what's up with McGaw program in Chicago

[jacobgscott]

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i was looking at the track applications tab in ERAS yesterday and it said that this program is no longer participating... what is the deal, does anyone know? did they have someone in the lab that they took 'outside' the match?

kinda a bummer for all of us who PAID to apply there...

any insight?

 

[ABCXRT]

Northwestern isn't taking anyone for PGY2-2009.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=450038&highlight=northwestern

 

[Cancerdancer]

talked to an someone with intimate knowledge of the NW program recently who said that they apparently prefer to take people outside the match. supposedly they tell some students to "keep in touch with the program (wink, wink)" as a spot or two may open up. there seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not they would actually have any spots this year.

yeah, kinda sucks to have paid to apply there. on the other hand, this source said that the residents aren't happy there, didactics were severely lacking, new pg-2's were left to figure out basics on their own the first few months, and they are overworked/scutted out in clinic with no time to read. "people come here b/c of the NW name, but we're all disappointed once we're here" was the sentiment of one of the residents. so doesn't seem as if we're missing out on much.

 

[Onlooker]

once you are in a program and learn even more about other programs, you'll see that there are positives and negatives to every program. While I can't deny that those things may be true about NW, that sounds like a lot of programs, the "learn by fire" technique, which seems to produce very competent community rad oncs. Whether the program prepares strong academic rad oncs I can't say. I'll focus on positives about NW, since sometimes this doesn't get said about some programs-- location (heart of downtown chicago), a strong surg onc and med onc dept which allowed NW to gain an NCCN designation, and NCCN guidelines seem to be the way we are headed, or at least will be correct answers on your orals and written. About the rad onc dept itself, they have all the technology you would need, and Dr. Small, a well-respected GYN/GI specialist who plays a big role in NCCN and RTOG, is one of the main attendings. However, the faulty application process and lack of notice to applicants doesn't seem to be new with NW.

 

[iwmirott]

Northwestern had never planned on taking any residents in this years match. They are on a 2-2-3-0 schedule and last year they took three. ERAS had incorrectly stated they were taking applicants.

Having spent a substantial amount of time in the department (as a student on elective and clinical research) I would have to disagree with the prior post. All the residents I know at Northwestern couldn't be happier. Granted the first years were expected to catch up to speed quickly, but the attendings were there, as well as fellow residents to help out with questions. The clinical and radiobiology didactics/lectures are excellent, if anything can be said poor about the didactics it would be the physics based lectures, which continue to improve with resident input.

I would say that Northwestern is a very strong program. With excellent clinical and research opportunities for residents. The residents graduating are going on to do pretty much want ever they want.

 

[deleted4401]

I was surprised to see the negative review.

Everything I heard about prior to and saw on the interview day was first class for a clinically-oriented program. I would have loved to have matched there. I think I did end up ranking it first my second time around. The location is best in class. Maybe they'll hire me one day 🙂

-S