What exactly am I looking for?

[rachmoninov3]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So when I go on this whirl wind tour of residency interviews...what exactly am I looking for?
Other than going with an open mind, getting a "feel" for each program, and looking at each town, salary, training hours etc...what am I really looking for?

Is there really any difference in training you receive at one residency program over another?

 

[babel]

1) Location - could you see yourself living there? I know some grumpy people say it doesn't matter because you'll be working so hard you'll hardly see the light of day, but when I do have a day or a weekend off, I want to be able to do certain things (visit family, go to the beach, go hiking etc - whatever it might be for you).

2) Fellowship options - this one gets debated a lot. But, if you already have a strong interest in a certain area, check and see if you get sufficient exposure to that area through electives, etc. This will be most important for smaller, community programs - one of the advantages of the big academic places is that you pretty much know you're covered.

3) The people - do you get along with the other residents? What's the vibe of the group - social, not social, families, all single etc.?

4) Supportiveness of the PD - I consider this one to be very important, but can't say I know how to evaluate it. But from what I've seen, it can make a world of difference.

5) Call - In times past people have told me not to ask about this at interviews, but I think that given the overhaul most programs are going to have to make to comply with the new regulations, that it's fair game.

6) The little things - parking, meals, laundry service, call room etc. This isn't my top criteria, obviously, but could help decide between two otherwise similar programs. Where do you park? Do you have to pay for parking? Do they provide any meals (noon conference, on call etc)?

 

[peppy]

4) Supportiveness of the PD - I consider this one to be very important, but can't say I know how to evaluate it. But from what I've seen, it can make a world of difference.

A lot of times you can get a general impression from the residents. 🙂
At one place I interviewed at, the residents at the pre-interview dinner said things about their PD like "Our PD is a great teacher. I learned so much from the way that she really tore me into me at the case conference. I swear, the way she does it is so educational." (not those exact words but something to that effect). At another program I learned that word on the street about that program was that all the residents hated the PD and that the program was considered very malignant (even though it was regarded as a very prestigious place). It can be very valuable to get the input from residents about other programs' reputations (although you should take it with a grain of salt since they may be very biased in favor of their program).
For me, going to a place with a NICE program director was a huge thing. The PD can make your residency experience great or miserable depending on what kind of person they are.

 

[gutonc]

My take on this is that all programs are going to blow smoke up your butt about:
1. How well their grads do in fellowship/job placement/ITE/Boards. Take it with a grain of salt.
2. How "resident friendly" they are. Some are telling the truth, some are lying through their teeth.
3. What a supportive environment the hospital is and how good the ancillary services are. This may or may not be an issue for you but something to think about.
4. Salary/benefits. Places with lots of benefits and high salary are generally making up for something. Figure out what it is. If it's the fact that it's an FM program in the middle of South Dakota (down the road from your childhood home), then perhaps it's not a problem.

I think the most important thing, and something you really can't find out other than by visiting a place, is the vibe. How do you feel there? This is huge, because the vibe you get from a place may be very different than the one I get from the same program. It's also important because if you feel good about being at a particular program, it will make the inevitable misery of internship more bearable. Programs I got a good vibe from were toward the top of my list, programs that just didn't "feel right" were at the bottom.

 

[rachmoninov3]

My take on this is that all programs are going to blow smoke up your butt about:
1. How well their grads do in fellowship/job placement/ITE/Boards. Take it with a grain of salt.
2. How "resident friendly" they are. Some are telling the truth, some are lying through their teeth.
3. What a supportive environment the hospital is and how good the ancillary services are. This may or may not be an issue for you but something to think about.
4. Salary/benefits. Places with lots of benefits and high salary are generally making up for something. Figure out what it is. If it's the fact that it's an FM program in the middle of South Dakota (down the road from your childhood home), then perhaps it's not a problem.

I think the most important thing, and something you really can't find out other than by visiting a place, is the vibe. How do you feel there? This is huge, because the vibe you get from a place may be very different than the one I get from the same program. It's also important because if you feel good about being at a particular program, it will make the inevitable misery of internship more bearable. Programs I got a good vibe from were toward the top of my list, programs that just didn't "feel right" were at the bottom.

Thanks for the advice! I just find myself in a situation (pre-interview of course, first one is early November) where I have a great program that has everything I'm looking for in a town I consider "home" and at a hospital I've worked at for the past 7 years, that I've already sat down with the residents and the PD informally...and well everything looks really good. I've applied to similar programs across the west and while I'm going to do my best to keep an open mind, I just have a nagging feeling that I'm wasting $$$$$$ just for ranking programs 2, 3, 4, etc. I've got interviews at 7/10 places (I'm just barely smart enough to know that I have to rank more than one place...though it'd be fun to see the look on Dr. Sunshine, our dean of students face if I did!)

Furthermore, all this doubt is compounded by what you wrote about these programs blowing smoke! Why is everyone so nice?! Why are they "impressed" with some advocacy I did in medical school? Do they mean it or are they just smoozing? Anytime anyone is too nice, I automatically think they're hiding something.

"Life is pain! Anyone who says differently is selling something."---Wesley, the Princess Bride

 

[docbill]

Thanks for the advice! I just find myself in a situation (pre-interview of course, first one is early November) where I have a great program that has everything I'm looking for in a town I consider "home" and at a hospital I've worked at for the past 7 years, that I've already sat down with the residents and the PD informally...and well everything looks really good. I've applied to similar programs across the west and while I'm going to do my best to keep an open mind, I just have a nagging feeling that I'm wasting $$$$$$ just for ranking programs 2, 3, 4, etc. I've got interviews at 7/10 places (I'm just barely smart enough to know that I have to rank more than one place...though it'd be fun to see the look on Dr. Sunshine, our dean of students face if I did!)

Furthermore, all this doubt is compounded by what you wrote about these programs blowing smoke! Why is everyone so nice?! Why are they "impressed" with some advocacy I did in medical school? Do they mean it or are they just smoozing? Anytime anyone is too nice, I automatically think they're hiding something.

"Life is pain! Anyone who says differently is selling something."---Wesley, the Princess Bride

It is like dating. The person across from you will try to behave differently.. hide their negative traits. Once your married. Ohhhh boy. The truth comes out. Passing gas in bed etc..