Still pretty conflicted and this list may change quite a bit, but this is what I'm thinking as of now. I'm looking for a place with strong research and good fellowship programs in most if not all departments (not sure what I want to subspecialize in). In the future, I'd like to go into academics in the southwest. I'm single and would like to stick to a large-ish city where I'm not the only person in the program without a ring on their finger. Given the political climate in the south and a strong desire for a change of scenery, I'm think I'm ready to get out for a little while. Here goes nothing...
1. Stanford
Pros: Great people, great research, free standing pedi hospital, great ICU experience, seems like the program really cares about their residents and resident wellness, loved that west coast vibe, Palo Alto is beautiful and not as cramped-feeling as San Francisco, short drive to the beach and the mountains, no CRNA school, good mix of residents going into academics/fellowship training/PP
Cons: Incredibly expensive, no moonlighting, residents did not seem thrilled about work hours (some talked about wishing they went to a program with moonlighting and better hours), categorical intern year sounds rough
2/3. MGH
Pros: the name doesn't hurt, great research, creates leaders in the field and seems like it has the resources to get you wherever you want to be, Boston is awesome, new PD is motivated to make positive changes to the program (with old PD still around), TY year at NWH for categorical residents, exposure to everything (except trauma), no CRNA school
Cons: I don't feel like I need coddling, but at times this place seemed a little cut-throat, Boston is expensive, no moonlighting, hours (I expect this to be the case with most top programs)
2/3. Brigham
Pros: the name doesn't hurt, strong research, it's in Boston, had a great time at interview dinner, claims to be "Harvard with a heart" (though BID also says this), no CRNA school
Cons: Boston is expensive, no moonlighting, no livers, slightly weaker peds experience than MGH, categorical intern year sounds rough
After those three it gets a little murky.
Places I'd love to match, but aren't as high on my list (in no particular order):
Vanderbilt (pros: periop, Nashville seems cool and decently affordable, lots of fellowship options cons: PD and I didn't really click, place seems overrun by CRNAs, married people abound, no public transportation, it's in the south, I have no friends there)
Mt. Sinai (pros: awesome people, love the PD, ample moonlighting and research, subsidized housing, finally some single people cons: NYC ain't cheap, weaker peds, old facilities, concerned it would hinder finding a job outside of the NE)
UPMC (pros: happy residents, better lifestyle than most, moonlighting, Pittsburgh is apparently cool now? cons: lack of diversity in faculty I met, lots of different locations, weaker in the area of research I'm interested in, CRNAs/SRNAs everywhere)
Duke (pros: strong in all areas, PD was great, research, affordable, moonlighting cons: intern year, residents at dinner seemed really tired and some were difficult to hold a conversation with, at the lunch a bunch of residents sat in a group rather than interact with interviewees)
UNC (pros: investing a lot in resident education, affordable, really enjoyed my interviews with faculty, moonlighting cons: may be a little too laid back for me, weaker research, Chapel Hill not the best for being single, relationship between dept and CRNAs seemed to be a little rocky)
Places I'd be happy matching at, but I have some concerns about (in no particular order):
UCSF (pros: great name, awesome city, good exposure to all areas of anesthesia, great research, few CRNAs cons: weird interviews, absurdly expensive...I'm not trying to have roommates in residency, lots of hospitals)
UAB (pros: loved the program on paper, very supportive of additional education and research while in residency, ridiculous amounts of moonlighting, affordable cons: residents not diverse...75% married white guys, it's in Alabama, many go PP)
WashU (pros: great research, strong in all areas, moonlighting, affordable cons: weird PD interview, St. Louis is somewhat sketchy, some residents voiced concerns about work hours)
UVA (pros: great vibe from program leadership, Charlottesville, moonlighting, pedi hearts rotation, great resident education cons: most go into PP, low OB #'s, weaker research, everyone is married, Charlottesville isn't the easiest place to be single)
BID (pros: Harvard affiliation, Boston, great PD, good access to research cons: weak exposure to transplants, didn't click as well with residents here as I did at BWH and MGH, expensive, feel like I'd get better training elsewhere)
Miami (pros: Miami, good trauma and transplant exposure, moonlighting cons: not as academic as I would like, residents complained about working hours, expensive, not a research powerhouse)
Meh (in no particular order):
Penn
Baylor
Columbia
I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to interview at all of these incredible places. My fellow interviewees have incredible education and research backgrounds and have accomplished far more than I have in medical school. My favorite programs are all extremely competitive so I'm prepared to drop lower on my rank list (and I'm okay with that). I could see myself getting excellent training at almost all of the programs above. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom as I try to figure out my rank list!