Guest Ragnar Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I'm kind of curious, since I am in the midst of ranking some schools on the off-chance that I get accepted to more than one... How are you all ranking your schools? What do you guys find most important? The curriculum? The city? The tuition? The clerkship experience? Research going on at the U? The state of the hospitals in the city? Reputation? I know this question is highly contextual and will vary, but I'd like to hear what some of you are considering -- I think it will help me refine my own criteria. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest macdaddyeh Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 Sounds like you answered your own question with the criteria you set out... Where did you apply? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest byjude Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 I didn't apply this year, but I'm already building a list of the schools I stand a chance at - and yes, I've started to analyze them in terms of which suits me best. Though, I have to say, at this point, the schools that I stand the best chance at getting interviewed or accepted by tend to float to the top of the list. There may be something there about wanting to be wanted. You're right though - it really depends on where you place your priorities. I would think that it would help to think back to the reasons you used for selecting your undergrad school - some of your motivating factors may have changed, but the criteria you valued most would probably remain constant (eg, if you selected based on location, program, or reputation then, you're likely to use similar standards today). If I'm lucky enough to get multiple acceptances at some point in my life when I apply, I'd have to say that program would be the most important criteria for me. It's really important to me to have a good fit in terms of philosophy and organization of the program - teaching style & methodology, size & flavour of the class would be my most important criteria. Or.. you could always go with the place that gave you the best vibe when you interviewed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest justanotherpremed Posted April 7, 2004 Report Share Posted April 7, 2004 My first criteria is that the school offers me an acceptance. The schools that gave me rejections are really low on my ranking of med schools :rollin Seriously though, I'm going to choose between the two possible schools I'm in the running for based on my interview experience. I thought Queen's really made me enthusiastic about going there, so Queen's is my first choice. :hat :smokin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chemgirl Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 justanotherpremed, I like your strategy and I have to say mine was pretty much the same! there is a school I would love to go to, but I can tell it just isn't going to work out therefore I am picking the school that will let me fulfill all my prior commitments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bananacreampie Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Hey, My dilemma is deciding which factors are the most important to me, ie. program reasons vs. personal reasons. I really like the one school's program, rep, etc... however, at the other school that I applied I have friends, family and familiarity. What to do?? (obviously I must first get accepted at both to even have a decision, however, i still think about it lots). I only have one acceptance now, so in the end if that's all I get then the decision is SUPER-easy cheers, bcp (ps. good for all you people who apply to multiple schools across the board, just finishing two applications was all I had time for in fall semester, which immediately limited my prospects) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ragnar Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Well, I guess for me, the most important thing is how well the school prepares me for residency -- clerkship-wise. Many people say all the schools are the same for that end, but I don't think so. Different schools have different lengths for clerkship; different schools expect different things from their clerks; different schools have different teaching hospitals (some have amazing modern hospitals while others have run-down hospitals that appear ready for demolition)... you get the point. Right now, I am weighing McGill (where I got in), Toronto and Western. I won't know from the latter two until June. At the interviews, I walked away from each school really believing that I would like to attend it. I have to admit that I know little about McGill (no one seems to know much about it). Toronto really played to its strength of being located around one of the largest medical centers in North America (and thus the world) -- world class hospitals for clerkship and world-renowned specialists as preceptors. Western was really cozy with a great student body, and played up the facts that electives occur after all mandatory rotations, and that the clerks are first-call and get to do tons of hands-on. So, what to do if I get multiple offers? It's killing me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sarah371 Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 I always say go with your gut instinct......world renowned preceptors and hospitals are great but at a clerkship level you want to be somewhere where you are not standing behind a fellow and three residents to get close to the patient....also not all world renowned doctors are good teachers or have the time to teach. When I interviewed I was sure that Toronto was the place for me but after my interviews I feel in love with Queen's....all schools prepare you well for residency and make you competitive for the match as can be ascertained by the match lists. Go where you think that you will be most happy and don't worry about names or people that you can work with....if you are really interested in their fields you can do electives with them later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorae Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Ragnar... I'm in a similar boat to you as I was lucky to recive several interviews. I change my mind about my first choice about ever 18 minutes Thank goodness I know it's impossible to get a bad medical education in Canada!! I realize that both Toronto and Western students could disagree with me, but here's my opinion on your question. Both Toronto and Western have some time off around CARMS interview time (toronto is 2 weeks and western is a month). By CARMS time western students are pretty much done their clerkship and all electives... they get the time off then they go back to the classroom for "basics" training. Western clerks are "first call" and are given a lot of responsibility (but I don't know the case in toronto). Also, I've heard stories that in Toronto there's so many residents and fellows that student clerks are often only observers. Just some tidbits of info I've heard. But I'm still busy changing my mind about my first choice Today I'm back to Calgary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MDSMelissa Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Hello, I really like this post, because I think about this question very frequently. Like Lorae, my mind keeps flip flopping about which school I would like to attend as my first choice. I've factored in program style, proximity to home, school life, and campus/city likes and dislikes. I am still not sure which factors are more important to me than others. What a toss up!!! It feels almost greedy to be considering having choices, especially since this is something we've worked SO hard for and has seemed impossible at times. Good to know that other people are feeling the same anxiety! Good luck to everyone! Melissa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sn0w0wl Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 I could only afford to apply to a couple of schools, and being OOP for the second (ie. slim chances) my decision will probably be made for me. Having said that, I think it is a good sign of the quality of medical education available in this country that applicants are having trouble choosing! I don't think you could really go wrong (you know what they say about the colour of the grass). As was stated above, I believe in going with your gut, and the interview experience will probably have a major influence on that. You can make all the pros/cons lists you want and analyze it to bits, but we are not rational creatures... What feels right? Where do you see yourself?Which envelope are you most looking forward to opening? You probably already know the answer--listen to what you say when your friends and family ask you about it! Good luck to all--I hope you all find a good home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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