinic at community clinics choose to do so for different reasons. Many of them are interested in primary care, primary care-related subspeciaties, or private practice. After the match and before the start of internship, each intern gets to state his/her preference for continuity clinic experience, with almost everyone's request being accomodated. I feel that the establishment of this program is a nice gesture of responsiveness to residents' input, and it certainly adds a different dimension to the clinical experience at the Wash U program. It is unfortunate that it ends up being conceived as a "negative" of the program.

 

[BUW]

Looking at fellowship matching, they're pretty comparable, with a slight edge to Wash U (if there's any edge at all).

LF

2006 GI match
Vandy - 5/10 [Vandy x 3, Allegheny, Penn (scrambled spot)]
Wash U - 8/9 [Yale, Brigham, U of Chicago, Wash U x 2, Pittsburgh x 2, UAB]

🙄

 

[Dr NiviVan]

Well, actually, Vandy matched 6/10 in GI; but 100% in cardiology. Wash U didn't match 2 people in cardiology. So, Vandy IS quite comparable, if not more modern, better computer system, great PD, and nice surroundings!

 

[BUW]

Umm... I personally wouldn't call matching 11 out of 13 (85% match rate) to be comparable to 5 out of 10 (1 of the 6 you mentioned actually went unmatched and then scrambled into a spot). It is very common for top programs (including the likes of BWH, MGH, UCSF, etc.) to have 1 or 2 go unmatched in competitive fellowships when a large group is applying. However, having half of the applicants unmatched seems to be a little on the high side....

Also, fellowship placement is not only about the numbers matched. It is also about where people are going. For example (just a hypothetical situation), most people wouldn't consider a small community program that matches 2 out of 2 into their own community program to be the same as an academic program that matches 8 of their 10 applicants, who go on to competitive academic programs.

 

[Dr NiviVan]

Well, you mention locations of cards match -- people at Vanderbilt did in fact match at many top tier programs including Cleveland Clinic (pretty good place to train, if I remember correctly); Historically, Vanderbilt Cards does very well in fellowship matching; I think that last year was an off year for GI -- and it has never happened in the past before.😛

 

[TBforme]

thanks for the posts guys. i am still having trouble deciding. does anyone else feel strongly about either institution?

 

[BlueJayBill]

on reputation alone, i would say wash u without hesitating; i have no affiliation to either. of course, a lot of other factors go into your decision like location, feel, etc.

wish you the best in your decision,
bill

 

[bigtuna]

Interviewed at both for residency and fellowship. Overall they are similar programs. You can get the same type of fellowships out of both programs but it is probably a little easier to get a bigger name fellowship out of wash u because of slightly better national reputation and more opportunity for research as a resident.

I would give the edge in cities to nashville but I guess that is personal preference.

The clinical training is much stronger at Wash U. I think this is primarily because the average resident at Wash U is stronger. In programs this size there will always be a couple of duds as well. I have been told this by current faculty at Vandy that did residency at wash u and current fellows at vandy as well.

 

[Renovar]

My take on this is go wherever YOU feel you think you'll have the best chance of getting what you want - be it a pleasant residency experience, best learning/fosting environment, "reputation", or obtaining the best fellowship spots. There is no one "ranking" or "list" that's more important than your own impressions. It is a shame that we have to take a stab at the largely unknown with so little time to get to know.

I am a PGY3 at Vandy, and have quite a few classmates/friends who are at/went through the Wash U system over the years, and my feeling is that between these two institutions, every bit of education/experience/fellowship placement are pretty much the same. You'll have year to year differences in match stats, rankings, etc, but those are not that important in the grand scheme of things. The truth is that both are top medicine programs, and choosing between them are all about how you think you fit in the program, how you like the city, and most importantly, how happy your think you are going to be there - trust me, by the time Feburary hits during your intern year, you'll know what I mean.

 

[docrock]

I am in a similar situation trying to decide between Wash U and Vanderbilt. The only differences I really saw were the sizes of the programs (Wash U being almost 2X the size of Vanderbilt) and the admissions/call schedule. In the end, I don't think I can go wrong if I match at either program. They are both very strong programs with great residents!

 

[hookaman]

Remember St. Louis is the most dangerous city in the country!!!

 

[GooglieGoo]

Remember St. Louis is the most dangerous city in the country!!!

And that doesn't even include East St. Louis...or does it?

 

[hookaman]

I don't believe it includes E. St Louis

I know people whose cars have been stolen multiple times in a 2-3 mile radius of Wash U. They've gotten it back each time, but it still sucks.

 

[GreenBean79]

My understanding is that the "dangerous" part of St. Louis which gives it the high crime statistics is primarily north St. Louis, an area which you will never have to see if you don't want to. Fortunately, the Central West End (neighborhood surrounding the hospital) is nice -- cool old mansions & buildings, restaurants, shops, bars, etc. (Compared to some other cities where the hospital is in the dangerous part of the city). Car break-ins and thefts do happen in the area, but I only know of one of my classmates who had a car stolen during med school, and that was out by the VA (it was returned). As a resident, you get free parking in the garage near Barnes and it's easy to get apartments/condos with indoor parking if you wish. I've parked my car on the street (I live ~1 mile north of Barnes) for 4 years and have never had a problem. I either walk or take public transportation to school every day and haven't felt unsafe.

Anyway, all I'm saying is that I wouldn't let this hype about "most dangerous city" be a big deciding factor.

 

[Paladin]

I've lived in St. Louis for four years now. Came from a larger Midwestern city. I've been very pleased and satisfied with my time here. The city has so much to offer that you won't see unless you visit. Forest Park,t he Art Institute, music in the summer by the Arch, outdoor musicals in the Muny, the Symphony, etc. etc.

I live in the CWE as do many/most of the residents. It's a pretty safe area. The crime stats were kind of misleading as someone already explained. North St. Louis is very different from the CWE and the hospital area.

Visited Vandy as well--very friendly people. Can't say enough about that. For me, though, just wasn't my flavor.

I love Wash U--great clinical facilities, strengths in so many areas, supportive and friendly mentors, huge hospital.

Just go where you feel you clicked with the program.