school name isn't everything as someone from Penn med, even tho we have a top derm program several of us weren't given help or research by our home department. It was a struggle for us to find opportunities and research. Just wanted to add since someone from HMS wrote below. Only have 3 interviews despite tons of networking, high step, etc.
Similar experience here at another med school with a top name derm program.
> honestly don't know, I picked Penn because of its name and ranking and defintely thought there would be more support for students interested in derm. Seems like HMS also isn't that supportive based on what's written below so idk what "top" schools support students interested in derm
I will say that coming from a top school that isn't supportive can hurt you because if you reach out to other programs for research opportunities they will say that "Penn has an amazing dept work with them" and then we are also told not to do aways as it will hurt our institution name (prob because they think we will underperform)
that's crazy, any other top schools telling their students not to do aways? do you guys tend to match good anyway?
we do match well but I think it's because there's a ton of us - like we have double digit derm matches but also a ton don't match - lots of us are told to extend graduation as we are reapplying as med students rather than residents - also doesn't hurt the match rate that way lol - some of the ppl here come in with crazy good connections and exisiting research PIs, it's the reality of going to a top school, lots of competition and not enough opportunities despite there being already so many because too much interest. I have friends at HMS that also have been advised not to do aways prob the same for the T10
duke specifically advises their students to do 2 aways (smart advisors) (actually that's new, and primarily student driven bc they've had consecutive years of students not matching)> yale also advised us not to do aways
coming from a T10 also hurts when applying to mid-tier/lower-tier/community programs because they think that you won't come there (when some of us only have interviews at these programs)
so true, coming from another T10 school here and people are not getting high numbers of interviews here despite being outstanding candidates in every respect, just think that a ton of programs assume we'll go to another top program so the mid/low tier programs are incredibly low yield. also not advised to do aways
similar to the penn story, i won't say what school but also T10? when i reached out to other programs, they were like oh you go to X school, work with them, they are your best bet!
ikr how many ii are you at? did your home offer you an interview?> i'm at 7II but I did 3 aways + home and networked! despite that one program telling me off. shouldve just left that program alone but i still applied and gave them a gold lol CLOWN move!
bigger clown move is complaining when you have 7 interviews. Go prep?
#cope! never complained. simply giving more insight into how top schools can "affect" you
my sister (applying med school rn) also wants to do derm, do i tell her Penn is not the place for derm? Had no idea Penn was like that. She interviewed there and it is her first choice.
POOP
I will say that coming from a top school that isn't supportive can hurt you because if you reach out to other programs for research opportunities they will say that "Penn has an amazing dept work with them" and then we are also told not to do aways as it will hurt our institution name (prob because they think we will underperform)
that's crazy, any other top schools telling their students not to do aways? do you guys tend to match good anyway?
we do match well but I think it's because there's a ton of us - like we have double digit derm matches but also a ton don't match - lots of us are told to extend graduation as we are reapplying as med students rather than residents - also doesn't hurt the match rate that way lol - some of the ppl here come in with crazy good connections and exisiting research PIs, it's the reality of going to a top school, lots of competition and not enough opportunities despite there being already so many because too much interest. I have friends at HMS that also have been advised not to do aways prob the same for the T10
duke specifically advises their students to do 2 aways (smart advisors) (actually that's new, and primarily student driven bc they've had consecutive years of students not matching)> yale also advised us not to do aways
coming from a T10 also hurts when applying to mid-tier/lower-tier/community programs because they think that you won't come there (when some of us only have interviews at these programs)
so true, coming from another T10 school here and people are not getting high numbers of interviews here despite being outstanding candidates in every respect, just think that a ton of programs assume we'll go to another top program so the mid/low tier programs are incredibly low yield. also not advised to do aways
ikr how many ii are you at? did your home offer you an interview?> i'm at 7II but I did 3 aways + home and networked! despite that one program telling me off. shouldve just left that program alone but i still applied and gave them a gold lol CLOWN move!
bigger clown move is complaining when you have 7 interviews. Go prep?
#cope! never complained. simply giving more insight into how top schools can "affect" you
my sister (applying med school rn) also wants to do derm, do i tell her Penn is not the place for derm? Had no idea Penn was like that. She interviewed there and it is her first choice.
looking back at your experience so far in the derm match, would you choose Penn again? If not where do you wish you would've gone (specifics not needed, just curious).