retroviridae
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I was just wondering if anyone else was having similar experiences in the interview trail. I have been noticing that my interviews at the weakest programs are the toughtest. They are the ones that don't give me any or many options for interview dates. They are the ones that require original documents just to interview. They are the ones with the toughest interviewers: confrontational questions, case histories, case management, etc. My university based or community hospitals with mosty US grads interviews have all been very cool and laid back. Those are more chats than interviews. Why is this? Is it because the weaker programs are trying to show that they are more academic/rigorous than the stronger ones (almost an inferiority complex, they feel they have to proove themselves)? Or is it that as IMGs we need to be screened harder than US grads? I mean, if I were them, I would try very hard to woo their stronger candidates.
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| drkjigs
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Hmmmm...or maybe it is because the "strong " programs are almost sure about who they are goingto rank & ask only superficial questions to make the final small adjustments. On teh other hand .. the weaker proograms are trying theri best to screen ALL the candidates by asking the toughest questions...just a thought...dont know for sure..any other opinion? Maybe BBB can suggest something?
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
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Maybe BBB can suggest something?
Working for a strong program now, I can't think of a thing. But I do have a room full of applicants waiting for their interview day to start, I could go ask them. But then it could be one of YOU and my secret would be out.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| drkjigs
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 Dear BBB, I do respect your secret identity & like all superheroes one needs to have the hidden identity. For obvious reasons, unlike for "The incredibles" the govt. cant relocate you everytime your secret is out  But I can assure you that I wont be amongst the applicants as I am applying for a surgical residency. I am happy to have your valued opinion even if it is anonymous...though I must add that I would love to meet up sometime & thank you in person for all teh good work you hav ebeen doing . :icon_salut:
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
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[quote="drkjigsFor obvious reasons, unlike for "The incredibles" the govt. cant relocate you everytime your secret is out [/quote]
Thanks!! 8)
My relocation would be to Phoenix, Germany (preferably Stuttgart), Prague or Seoul. I could handle that.
I'll see if I can get some answers from today's group of applicants.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| drkjigs
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London?
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| nonstopdoc1
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I had the same experience. I think whenever i went to strong and good programs it was obvious that they too were trying to show off as much as we applicants were, so as to attract best candidates (obviously the US grads) but the IMG programs have a bit different approch. They know most ppl who are interviewing there are in desparate needs unlike most US grads and often they dont care about anything and need a workforce who knows enough so that they can do the work for next 3 years.
Also previous bad experiences from some really bad IMGs may also be responsible for such attitude.
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
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"drkjigs" wrote:
London?
That could work, but I would need to live on the east side, near my family.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| retroviridae
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Another thing about weak, or rather, IMG heavy programs, they don't follow the 80 hour rule. I think it is because they know that their residents are too scared to complain. They don't want to not have their contract renewed the following year, plus, they don't want the place shut down. Even the most hard core malignant US programs are now mostly 80 hour compliant.
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
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"retroviridae" wrote:
Another thing about weak, or rather, IMG heavy programs, they don't follow the 80 hour rule. I think it is because they know that their residents are too scared to complain. They don't want to not have their contract renewed the following year, plus, they don't want the place shut down. Even the most hard core malignant US programs are not mostly 80 hour compliant.
I don't know about this - because ACGME is really going hard on programs that are non compliant. In talking with different program coordinators around the country, in several specialties - programs are compliant, or showing improvement.
PLUS - if residents are too scared to complain, there is a direct page on the ACGME web site that you can report a non-compliant program anonymously.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| docsom
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these 'lower ranked' hospitals want ready made residents - they are not interested in teaching residents, rather they want their service - so these are the places where old graduates and their valuable experience go - even though they deserve better.
the more academically inclined places respect the fact that the USMLEs are a fair indication of your academic abilities - in fact the better ones are now subscribing to the growing doctrine that beyond the pass mark, your score need not be directly proportional to your abilities -
so all they are interested during the interview is to gauge u as a person.
its disgusting the way some interviewers ask clinical Qs - its like the MLEs were a joke or something - i instantly know that these are not the places i wud wanna do my residency
som
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| retroviridae
Forum Guru
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hey, that was a typo.... "not compliant" should be
"now compliant." I fixed that on my post. I wanted to say that even the most malignant programs that take US grads are now compliant. I have friends as IMG-only programs that tell me the 80 hour rule is a joke. I can't vouch for that first hand.
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
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"docsom" wrote:
its disgusting the way some interviewers ask clinical Qs - its like the MLEs were a joke or something - i instantly know that these are not the places i wud wanna do my residency
One of the program directors here uses that as a was to see if you (applicant) can present in English or answer questions in English.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| cam
Forum Senior
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Dear Retroviridea,
I have read your posts on the forum.
I was also born and raised in the US and then moved to my home country when I was ten(I have visited US almost every summer after that) anyway... I was just curious, What strong programs have you interviewed at., I am aware of your great scores and I was wondering if I can count on getting in to a good program by getting top scores.
thank you and good luck in the Match.
Cam
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