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I am ambivalent about some of the striped suits I've seen out there. Tends to stray into mafia or pajama-esque territory, I think.
Just don’t do it.
I am ambivalent about some of the striped suits I've seen out there. Tends to stray into mafia or pajama-esque territory, I think.
pinstripes are fine. it means you're a future forensic psychiatristI am ambivalent about some of the striped suits I've seen out there. Tends to stray into mafia or pajama-esque territory, I think.
Anything in particular you were interested in hearing about?
Go with brown. Be different from even those who are trying to be different. And it doesn't look like pajamas or mafia garb.
Of course, now if you wear brown it's because I told you to do so. So you won't be different. You'll be a conformer.
Just don’t do it.
I've seen striped suits on my interview trail. Don't overthink it. You'll be fine. Just grow a mustache & grease your hair back.So I think my suit may have stripes. I didn't see them until AFTER spending $120 on tailoring it. Should I buy a different suit? Sometimes I see the stripes definitely, like holding it up in the sun. But in the mirror I really can't see them. The suit is gray. Money is an issue, but so is not matching.
Would you recommend a different suit?
I've seen striped suits on my interview trail. Don't overthink it. You'll be fine. Just grow a mustache & grease your hair back.
So I think my suit may have stripes. I didn't see them until AFTER spending $120 on tailoring it. Should I buy a different suit? Sometimes I see the stripes definitely, like holding it up in the sun. But in the mirror I really can't see them. The suit is gray. Money is an issue, but so is not matching.
Would you recommend a different suit?
Keep in mind as well how the vast majority of your interviewers dress. Other than Mayo and a handful of big time department chairs, most of us are pretty far down the "casual" end of "business casual" in psychiatry, and rarely spend a lot on wardrobe.If it is hard to see, chances are it is not obnoxious. I wouldn't put yourself into financial disparity over it. I just think that folks make what should be very straightforward and easy into something more complicated. Especially if prone to neuroses -- Personally, I spent $400 on a mens wear house suit (this was all I could afford) and it was a BOGO so I purchased a navy blue and charcoal gray. Will someone who knows suits be impressed? Probably not. But it did the job well and I now have two suits which can be used in any occasion with most any coordinated tie/shirt. Practicality is good at this stage.
Hardly a majority of residency interviewers, are they...those doctors in lawyers' clothing.you are forgetting forensic psychiatrists...
Also the only time my residents see me in a tie except graduation.Interviews are the last time I see any of our students in a suit unless I get invited to their weddings. Men's warehouse sale is a good enough idea.
the city boasts nearly the greatest density of water fountains per capita in the world, second only to Rome.
Does anyone else feel like they've generally been doing really well with their actual interviews? It dawned on me today that residency programs may be great at making applicants feel this way so that they're ranked higher, even though they may not rank them highly themselves. It's not every interview obviously, but it really feels like recruiting at times (at least more than I thought it would). I guess that's what this is, but it's making it hard for me to gauge whether programs actually have a strong interest in me or not.
One more reason to rank solely based on how much you liked a program/goodness of fit, and not whether you think the program likes you back or not.
I've certainly gotten my fair share of "you're a very strong applicant," "we're so glad you chose to interview with us," and even "we would love to see you here next year." Trying to not put much/any stock in it.
I've wondered the same thing. I think part of the reason programs do it is because the Match favors applicants stongly. I heard a statistic from a PD that 90% of psych applicants get their 1st or 2nd choice. Based on my reading of the algorithm, programs preferences only kick in once their spots are filled based on applicants preferences, so outside of top top programs where chunks of applicants are ranking them number one, it really is a buyers market. Based on that, it seems likely that programs tell most applicants they're amazing because they have no way to gauge how interested apap really are since so many applicants exaggerate how much they like every program. It's a positive feedback loop... OR maybe we really are great applicants...One more reason to rank solely based on how much you liked a program/goodness of fit, and not whether you think the program likes you back or not.
I've certainly gotten my fair share of "you're a very strong applicant," "we're so glad you chose to interview with us," and even "we would love to see you here next year." Trying to not put much/any stock in it.
You're great applicants.I've wondered the same thing. I think part of the reason programs do it is because the Match favors applicants stongly. I heard a statistic from a PD that 90% of psych applicants get their 1st or 2nd choice. Based on my reading of the algorithm, programs preferences only kick in once their spots are filled based on applicants preferences, so outside of top top programs where chunks of applicants are ranking them number one, it really is a buyers market. Based on that, it seems likely that programs tell most applicants they're amazing because they have no way to gauge how interested apap really are since so many applicants exaggerate how much they like every program. It's a positive feedback loop... OR maybe we really are great applicants...
I've wondered the same thing. I think part of the reason programs do it is because the Match favors applicants stongly. I heard a statistic from a PD that 90% of psych applicants get their 1st or 2nd choice. Based on my reading of the algorithm, programs preferences only kick in once their spots are filled based on applicants preferences, so outside of top top programs where chunks of applicants are ranking them number one, it really is a buyers market. Based on that, it seems likely that programs tell most applicants they're amazing because they have no way to gauge how interested apap really are since so many applicants exaggerate how much they like every program. It's a positive feedback loop... OR maybe we really are great applicants...
I agree with you 100%. I was simplifying the process, which is why I placed the caveat for "higher tier programs" (it's hard to give full statements on cell phones), but you explain the full algortihm well. Vibes are definitely at the top of my criteria.The algorithm favors applicants in some sense but this blanket statement is incorrect. The Match algorithm is optimal in the following sense only:
For any given applicant-program pair X, there exists no potential program-applicant pair Y such that applicant X would have preferred program Y relative to program X AND program Y would have preferred applicant X relative to applicant Y.
The match is an iterative process, so it is simply not the case that program preferences do not "kick in" until all applicants have had their say. Yes, you cannot be displaced from a preliminary match unless all slots are preliminarily filled, but if the program has, say, five slots and five people who went ahead of you have a preliminary match to that program, you will not be given a preliminary match to it unless the program prefers you to at least one of those five.
What this means for you really is to just rank in order of preference. There is no superior strategy for ttheery gle match (couples match is wonkier). Definitely would suggest taking vibe into consideration more than what is written on paper or a website, though.
I'm curious what ppl think about vibe though. I just came from a great program where the faculty seemed education oriented and friendly and the residents were cool and the program was in alignment with my values and goals, but I kept getting a not-so good vibe. It wasn't until the day after that I realized my feelings were probably because the facilities looked much worse than some of my other programs, which might have contributed to my view lessening overtime compounded with a very long interview day and process. Has anyone else had similar thoughts/ issues with vibe?
You're great applicants.
So our gut enjoys being well fed and that makes you surprised?
I wish I could like this comment a thousand times.my gut likes when i walk in to interview with somebody and they DO NOT start with "so, what questions can I answer for you?"
my gut likes when i walk in to interview with somebody and they DO NOT start with "so, what questions can I answer for you?"
During my interview it sounded like you worked a full day (anywhere from 6-12 hours based on what needed to get done) either Saturday or Sunday three times a month and had one "golden weekend" per month. That said, I could be totally wrong. Their call schedule was hard to grasp from the residents given that it'll change every year for the next 2-3 years.
There is no state tax in TX and yes, you can have a higher quality there compared to the Northeast.Thanks for everyone's comments on vibe. It definitely helps to put things into perspective and helped me process how I feel about this review. Coupd'Cat has a great and through review, so I'll focus on strengths, weaknesses, and impressions.
Cambridge Health Alliance
Strengths
--Amazing flexibility with elective time. Anything you can tie to psychiatry (like learning meditation in India) is fair game. 4 year has as much elective time as you could want depending on how many therapy patients you keep.
--Community Psych/ Advocacy focus is folded into their mission and is really at the forefront of their program.
--Faculty are very impressive and really humble. I hit it off with all of my interviewers and one of them in particular shared many of my reasons and feelings about pursuing psychiatry and offered to take me under her wing.
--Residents seemed very relaxed. It's hard to really gauge their cohesion because I never interacted with residents in the same year. I also wish I could sit down with some of them one-on-one to really get a sense for how advocacy and social justice inform their approached to psychiatry.
--Therapy is clearly a strong focus here and is very impressive. Seeing therapy patients starts with 1-3 in the 2nd year and expands to 8-10 in the 3rd year. 4th year you can choose your patient panel and see as many or as few as you want.
--Great benefits-
Weaknesses
--COST OF LIVING: This is my largest hesitancy. Coming from the South, I'd take a huge drop to my living standards and potential to get out of debt fast. It's the difference between being out of debt in residency and being out of debt 6-10 years from now. The residents were very open about their struggles with securing housing, which prompted the hospital to begin guaranteeing security when leasing up to $6500. A big example of the COL disparity is comparing it to Texas programs. They salary is almost as much as Boston programs, but the apartments are 40-50% cheaper, the food is cheaper, transportation is cheaper, and (I believe) there are significantly less taxes. This is the case across most Northeastern and Western programs, but needs to be mentioned.
--Call PGY2 and PGY3 is 24 hours q2 weeks.
--Cold (expected)
--Facilities aren't the prettiest
Impressions
This is a great program that I could see myself in. It will end up being a tough decision for me though. Prior to my interview, this was one of my most anticipated interviews and I ranked it preliminarily as my 2nd favorite program. It satisfies all of my curricular requirements and then some, but I think the COL might lead me to rank other programs above it. I'm not sure I can validate the huge drop to my potential standard of living and post-residency flexibility to pursue various interests, in and outside of medicine, when there may be other programs that offer similar strengths without the continued student loan debt accruement.