gingko
Forum Senior
Topics: 13
Posts: 226
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Program Name: Rosalind Franklin
Date of Interview: november 2007
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: super 8, rented car, good place for 50 bucks, 10 miles from hospital..morning traffic may hit u bad, plan accordingly if u drive
Level of "stress" (0-10): went in with 3/10 based on previous experience..came out with 7/10
How many interviewers: 2
How many applicants: 3
Tour included visits to: ICU/lib/cafe/telemetry
Questions asked: usual stuff..weakness, strenghts, goals,why should we take u??can find all of them at p4u..
happy residents: yes / no / ? : all were happy to oblige the PD..the one who was with us was pissed off and candidly told us to find a better program..he kept asking us for questions and was sad if we didnt ask him something like every 5 minutes
research oriented: yes / no / ? the most funny part...because the web site is full of research accomplishments and they give a elective research rotation..i asked my interviewer how the research rotation works..and he gives me a load of how the program is patient oriented and not research oriented and how i should not expect to spend 4 days a week with rats...GIMME A FREAKING BREAK...and they have a lot of clinical trails going on, so i ask my host resident what kinda trails they have..and he goes" I dont know, may be they have some at the Med. school
prematch offers? I wouldnt care
visa sponsored? they say H1,but didnt mention during interview and i didnt ask
City: chicago
What I liked the most: The pancakes i had at IHOP
What could be improved: may be they can improve their attitude towards guests for starters..the PD can use less obscenity in his launguage...in the noon conference we discussed a testicular malignancy and never once did he use the word testes..u can figure out what he used..and yes this beats everything...we were all sitting in the conference room for the noon conference..a guy, he was probably faculty comes in and sits at the opposite end of the PD..the PD asks him why he didnt sit next to him..the guy goes"because i dont know if u took a shower or not"and he did not say it jokingly..it was more like a satirical"I got You"statement..The only goal of all the resident seemed to please the PD in any way possible and the resident who was with us told that there is a lot of infighting going on..though they have cardiology fellowship, it is very hard unless u really become the PDs you know what..
Rate experience (0-10): 1.5..not because i had a bad experience, but coz i had too many expectations
Conclusion: All that glitters is not gold..
___________________
Old McDonald had an ERAS inbox..with a reject here and a reject there..here a reject, there a reject,everywhere a reject, reject.
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| prueba
Forum Guru
Topics: 56
Posts: 694
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hmmm....interesting bro', sorry to hear that.... I heard something similar from a MS4 of RF...
I would really like to try those pancakes..
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| mph
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 341
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gingko wrote:
prematch offers? I wouldnt care
What I liked the most: The pancakes i had at IHOP
VIVA gingko!
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| arlete
Half way there!
Topics: 43
Posts: 3,097
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Wow!!!! At least they didn't fool you, imagine being stuck at a place like this for years!
IHOP is really good.
___________________
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.
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| Doc750
transfer:step 3 prison
Topics: 52
Posts: 634
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Cool I don't have to be politically correct, or shower. Sign me up! 
___________________
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.
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| Doc750
transfer:step 3 prison
Topics: 52
Posts: 634
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IHOP sucks
Cracker barrel is awesome
___________________
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.
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| prueba
Forum Guru
Topics: 56
Posts: 694
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Please copy this template and add:
Program Name:
Date of Interview:
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc:
Level of "stress" (0-10):
How many interviewers:
How many applicants:
Tour included visits to:
Questions asked:
happy residents: yes / no / ? :
research oriented: yes / no / ?
prematch offers?
visa sponsored?
City:
What I liked the most:
What could be improved:
Rate experience (0-10):
Conclusion:
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| DeltaF508
Forum Junior
Topics: 15
Posts: 70
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Program Name: Weiss Memorial Hospital
Date of Interview: Nov. 2007
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: Stayed with family; not really any cheap hotels nearby; but devon is close for u desis; close to red line CTA (subway)
Level of "stress" (0-10): 6-7
How many interviewers: 2 (PD + APD)
How many applicants: 4 (i think 1 prelim)
Tour included visits to: Medicine department, resident lounge, call rooms, ED, ICU, cafeteria, regular floors, library
Questions asked: why medicine? why chicago? why weiss? future plans? strenghts/weaknesses? tell me about urself?
happy residents: yes / no / ? : yes; most felt pretty happy about being there; said there was a LOT of autonomy in patient care; maybe because they had 50% private attendings; i guess that's both a good thing in some ways and bad in others.
research oriented: yes / no / ? they had lots of posters on the wall of different presentations they had done; seems to be the residents do their research but nothing is required (except journal club).
prematch offers? not to me anyway
visa sponsored? J1 only
City: Chicago
What I liked the most: The location is very nice; northern tip of chicago's downtown; in lincoln park but very close to other ethnic diverse neighborhoods; close to train station and there is an apartment complex across the street ($$$) but it is also close to other neighborhoods where it isn't so expensive (1 of the residents bikes to work everyday). Good mix of residents; from many countries with no clear majority.
What could be improved: The hospital needs to be updated; the cafeteria is like the size of a closet, the pay is horrible (especially for a city like chicago); resident teaching on the wards could be improved (like I said, too many private attendings); no fellowships on-site;
Rate experience (0-10): 5; would be 6 if they paid more and gave H1
Conclusion: Decent community hospital for those wanting to do general practice IM; great location, only J1; fellowships are tough to get; great resident and intern autonomy (good or bad is up to u).
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| prueba
Forum Guru
Topics: 56
Posts: 694
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Program Name: Cook County Hospital
Date of Interview: November
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: airport hotel....too far. the Blue line (CTA) goes directly from the airport to cook county.
Level of "stress" (0-10): 4
How many interviewers: 2
How many applicants: over 20
Tour included visits to: ED, rooms, ICU, floors, clinics.
Questions asked: why cook county, why Chicago, goals, plans, etc, case presentation not to all applicants though.
happy residents: yes / no / ? : yes
research oriented: yes / no / ? good opportunities for clinical research
prematch offers? web page says yes, they make you fill a form where you should put if you are interested or not in a position out of the match.
visa sponsored? H1/J1
City: Chicago, ...first time in chicago...I went to John Hancock Center the previous night... you can see cook county from the west side of the observatory, nice... Cost of living seems to be not as expensive as NYC, DC, San Francisco.
What I liked the most: Nice new hospital, great computerized system, ED is huge....lots of pathology. I believe that training in a place like cook county will make me an excellent clinician...
What could be improved: good program...all positions should go to the match...
Rate experience (0-10): 8.5-9
Conclusion:.I would love to train in a place like cook county, and live in a city like Chicago. Chief residents seem strong, they presented cases of the last month. good opportunities to do clinical research. Fellowship placement is about 40-50% I don't know how many apply. Residents match in cardiology…it has in-house fellowships: Cardiology, pulm/critical care, GI, Hem onc, and others combined with RUSH and UIC. It’s a busy hospital, lot’s of autonomy, all patients are admitted to medicine, not to subspecialty departments, no private patients. Has something called a Firm System, which allows more interaction among residents and faculty. Teams are formed by 1 attending, 2 residents, 2 interns, and usually 2 medical students.
Will rank it high, I hope not all the positions go through prematch. Population: Large immigrant population: 20-30% Hispanics, from Poland, Greece.. Residents are from all over the world. India, Latin America, US, East Europe, etc.
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| arlete
Half way there!
Topics: 43
Posts: 3,097
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Good luck, prueba!
___________________
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.
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| prueba
Forum Guru
Topics: 56
Posts: 694
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thanks arlete
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| Doc750
transfer:step 3 prison
Topics: 52
Posts: 634
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I did one of my rotations at Cook county. But it was at the old facility before they moved into the new place. In the old building you had to fight the rats for the beds in the call room.  The new place is nice (I've only seen it from the outside).
Chicago is an awesome city, esp in late spring and summer. If you want to live in "little India" then get an apartment at Presidential towers. I had a studio apartment, overlooking the water on lake shore drive, and it was very reasonably priced.
If your single the night life is awesome. Beautiful women everywhere. Lots of cool lounges and upscale bars to go to.
Honestly if the winters didn't suck so much I would relocate permanently to Chicago.
___________________
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.
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| silenced, M.D.
Forum Guru
Topics: 73
Posts: 620
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hey prueba, how long was the interview with each interviewer? Did the PD interview?
___________________
"Sólo los débiles se enojan. El hombre fuerte, aun al caer, sonríe". ~ José Martí "...it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done". ~ Rocky Balboa
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| prueba
Forum Guru
Topics: 56
Posts: 694
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There where about 9 interviewers..for over 20 candidates...2 interviews each...mine lasted 10 and aprox 30 minutes. We did not meet the PD, but 2 associate program directors.
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| sarah1
Forum Newbie
Topics: 9
Posts: 31
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Hey I had a interview at Rosalind Franklin a few days back and I had a decent experience so I thought maybe I will share it...
Program Name: Rosalind Franklin IL
Date of Interview: Mid Nov
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: with a friend
Level of "stress" (0-10): 3/10
How many interviewers: 2
How many applicants: 4
Tour included visits to: wards/library/cafe/chicago med school
Questions asked: why IM/Chicago/ compare it to home country/ how do see yourself in 5 years
happy residents: yes / no / ? : both types
research oriented: yes / no / ? depends on you..if you wanna do it they do have the infrastructure and the funds
prematch offers? No
visa sponsored? I guess...I dont need one so I dont know
City: Chicago
What I liked the most: beautiful VA hospital, Chicago medical school campus. I thought the residents were very relaxed and shared a fine rapport with the faculty. some political issues going on but I dont think that should affect the residents.
What could be improved: it doesnt compare to UIC /northwestern but for most of us these places out of question.
Rate experience (0-10): 8/10
Conclusion:Its not the greatest and the best but its a safe bet if you are interested in a fellowship.
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| kingsofke
Forum Guru
Topics: 24
Posts: 715
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[Program Name:
RESURRECTION WESTLAKE HOSPITAL ( why the hell am i even posting the experience, well its just to make people beware of it.)
Date of Interview:
Nov 20th (and all the prematches were already given, PD said he gave it in first few days of interview, who the hell took them? bad luck)
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc:
went there on greyhound, walk out of the grey hound stop to clinton station , take the blue line to forest park, from there you can take cab to hospital or even bus, take bus 301 to 5th & roosevelt, then take 331 to 5th & lake and then walk to 11th ave on lake. I stayed at a hotel Travel Inn on 11 & roosevelt, its 40 $ a night. i would highly recommend this one.)
Level of "stress" (0-10):
0-6 (0 for me and 6 for people who were there for a possible prematch)
How many interviewers:
2 plus the resident who is taking tour fills out a form for everybody he was touring with, tour is in 3 groups.
How many applicants:
17
Tour included visits to:
everywhere, resident had a check list for that
Questions asked:
why this program, future goals, what you want to do, hobbies,
happy residents: yes / no / ? :
seems like they were, well certainly bored and uninterested, but then PD told me he fired 2 residents last year because they were "incompetent"
research oriented: yes / no / ?
Hell No,
prematch offers?
PD has given all prematches (4 of 5 prelim and 7-8 of 10 categ) rest will take to match. and the offer is "on table". sign now or forget about it.
visa sponsored?
you guess, obviously H1b and j1
City:
Melrose park, Forest park areas outside chicago, i wouldnt want to live there, sh!!y place and costly on top of it. residents were living nearby (probably only place they could afford, even this neighbor hood costed 800 to 1000)
What I liked the most:
nothing, well i was marginally interested in the newly renovated building and the hospital dosent looked like it has much work load, for the easy goers
What could be improved:
dont even let me start on this
Rate experience (0-10):
0-1 (i will have to see a zero to give this one)
Conclusion:
Last place to be. well why: PD told me he fired 2 guys last year, teaching is residents based, elective rotations are in hospital only, which means neurology rotation means working with one neurologist that they have and seeing the same patients i was seeing in floor but now on neurology consults. the resident presentations was boring, sleep inducing and copy pasted (from some impressive documents i am sure). PD was taking a nap during the presentation and by the way he was the only faculty there. they admitted they have had objections by RCC for accredition and will again be inspected next month for yearly approval, yeah they are on yearly apporval cycle for accredition and no full 3 year approval. area is costly (hey its just by chicago right) and revolting ( hey i have been living in memphis for one month ) and the residents are living in the nearby area. and they offer on table prematch. i wouldnt sign one, would you? who did? (my apologies for anybody reading the post who have signed a prematch here, well buddy you shouldnt have been reading this in first place)
oh yeah and why the hell was i there, well uninformed to begin with and i am desparately looking for a prelim, competing against AMGs. i rest my case.
___________________
In Life there are neither rewards nor punishments, just consequences.
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| priyagrove
Forum Elite
Topics: 34
Posts: 427
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Program Name: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: Sleep Inn, a few minutes away
Level of "stress" (0-10): 3-4
How many interviewers: 3
How many applicants: 10-12
Tour included visits to: Carle hospital and provena
Questions asked: Interviwers were extremely nice, made us very relaxed. They asked about my research work, about USCE and my hobbies. Interview was really just a plain conversation... NO MEDICAL QUESTIONS!!! at all
happy residents: yes / no / ? : yes
research oriented: yes / no / ? lots of residenst are encouraged to do research.
prematch offers? they offer premtaches in dec-jan.
visa sponsored? H1 J1
City: Small university town, nice friendly place.
What I liked the most: I liked the place and I liked the people. Residents were mainly IMGS and were helpful.
What could be improved: not sure
Rate experience (0-10): 9
___________________
"Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde
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| priyagrove
Forum Elite
Topics: 34
Posts: 427
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Program Name: Resurrection West lake
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: i stayed with a friend in downtown , thats far (13miles)but took a cab in morning and returned by train CTA/Metra)
Level of "stress" (0-10): 2
How many interviewers: 2
How many applicants: 14
Tour included visits to: everywhere,
Questions asked: Why this program, what do you think is bad in this program.
happy residents: yes / no / ? : ok, one of the residents was nice and convinced a lot of applicants to take prematch and settlle down.
research oriented: yes / no / ? no
prematch offers? they have filled 4 prelim out of 5 and 8-9 categorical out of 10 already. they are not offering prematches anymore.
visa sponsored?H1
City: Immediate surrounding area isnt good, unsafe and dirty. residents stay at 10-15 minutes drive.
What I liked the most: nothing
What could be improved: a lot
Rate experience (0-10): 2
the PD was indian and straight to the point as opposite to previous notions I guess he was ok. No nonsense type person and straightforward. He told me honestly about unavailability of prematch currently and encouraged me to stay where I am currently working. otherwise all desi residents. We attended a Morbidity mortality meet and that was like as if I was sitting in Any indian hospitals deptt of medicine. I mean it was not upto the mark, starting from residents interaction and the faculties input everything was a poor show.
Conclusion: not worth the effort, time and money
___________________
"Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde
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| drgeorgie
Forum Senior
Topics: 22
Posts: 149
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Program Name: Uni of IL College of Medicine at Peoria (St. Francis hospital)
Date of Interview: NOV
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: took peoria charter bus from Ohare..30$.. the program provides great stay
Level of "stress" (0-10): 5
How many interviewers: 3
How many applicants: 5
Tour included visits to: micu, library, lounge....all the usual places
Questions asked: great qs.. they study ur profile..
happy residents: yes / no / ? : YES
research oriented: yes / no / ? not really... u can do clinical research
prematch offers? i think no
visa sponsored? j1, h1
City: peoria
What I liked the most: friendly PD, great atmosphere- residents seems very cordial
What could be improved: fellowship chances are not great.. they are working on a GI fellowship
Rate experience (0-10): 7
Conclusion:
small program... very friendly faculty.. if u like a smaller city, Peoria is great..
they give great perks including a 10,000$ signing bonus!!!!
___________________
"The army saw Goliath as too big to hit. David saw him as too big to miss!"
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| doc_ER
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 17
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Program Name: Michael Reese Hospital
Date of Interview: December
Where did u stay, nearest hotel, travel etc: Stayed in a very nice hotel in downtown Chicago, gr8 for the price (95 bucks per night) with an excellent location, called The Seneca, b/c there is nothing else near the hospital (except for some apartment buildings) look to stay with friends or some cheep hotels. You can get there the easy way (cab around $30) or take the #3 bus ($2, yes two dollars) from downtown if the weather allows you (usually takes from 20-25 mins). If you stay in a hotel near the airport you get a free shuttle ride, but to go anywhere else your gonna have to take a slooow train ride and a bus, if you stay elsewhere theres a shuttle service (airport express) that charges $27 from O'hear or $24 from Midway to other hotels.
Level of "stress" (0-10): 4 (being generous) Its a pretty laid back place, not a lot chaos going around in the hallways or near the room your supposed to wait in.
How many interviewers: 2, APD and chief resident. First one lasted 15mins, last one at the end of the day 25mins.
How many applicants: 9. 3amg's
Tour included visits to: Very short-lived, ICU, telemetry, radiology, main ward, peds, call room, cafeteria.
Questions asked: What have you done after grad? clinical case, future plans? why MRH?
happy residents: yes / no / ? : Tough to say. They do get tons of autonomy which they like, they can get around the scuttwork, workload per resident is low in these days. They say attendings (sub specialists) are very good. Schedule is very confortable, gives you a lot of free time (out around 4pm or earlier), if on call your out by 9pm after that night float takes over from 9pm-7am.
research oriented: yes / no / ? No, but allowed research rotation elsewhere.
prematch offers? Not anymore.
visa sponsored? j1 only.
City: Chicago.
What I liked the most: Schedule, from the case they presented that morning seems to have good teaching.
What could be improved: Infrastructure, cafeteria.
Rate experience (0-10): 6 
Conclusion: If you want an easy prelim and dont mind the j1 its ok. Decent teaching, a lot of autonomy for residents. Little patient load per capita but all are very complex with multiple comorbidities, most are african americans who live nearby. Not a busy hospital. If you want categorical think about it when u rank it, there are worse places but the j1 can make your choice easier. AMGs seemed interested (pbly b/c have to do little work).
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