Which would you rather go to?

[VandyMD10]

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Vanderbilt is really for excellent students who either got full scholarships to Vandy or didn't get into the top school of their choice.

(a) You would be amazed how many people at Vandy chose to be here over a "top" school - we compete for the best students and while we lose our fair share to the harvards and hopkins, we win a lot of those battles too (and no, not just through financial aid padding). If you tried to call the vandy admissions office and leverage your hopkins acceptance into a full ride, you'd most likely get a "congratulations, hope you enjoy baltimore" reply.

(b) Vandy isn't Harvard. No one would rationally argue that. But it is an excellent school that many people would jump for joy to have a shot at. It is also a school that has a much better reputation within the academic medical community than outside of it. I've experienced that firsthand this year as a residency applicant - being actively recruited by top programs who tell me (and my classmates) how much they love getting Vandy grads.

(c) you accuse butimletired of overreacting and being hypersensitive - well you just called her (and my) school a redneck-palooza that is the refuge of castaways from the ivy league. Big surprise that you get a negative reaction. She (and I) have been through the exact process you're going through now and all the steps that come afterwards. I don't know about butimletired, but for me at least you also called my school decision irrational and implied that I am an idiot for choosing Vanderbilt. For a premed who seems excessively hung up on prestige to come around and bash our school and our choices is insulting.

 

[ApoK]

Sorry to harp on this point since it seems like we agree on the dicey-ness of match lists, but I think they actually included Children's/WashU/Barnes in the 33/117 statistic (as indicated at http://medschool.wustl.edu/admissions/ResidencyAppointmtsTable2008Final.doc, the other link also mentions that their 32 count has *Duplicate entries for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Washington University)

Huh, interesting. Good point. Still, which match list did you personally find more impressive (not that it matters )?

 

[TraderDoc]

- Spending the summer in San Francisco, I'd have to say that the only other cities that I've been to that had was comparable in terms of culture, music, nightlife, activities is Boston and Seattle.

- Harvard is an amazing world class program with Fenway park a mere 5 minutes away. Boston is expensive but with all that is available for you to do outside of class,studying, and work theres not many places like it.

- UCSF is not that far behind Harvard in terms of research and I'd argue that if you included Gladstone with UCSF, it would equal Harvard in biomedical research. San Francisco is such a charming city and one of the few places I can see myself residing in for the rest of my life. Always a concert to go to or an art festival to attend, its no reason why SF is one of the most popular cities in the US.

For me location is a huge factor and if I could choose one place, I'd have to choose UCSF (by a hair) as the city and program really reflects the kind of atmosphere I really want to be in. Fun, energetic, and with no undergrad program you can always stay focus because you'll only see people who are as determined and ambitious as you.

 

[ApoK]

(a) You would be amazed how many people at Vandy chose to be here over a "top" school - we compete for the best students and while we lose our fair share to the harvards and hopkins, we win a lot of those battles too (and no, not just through financial aid padding). If you tried to call the vandy admissions office and leverage your hopkins acceptance into a full ride, you'd most likely get a "congratulations, hope you enjoy baltimore" reply.

(b) Vandy isn't Harvard. No one would rationally argue that. But it is an excellent school that many people would jump for joy to have a shot at. It is also a school that has a much better reputation within the academic medical community than outside of it. I've experienced that firsthand this year as a residency applicant - being actively recruited by top programs who tell me (and my classmates) how much they love getting Vandy grads.

(c) you accuse butimletired of overreacting and being hypersensitive - well you just called her (and my) school a redneck-palooza that is the refuge of castaways from the ivy league. Big surprise that you get a negative reaction. She (and I) have been through the exact process you're going through now and all the steps that come afterwards. For a premed who seems excessively hung up on prestige to come around and bash our school is insulting.

(a) Ha, funny jibe at Bmore. Fair enough. That's surprising that you believe Vandy doesn't try to entice students away from top schools with money. At least Michigan is open about the practice. Also, I forgot to consider that some really top students might also choose to stay close to home even if it's more expensive.

(b) Agreed completely.

(c) I did not. I made a general comment about Nashville and the south lol. I never said Vandy isn't prestigious! Vandy is very, very prestigious. I'm just arguing it's not the same level as Harvard/Hopkins (your point b), which is what she seems to be getting hung up on.

And, FWIW, I'm not excessively hung up on prestige but I acknowledge it has some value. I'll be attending a top 10 school, but I'll be choosing the school that will be most affordable. It's about value.

 

[JasonE]

im not a vandy student so no potential bias here, but after going to many of the top schools, i was most impressed by vandy. if money was equal everywhere, id choose vandy. but thats me

and you need to be careful on what is considered prestigious and whats not. if you want to impress your 80 year old grandmother, then yes harvard wins. but many residency directors hold certain medical schools that are not harvard/hopkins in just as high regard. i know this because i know ppl who have gone thru matching.

 

[VandyMD10]

(c) I did not. I made a general comment about Nashville and the south lol. I never said Vandy isn't prestigious! Vandy is very, very prestigious.

🙄

Vanderbilt is really for excellent students who either got full scholarships to Vandy or didn't get into the top school of their choice.

If by some chance someone was actually stupid enough to turn down those schools even though they were the same price, then we know exactly why they're at Vandy. They're not that bright.

I can't say I understand why people make irrational decisions.

 

[ApoK]

🙄

Hey, I said what I said. I don't think calling it irrational to choose Vandy over a Harvard/Hopkins (the other schools on the list) means I'm trashing the hell out of your school. All those schools listed in the poll are unbelievable and most people would be incredibly grateful to have shot at ANY of them. I'm making distinctions within a group that is already remarkably exclusive and prestigious. That makes my posts fairly consistent. I doubt you would argue that the majority of your class turned down a top school to be there. It's the small minority of your class that do (maybe 4 or 5 out of 105? based off butimlet's posts).

Also, sorry to those who love the south and find fault with my stereotyping it. Maybe one day I'll see the light.

 

[bookfreak89]

Also, sorry to those who love the south and find fault with my stereotyping it. Maybe one day I'll see the light.

All is fair when they stereotype as well.

Oh and btw, have you ever ventured a mile out of the borders of a lot of cities in the US? Cause it might not be southern hickish land, but I'll take the kindly rural people of TN over people who live in some of the towns outside of NYC, Boston, Philly, etc. Ever heard of the Jersey Shore? Yeah...

 

[ButImLETired]

All is fair when they stereotype as well.

"They"? I've lived in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and now Nashville. I've also lived in 2 other countries. I'm not stereotyping. I'm telling you a fact. I don't disagree that the area around here is rural, it's a fact. It's also a fact that if you go outside some of the other major cities in the US you're sort of in the middle of nowhere. A different kind of middle of nowhere, definitely, but still middle of nowhere.

 

[bookfreak89]

"They"? I've lived in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and now Nashville. I've also lived in 2 other countries. I'm not stereotyping. I'm telling you a fact. I don't disagree that the area around here is rural, it's a fact. It's also a fact that if you go outside some of the other major cities in the US you're sort of in the middle of nowhere. A different kind of middle of nowhere, definitely, but still middle of nowhere.

Fair enough.

 

[ApoK]

"They"? I've lived in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and now Nashville. I've also lived in 2 other countries. I'm not stereotyping. I'm telling you a fact. I don't disagree that the area around here is rural, it's a fact. It's also a fact that if you go outside some of the other major cities in the US you're sort of in the middle of nowhere. A different kind of middle of nowhere, definitely, but still middle of nowhere.

If everything you're saying based off of personal experience is fact, then why isn't what I'm saying also "fact" to you? You don't require empirical data to support your claims but you demand it from others? lol, data? You are most definitely making stereotypes based off your own personal experiences, unless you have some data (it's always about the data with science people).

Btw, most US cities have SUBURBS for miles and miles outside of the city, and I can assure that it's not the middle of nowhere. For example, Chicago and LA suburbs are massive with great transportation into the city, and they aren't populated by hicks either (for the most part).

 

[bigman225]

ApoK obviously Vanderbilt is not the school for you. Personally I loved it. Even money, I would choose Vanderbilt over several of the schools on the aforementioned list (and I hold acceptances/have interviewed at several). Obviously it is not as prestigious to the layman as Harvard or Johns Hopkins. Who cares? To me, basing the course your life on the pursuit of prestige is the definition of "irrational decision making." That kind of stuff is not what makes human beings happy. This thread is not about prestige. Btw I loved Penn too.

 

[ButImLETired]

If everything you're saying based off of personal experience is fact, then why isn't what I'm saying also "fact" to you? You don't require empirical data to support your claims but you demand it from others? lol, data? You are most definitely making stereotypes based off your own personal experiences, unless you have some data (it's always about the data with science people).

Btw, most US cities have SUBURBS for miles and miles outside of the city, and I can assure that it's not the middle of nowhere. For example, Chicago and LA suburbs are massive with great transportation into the city, and they aren't populated by hicks either (for the most part).

Wow kid, you're really a charmer. Thank God for our admission committee.

1) Want data? here: maps.google.com
Knock yourself out.

2) Do you understand what the word stereotype means? Hint: calling someone a "hick" because he lives in the South is a stereotype. Saying there are middle-of-nowhere towns everywhere in the country, not just the South, is not a stereotype. Good luck with your future Southern colleagues by the way, I hear they love it when people assume they're uneducated and racist.

3) We "science people", huh? Man, I love it when people assume stuff about me. I'm fluent in 4 languages, and majored in literature and minored in music. I guess I'm a science person because I go to med school?

Anyways, if anyone has any questions/concerns you can PM me anytime. I have to go study for a test. Good luck to everyone, and choose the place that's best for you!

 

[JJMrK]

Btw, most US cities have SUBURBS for miles and miles outside of the city, and I can assure that it's not the middle of nowhere. For example, Chicago and LA suburbs are massive with great transportation into the city, and they aren't populated by hicks either (for the most part).

Sorry. After driving around in the traffic you're talking about recently, I just have to laugh.

 

[ApoK]

Wow kid, you're really a charmer. Thank God for our admission committee.

1) Want data? here: maps.google.com
Knock yourself out.

2) Do you understand what the word stereotype means? Hint: calling someone a "hick" because he lives in the South is a stereotype. Saying there are middle-of-nowhere towns everywhere in the country, not just the South, is not a stereotype. Good luck with your future Southern colleagues by the way, I hear they love it when people assume they're uneducated and racist.

3) We "science people", huh? Man, I love it when people assume stuff about me. I'm fluent in 4 languages, and majored in literature and minored in music. I guess I'm a science person because I go to med school?

Anyways, if anyone has any questions/concerns you can PM me anytime. I have to go study for a test. Good luck to everyone, and choose the place that's best for you!

I love how this thread has become completely about Vandy and the south... blah blah. I also find it hilarious that one of us is taking this dialogue to heart and arguing passionately, whereas one of us is finding the whole discourse rather hilarious and intentionally exacerbating things.

I'll say one last thing about Vandy students: they're passionate about their school and that's a good thing. Let's move onto something else, puh-lease.

 

[Moogle Man]

Apok vs. Vandy. This is the showdown I've been waiting for.

 

[thamsenman]

Vanderbilt is an amazing school. BLeT, I would sold my left arm to get an interview there. I'm very jealous 🙂

Duke was nice when I interviewed, sure Durham isn't San Francisco but it has its own charm to it if you're open to learn. We musn't judge because these schools are all different and have a unique flavor and all of them (really all medical schools) have amazing fantastic students.

 

[harvman11]

I love how this thread has become completely about Vandy and the south... blah blah. I also find it hilarious that one of us is taking this dialogue to heart and arguing passionately, whereas one of us is finding the whole discourse rather hilarious and intentionally exacerbating things.

I'll say one last thing about Vandy students: they're passionate about their school and that's a good thing. Let's move onto something else, puh-lease.

http://www.cracked.com/funny-3809-internet-argument-techniques/

Look at #2... just saying.

Didn't apply to Vandy, so not much I can say about that in particular, but I live in what most would call "the south" (NC) now, and it's really not that different from living in a similar-sized town anywhere else, except maybe nicer weather.

I will be going to a school you just blasted (Michigan) and turned down Wash U and an opportunity to interview at Duke to go there. I admit that when making my decision I was somewhat concerned with prestige, but when you look at rankings from residency directors, Michigan is top 5, and I'm sure Vandy is right up there as well. I personally don't think it's important if Joe Shmoe knows that Michigan is great, I care that my employer knows, and I think that's the case for both Michigan and Vandy.

For fairness, my love of Michigan is partly based on research interests, but that really just makes me think it's more about choosing what school is best for you, not just "pick Harvard/Hopkins over anything".

 

[JohnnyExtra]

Don't worry ApoK, I know someone who has your back 😀:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-9-2010/intro---vanderbilt-admissions

 

[mdeast]

I'd agree that UCSF is an amazing medical school, but Stanford has more of an international reputation. If you're a West Coast pre-med, you will get dreamy-eyed at the thought of UCSF, but if you venture into the East Coast, UCSF is only really known by those in academia while even laypeople will have heard of Stanford.

As a medical school Stanford >>> UCSF from a purely academic standpoint. They just have infinite resources and benefit greatly from the fact that Stanford is a multidisciplinary university with a Top 10 law school and business school, as well as top programs in Biology and Engineering. Stanford Med is an intense, small (85 students) and entirely unique experience and I can't imagine UCSF could top the support systems and opportunities Stanford Med students have to pursue interests that may extend well beyond the clinic. Even as a private university, their students graduate with a lower debt load than most of the other UCs.

Having said that, I'd chose UCSF over Stanford in a second. Stanford is in Palo Alto. UCSF in San Francisco. There's really no comparison. UCSF seems to offer better clinical training (although I think Stanfords rep for providing poor rotations/clinical rotations is actually completely false from my visit), it still has a ton of well funded (and top) research programs, and gives you the chance to live in one of the most sought after urban areas in the world. From the perspective of taking into account all opportunities, clinical training, research, and LOCATION...UCSF wins. But looking them as two medical schools disregarding location, I think Stanford beats it out just for the shear uniqueness of it's program.

I voted for Penn though. Because I am an east coast *****.

 

[ApoK]

http://www.cracked.com/funny-3809-internet-argument-techniques/

Look at #2... just saying.

Didn't apply to Vandy, so not much I can say about that in particular, but I live in what most would call "the south" (NC) now, and it's really not that different from living in a similar-sized town anywhere else, except maybe nicer weather.

I will be going to a school you just blasted (Michigan) and turned down Wash U and an opportunity to interview at Duke to go there. I admit that when making my decision I was somewhat concerned with prestige, but when you look at rankings from residency directors, Michigan is top 5, and I'm sure Vandy is right up there as well. I personally don't think it's important if Joe Shmoe knows that Michigan is great, I care that my employer knows, and I think that's the case for both Michigan and Vandy.

For fairness, my love of Michigan is partly based on research interests, but that really just makes me think it's more about choosing what school is best for you, not just "pick Harvard/Hopkins over anything".

In response to your link, I don't see how my eloquent prose has anything do with the manner of our discourse in this most important of forums.

Interesting. I just "blasted" Michigan (to use your uncouth and plebeian diction)? Well, you're right. Michigan is an absolutely terrible school and it definitely doesn't belong on the poll anyway.
You're an absolute troglodyte! To pick Michigan over a higher ranked school, regardless of if Michigan is the absolute best in the research area you're doing, is utter idiocy. I mean your research isn't that important as an MD/PhD, right? The MSTP kids I know call it a 4 year paid vacation.

Christ, and you turned down an interview to Duke? Damn, that's practically an admission of insanity. I'm positively apoplectic at your imbecility. Alas, Duke is one of the best research institutions in the world AND it's a private school with spectacular basketball. May God have mercy on your poor ignorant soul.

Don't worry ApoK, I know someone who has your back 😀:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-9-2010/intro---vanderbilt-admissions

That b* is a genius! She got her cause onto the Daily Show. Hell, I'm gonna follow her lead make a viral youtube video. That'll show those b*, and hopefully they'll reconsider me Vandy is secretly my top choice.

I'll start with something like this:
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2009/07/peta_files_complaint_against_v.php

 

[harvman11]

In response to your link, I don't see how my eloquent prose has anything do with the manner of our discourse in this most important of forums.

Interesting. I just "blasted" Michigan (to use your uncouth and plebeian diction)? Well, you're right. Michigan is an absolutely terrible school and it definitely doesn't belong on the poll anyway.
You're an absolute troglodyte! To pick Michigan over a higher ranked school, regardless of if Michigan is the absolute best in the research area you're doing, is utter idiocy. I mean your research isn't that important as an MD/PhD, right? The MSTP kids I know call it a 4 year paid vacation.

Christ, and you turned down an interview to Duke? Damn, that's practically an admission of insanity. I'm positively apoplectic at your imbecility. Alas, Duke is one of the best research institutions in the world AND it's a private school with spectacular basketball. May God have mercy on your poor ignorant soul.

This is actually one of the funnier rants I've seen in a long time on SDN, touche good sir.

I've had my heart broken too many times by Duke basketball... I don't think I could take another 7-8 years of it. This year's looking better, but I'm avoiding getting my hopes up.

As for the actual discussion, I do understand your point that Harvard/Hopkins/Stanford do have certain advantages for certain career paths. Honestly after the Michigan acceptance, I was half hoping to be rejected from Harvard, because that would've been very tempting.

Based on your... uhh..."brilliant" response, it seems you understand the counter arguments, unless my sarcasm detector is way off, but please don't tell me if it is... I don't want to lose that much faith in humanity.

 

[ApoK]

This is actually one of the funnier rants I've seen in a long time on SDN, touche good sir.

I've had my heart broken too many times by Duke basketball... I don't think I could take another 7-8 years of it. This year's looking better, but I'm avoiding getting my hopes up.

As for the actual discussion, I do understand your point that Harvard/Hopkins/Stanford do have certain advantages for certain career paths. Honestly after the Michigan acceptance, I was half hoping to be rejected from Harvard, because that would've been very tempting.

Based on your... uhh..."brilliant" response, it seems you understand the counter arguments, unless my sarcasm detector is way off, but please don't tell me if it is... I don't want to lose that much faith in humanity.

Your sarcasm detector? What the hell is that and where can I buy one? I poured my heart and soul into that post. FWIW, I'm strongly considering going to Michigan next year (gasp, even over Duke, Penn, UCSF, Stanford or WashU) if the financial package is the best. See ya there! 😀

My argument through the many posts with ButLet/VandyMD/et.al. was not that everyone should go to Harvard/Hopkins. It was instead that people should and (most likely do) go to the best school they get into. And, if they don't, they have a compelling reason to not do so (e.g. financial package, family, or research interests). That would make doing so a more rational decision. Now, obviously, this isn't the case 100% of the time but I bet it holds true more often than naught.

And, no, ButLet I don't have empirical data but I might throw out a random google site too. Hmm, here: scholar.google.com

Perfect.

 

[JasonE]

Your sarcasm detector? What the hell is that and where can I buy one? I poured my heart and soul into that post. FWIW, I'm strongly considering going to Michigan next year (gasp, even over Duke, Penn, UCSF, Stanford or WashU) if the financial package is the best. See ya there! 😀

My argument through the many posts with ButLet/VandyMD/et.al. was not that everyone should go to Harvard/Hopkins. It was instead that people should and (most likely do) go to the best school they get into. And, if they don't, they have a compelling reason to not do so (e.g. financial package, family, or research interests). That would make doing so a more rational decision. Now, obviously, this isn't the case 100% of the time but I bet it holds true more often than naught.

And, no, ButLet I don't have empirical data but I might throw out a random google site too. Hmm, here: scholar.google.com

Perfect.

you came of as insulting, although you might not have meant to. saying people are crazy to choose vandy over harvard/hopkins if the money is the same is insulting. the definition of the "best" school is different for everyone. and for me, how much money the school gets from the NIH is meaningless. 300 million or 350 million, i dont care. that doesnt affect me. but it affects usnews. for example, i believe baylor was ranked #9 last year, but ive read that they changed the way they reported their research money (even though the actual number did not change), and they dropped to 17. did the school really change THAT much? correct me if im wrong on that

 

[ApoK]

you came of as insulting, although you might not have meant to. saying people are crazy to choose vandy over harvard/hopkins if the money is the same is insulting. the definition of the "best" school is different for everyone. and for me, how much money the school gets from the NIH is meaningless. 300 million or 350 million, i dont care. that doesnt affect me. but it affects usnews. for example, i believe baylor was ranked #9 last year, but ive read that they changed the way they reported their research money (even though the actual number did not change), and they dropped to 17. did the school really change THAT much? correct me if im wrong on that

In our society, Harvard and Hopkins (and MIT for that matter) mean something. There's an intangible benefit to going to them (think Goodwill, if you're familiar with accounting). Harvard and its hospitals have over $1B. And, Baylor isn't the best counter example. It went from 12 to 17. It's currently selling itself to Rice and it has a remarkable amount of debt on its balance sheet due to its new heart hospital or something. So, actually, Baylor has changed a bit with regard to its financial position the last few years.

Look, I'm not trying to argue this for my sake (which makes me wonder why I'm arguing at all ... probably because I'm trying to procrastinate). I didn't apply to Hopkins and I didn't get an interview at Harvard. I'm not even saying Harvard is actually a better medical school. I'm just saying that most people elect to go to Harvard if they get into Harvard (or Hopkins, etc.) and that they're smart to do so. And, you can probably discern people behave this way if you look at their matriculate/accept ratio. I think Harvard has the highest of all schools. It's not a slight to Vandy or any other top 20 schools, which all provide a top medical education. It's just the Harvard/Hopkins/Stanford/whatever names open more doors than some other schools.

 

[JasonE]

It's just the Harvard/Hopkins/Stanford/whatever names open more doors than some other schools.

i still dont see where these doors are. and its going to be hard to see these doors as a premed who doesnt even understand the reality of life post medical school (not just you, im talking about everyone). do all the doctors who work at hopkins go to hopkins for med school? no way.

in life, you'll be judged on what you do, not necessarily where you go. maybe people will care where you go for your first job, but after that it becomes irrelevant. just going to harvard and having their gold plated print on your ass isnt going to make you a millionaire.

but whatever this is a pointless argument because there is no answer. the more reason why people shouldnt worry about the presteige. you cant objectively quantify its benefits

imo, duke would be the best med school since you get a whole year to do research. if you can publish in the area you want to go into, thats HUGE. at other schools, you have to squeeze in research time here and there, and if you've done research, you know that isnt really a great way to do it.

 

[metallica81788]

Nashville is redneck-ish but actually not THAT bad (e.g. it's not South Carolina ). However, if you go a mile outside of the city, be prepared for all kinds of hickishness. Realistically though, who would choose Vandy over any of those schools in the poll? Vanderbilt is really for excellent students who either got full scholarships to Vandy or didn't get into the top school of their choice.

I would have picked Vandy over all of these schools.

 

[Moogle Man]

I just want to go wherever Apok is going. This is great.

 

[bamtuba]

to use your uncouth and plebeian diction

I love's me dem big purty words...

Theyse remind me of my time in deh South...

Wishin' I wuz smart enuff to use them big...purty...words...

🙁

Maybe one of dem dayz deyll learn me sum dat learnin' nowledge in deh Doctor Clinic School?

 

[metallica81788]

I love's me dem big purty words...

Theyse remind me of my time in deh South...

Wishin' I wuz smart enuff to use them big...purty...words...

🙁

Maybe one of dem dayz deyll learn me sum dat learnin' nowledge in deh Doctor Clinic School?

Dey don't teech dem dere wordz in Leezy-ana, eeder.

I gonna go back to milkin' mah cow.

 

[bamtuba]

Dey don't teech dem dere wordz in Leezy-ana, eeder.

I gonna go back to milkin' mah cow.

😱

A cow?

I done been milkin' mah goat!

...

You must be one of those rich kids, huh?

 

[JohnnyExtra]

Too much abstruse colloquial diction in this thread. 😀

 

[ApoK]

I love's me dem big purty words...

Theyse remind me of my time in deh South...

Wishin' I wuz smart enuff to use them big...purty...words...

🙁

Maybe one of dem dayz deyll learn me sum dat learnin' nowledge in deh Doctor Clinic School?

Dey don't teech dem dere wordz in Leezy-ana, eeder.

I gonna go back to milkin' mah cow.

😱

A cow?

I done been milkin' mah goat!

...

You must be one of those rich kids, huh?

These posts are funny because it seems you didn't realize my post was a completely sarcastic (and goodnatured) response to Harvman. Anyway, have fun with your stereotypes of southerners.

 

[ApoK]

Originally Posted by ApoK
Nashville is redneck-ish but actually not THAT bad (e.g. it's not South Carolina ). However, if you go a mile outside of the city, be prepared for all kinds of hickishness. Realistically though, who would choose Vandy over any of those schools in the poll? Vanderbilt is really for excellent students who either got full scholarships to Vandy or didn't get into the top school of their choice.

I would have picked Vandy over all of these schools.

You're a great exception to my incomplete rule describing Vandy students. There are also those for whom Vandy is a long shot and their absolute top choice. I'll have to add a corollary to my statement to include applicants like you. My fault, sorry. 🙂

This is fun. Anyone else?

 

[RunningDiva]

Originally Posted by ApoK
Nashville is redneck-ish but actually not THAT bad (e.g. it's not South Carolina ). However, if you go a mile outside of the city, be prepared for all kinds of hickishness. Realistically though, who would choose Vandy over any of those schools in the poll? Vanderbilt is really for excellent students who either got full scholarships to Vandy or didn't get into the top school of their choice.



You're a great exception to my incomplete rule describing Vandy students. There are also those for whom Vandy is a long shot and their absolute top choice. I'll have to add a corollary to my statement to include applicants like you. My fault, sorry. 🙂

This is fun. Anyone else?

why all the mud slinging to dig one self out of a hole? you don't want to go vandy - fine for you. why make rude generalizations about the ppl who do want to go there? why is it so insane to you that others could (gasp!) choose to go there? its just unnecessary (unless of course you feel you have nothing better to do...)

 

[longhorn09]

To be fair, Vanderbilt is a GREAT school, but it's still not a TOP school as of now. No offense.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

These posts are funny because it seems you didn't realize my post was a completely sarcastic (and goodnatured) response to Harvman. Anyway, have fun with your stereotypes of southerners.

Except all of these posts are actually sarcastically mocking your completely non-sarcastic, non-goodnatured statements about the south made earlier in the thread.

 

[bamtuba]

These posts are funny because it seems you didn't realize my post was a completely sarcastic (and goodnatured) response to Harvman. Anyway, have fun with your stereotypes of southerners.

Um, I'm from the South. As deep South as one can get. Grew up in a place that you would likely be afraid to venture for too long. And I would hope that your posts were sarcastic as anything else would paint you as something for which my replies would not be so well-mannered. 😉

But I digress.

Oh, and I really did have a goat...

 

[utah3219]

.

 

[ApoK]

why all the mud slinging to dig one self out of a hole? you don't want to go vandy - fine for you. why make rude generalizations about the ppl who do want to go there? why is it so insane to you that others could (gasp!) choose to go there? its just unnecessary (unless of course you feel you have nothing better to do...)

It's not about Vanderbilt. It is about making childish insinuations about my perception of southerners. There is not a chance that I stereotype people of the south as he's portraying. I will, however, contend there is more racism in the south and that these people are "hicks." That's why I wouldn't want to be there, not because I think everyone south of the Mason-Dixon is an inbred, goat-milking ******.

To be fair, Vanderbilt is a GREAT school, but it's still not a TOP school as of now. No offense.

100%, completely agreed. Let's see if people have a heart attack, as if you've insulted their honor.

Except all of these posts are actually sarcastically mocking your completely non-sarcastic, non-goodnatured statements about the south made earlier in the thread.

Point them out. What? Are you going to tell me the South doesn't have hicks? There are hicks everywhere. There just happen to be more of them in the South.

Um, I'm from the South. As deep South as one can get. Grew up in a place that you would likely be afraid to venture for too long. And I would hope that your posts were sarcastic as anything else would paint you as something for which my replies would not be so well-mannered. 😉

But I digress.

Oh, and I really did have a goat...

My grandparents had a goat (among numerous other animals). Generally, you have them if you have a farm. The south is a nice place, but maybe not for everyone. Haha, I wouldn't live in the rural deep south. Maybe you could give an account of what it's like? Seriously, I'm curious as hell.

 

[metallica81788]

These posts are funny because it seems you didn't realize my post was a completely sarcastic (and goodnatured) response to Harvman. Anyway, have fun with your stereotypes of southerners.

I'm from New Orleans. I have a right to make fun of my people/family, who are half coon-ass.

 

[ApoK]

I'm from New Orleans. I have a right to make fun of my people/family, who are half coon-ass.

Btw, Nawlins is an awesome city.

 

[JJMrK]

To be fair, Vanderbilt is a GREAT school, but it's still not a TOP school as of now. No offense.

LOL. You guys get that GREAT vs TOP means absolutely nothing, right?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Point them out. What? Are you going to tell me the South doesn't have hicks? There are hicks everywhere. There just happen to be more of them in the South.

Nashville is redneck-ish but actually not THAT bad

However, if you go a mile outside of the city, be prepared for all kinds of hickishness.

This was the main comment that I saw, and which I described only as "non-sarcastic and non-good natured". I made no comment about whether they were stereotypes, exaggerations, or realistic - I only stated that you made them completely seriously, and thus you shouldn't be surprised that you pissed people off and were getting sarcastic replies in return.

For comparison, I could say that I don't want to move to new jersey because I don't want to be surrounded by axe body spray wearing, hair-gel coated, spray tanned meatheads. I may (or may not) be completely accurate, but it wouldn't make me any less of a d-bag for saying it.

I was also pointing out that they didn't miss the sarcasm of your earlier posts as you alleged- they actually understood completely your very subtle sarcasm and were turning it back on you.

 

[longhorn09]

LOL. You guys get that GREAT vs TOP means absolutely nothing, right?

It does when it come to the match...you know, connection....

 

[JasonE]

It does when it come to the match...you know, connection....

what do you know about the match process? you're a premed, you havent stepped foot into medical school yet. until you're a 3rd/4th year, you wont know what its really about. its not like applying to med school all over again. its totally different. stop all the BS.

and speaking of "connections", many residency directors value different schools differently. they have personal taste. some med schools have a large number of alums that are directors, and no, they're not all from harvard. you might have more connections coming out of a bigger school just by alumni status. who the hell knows.

this is a pointless debate. all points are based on nothing. some 20 year old kid doesnt know jack **** about whats to come 4 years from now. let the process begin then. dont worry about it now.

 

[jerew]

what do you know about the match process? you're a premed, you havent stepped foot into medical school yet. until you're a 3rd/4th year, you wont know what its really about. its not like applying to med school all over again. its totally different. stop all the BS.

and speaking of "connections", many residency directors value different schools differently. they have personal taste. some med schools have a large number of alums that are directors, and no, they're not all from harvard. you might have more connections coming out of a bigger school just by alumni status. who the hell knows.

this is a pointless debate. all points are based on nothing. some 20 year old kid doesnt know jack **** about whats to come 4 years from now. let the process begin then. dont worry about it now.

Connections matter for some residency programs. The rad onc resident forums seem to think this is a big deal in matching in their speciality (particularly competitive). Of course, you can always do away rotations to make the connections.

 

[JasonE]

Connections matter for some residency programs. The rad onc resident forums seem to think this is a big deal in matching in their speciality (particularly competitive). Of course, you can always do away rotations to make the connections.

okay maybe, but who's to say one school has the best connections? its going to depend on what you go into right?

if i remember correctly, at michigan they said they have the largest number of alumni sitting as residency directors. so in that sense, you'd get the best connections by going there.

 

[JJMrK]

http://journals.lww.com/academicmed..._Criteria_for_Residency__Results_of_a.24.aspx

 

[schrizto]

I voted for Penn though. Because I am an east coast *****.

Psh. All the true east coast ****** voted for Harvard.