Applicant sentiment — from 140 anonymous posts, 2017–2027
6.5 / 10
What anonymous posters said
Anonymous posters frequently described Northwestern's program as highly competitive, citing large applicant pools relative to available spots. Many comments framed the program favorably in comparisons with other programs, and a few highlighted strengths in pediatric dermatology and Mohs training, while some posts referred to it as a 'rotation mill.'
Match termsmcgawnmhnmh dermnorthwestnorthwest mcgawnorthwesternnorthwestern dermnorthwestern mcgawnu dermnw dermnw med
Fame & Shame
2025–2026 Derm
2 entries
❌1. Formal between faculty and residents and tense. Not a relaxed feeling and some residents are standoff-ish and rude (some are wonderful, but it's very hit or miss). Generally not as social as they may seem. I was sad as this was my first choice in the beginning (esp given their social media) and I was a little shocked at how much I disliked it. I ended up ranking them very low after my interview. Also, only 1 resident has matched MOHs since 2019 and that match was back in 2020. One match in 2020? Are they not interviewing their own candidates? This was a red flag for me but if this is a consideration for you, maybe talk to the current residents to sus out program support. There do seem to be residents aiming for MOHs in the next classes, so hopefully their outcomes are better. Anyways, always try to get the most exposure to your top programs if possible, because they may surprise you in a bad OR good way. More info is better.
❌2. Have heard this is not a great program for Mohs since department is not as supportive in taking their own residents.
see right, but whichever one you'd want to match at and think your app is competitive for IV
Feb 21
0
Northwestern i've heard is a rotation mill
Feb 21
1
UChicago seems like a pretty workhorse program, only 3 residents per year so I'm sure inpatient is a bit of a nightmare>> Neither. Northwestern is rotation mill and UChicago's PD is weirdo / their away to II rate is low af
Feb 21
0
UChicago seems like a pretty workhorse program, only 3 residents per year so I'm sure inpatient is a bit of a nightmare>> Neither. Northwestern is rotation mill and UChicago's PD is weirdo / their away to II rate is low af
Mar 7
0
0
would you rather have all honors and 0 research, or 1-2 honors with 20+ pubs/research items??
Feel like it depends on all of the other factors of your application (Step score, mentors/letters, med school prestige, etc.) ofc having all honors and lots of research would be better than either so it's hard to compare those scenarios without looking at everything else
Feb 21
0
does med school prestige really matter if youre not planning on going to a t10 derm program? (in terms of MD applicants)
Feb 21
0
i'd rather have a well balanced app w some honors and some pubs, than all honors 0 pubs but thats me
Feb 21
0
med school prestige is factored more for certain programs (defintely lower on the list in terms of factors assessed), agree about having a more well-rounded app
Feb 21
0
>the neurotic 270+ step 2, all honors, 20+ research derm applicant is few and far between. Believe in yourself - not all applicants are perfect. theyre average :). Aim for as many honors as you feasibly can, handful of pubs, show people you're likeable. that'll take you farther than grades and research at the end of the day
Feb 21
0
personality and fit is huge
Feb 21
1
is a 270+ strong research applicant really few and far between lol it seems like this is not uncommon?
Feb 21
0
I've heard of quite a few people with these stats, I think it's also important to consider mentors and who you know since that can influence one's chances of matching
Feb 21
0
agreed, and connections from away rotations make a huge difference in terms of "networking" as well. the loudest ones are the ones that have the best stats, but dont get into your head about it! > more good thoughts like this please, maybe we're all just delusional
Feb 21
1
also want to say, I feel on reddit and these spreadsheets, we tend to see people on the extremes in terms of stats and research while the "average" students who match tend to not put a bunch of stuff here making it seem like applicants are extraordinary
Feb 21
0
connections
Feb 21
0
scores in 95% of cases, excluding the "top" programs which virtue signal about evaluating applicants holistically (looking at u UCSF). It's hilarious how they say they don't have cutoffs for board scores, but they magically end up matching residents with only the most insane stats >how do you know this info? They don't release stats publically, and UCSF seems to match many students who dont come from T5 programs.
Feb 21
0
Current R3/R4s come from: UCSD, UC Davis, UMich, UCSF, Hopkins, Emory, UCSF, Vandy, Northwestern, UCSF, Hopkins, UCSF, Penn. Idk seems pretty high ranking for programs (excluding the California bias)
Feb 21
0
You can also see what they tell their own students about required stats for matching (https://meded.ucsf.edu/student-services/specialty-information-and-advising#Dermatology), for example in their table "How important is each the following for admission to a competitive program?", where honors, AOA, and research are highly recommended
Feb 21
0
does med school prestige really matter if youre not planning on going to a t10 derm program? (in terms of MD applicants)
Mar 7
0
i'd rather have a well balanced app w some honors and some pubs, than all honors 0 pubs but thats me
Mar 7
0
med school prestige is factored more for certain programs (defintely lower on the list in terms of factors assessed), agree about having a more well-rounded app
Mar 7
0
personality and fit is huge
Mar 7
0
is a 270+ strong research applicant really few and far between lol it seems like this is not uncommon?
Mar 7
0
I've heard of quite a few people with these stats, I think it's also important to consider mentors and who you know since that can influence one's chances of matching
Mar 7
0
agreed, and connections from away rotations make a huge difference in terms of "networking" as well. the loudest ones are the ones that have the best stats, but dont get into your head about it! > more good thoughts like this please, maybe we're all just delusional
Mar 7
0
also want to say, I feel on reddit and these spreadsheets, we tend to see people on the extremes in terms of stats and research while the "average" students who match tend to not put a bunch of stuff here making it seem like applicants are extraordinary
Mar 7
0
scores in 95% of cases, excluding the "top" programs which virtue signal about evaluating applicants holistically (looking at u UCSF). It's hilarious how they say they don't have cutoffs for board scores, but they magically end up matching residents with only the most insane stats >how do you know this info? They don't release stats publically, and UCSF seems to match many students who dont come from T5 programs.
Mar 7
0
Current R3/R4s come from: UCSD, UC Davis, UMich, UCSF, Hopkins, Emory, UCSF, Vandy, Northwestern, UCSF, Hopkins, UCSF, Penn. Idk seems pretty high ranking for programs (excluding the California bias)
Mar 7
0
You can also see what they tell their own students about required stats for matching (https://meded.ucsf.edu/student-services/specialty-information-and-advising#Dermatology), for example in their table "How important is each the following for admission to a competitive program?", where honors, AOA, and research are highly recommended
would love to know if UCSD is one of those programs where if you get an away it truly means they are considering you - I know other programs (wake forest, northwestern, penn) are rotation mills
Feb 21
0
UCSD would be so cool to rotate at but ik it's an investment so also wondering if it's worth rotating there>>> only do an away if you are from a prestigous school for them to consider you
Feb 21
1
Look at who they matched/prior matches, that should tell you everything (they love prestige)
Feb 21
0
the prestige thing is super true for UCSD. I II'd there from a mid-tier school and I was the only one not from like a top 20 lol
Feb 21
0
groosssssss
Feb 21
0
would you consider coming from Sinai to be prestigious or nah
Feb 21
0
they matched someone from Einstein this year and that was the "lowest" rank school they matched
Feb 21
0
seemed like they did an away there so maybe an away is worth doing if you aren't from a "top" school?
Feb 21
0
the prestige thing is super true for UCSD. I II'd there from a mid-tier school and I was the only one not from like a top 20 lol
Mar 7
0
groosssssss
Mar 7
0
they matched someone from Einstein this year and that was the "lowest" rank school they matched
Mar 7
0
seemed like they did an away there so maybe an away is worth doing if you aren't from a "top" school?
Mar 7
0
0
is anyone ranking northwestern differently now that Paller is stepping down as chair, also multiple faculty leaving and or retiring in near future
bro they went 10/13 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r
Apr 15
0
Two people in T5s, two more in T10s...pretty solid if u ask me
Apr 15
0
Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston
Apr 15
0
Bruh, in what world is UCSF, Northwestern, UCSD, NYU, Southwestern not impressive. I also think it’s impressive that everyone was able to match at other institutions besides Hopkins. It’s prob more impressive than say, CWRU where a bunch of internals stayed
Apr 15
0
Plus being able to match at some of these CA / NYC programs without aways, crackedd
Apr 15
0
Lmao Hopkins really catching strays this cycle
Apr 15
0
bro they went 10/12 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r
Apr 15
0
Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness
Apr 15
1
prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.
Apr 15
0
Agree, CWRU tends to just match their internals
Apr 15
0
Hopkins as a med school is very good so the name prob carries despite the derm dpt being not as strong >Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston
Apr 15
0
Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness over prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.
Apr 15
0
some ppl like boston tho
Apr 16
0
0
how many fellows from northwestern match on average
It was mostly positive toward Hopkins, idk why they would be the ones to delete it
Apr 19
0
what is the tea about them
Apr 20
0
there's no tea, it was actually just a bunch of people defending Hopkins. idk why someone was so pressed to delete it
Apr 21
0
[COPIED FROM PRIOR VERS] Is it just me or do Hopkins students not match all that well compared to other peer schools?
Apr 21
0
bro they went 10/12 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r
Apr 21
0
Two people in T5s, two more in T10s...pretty solid if u ask me
Apr 21
0
Hopkins as a med school is very good so the name prob carries despite the derm dpt being not as strong >Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston
Apr 21
0
Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness over prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.
Apr 21
0
some ppl like boston tho
Apr 21
0
[COPIED FROM PRIOR VERS] Bruh, in what world is UCSF, Northwestern, UCSD, NYU, Southwestern not impressive. I also think it’s impressive that everyone was able to match at other institutions besides Hopkins. It’s prob more impressive than say, CWRU where a bunch of internals stayed
Apr 21
0
Agree, CWRU tends to just match their internals
Apr 21
0
Plus being able to match at some of these CA / NYC programs without aways, crackedd
Apr 21
0
0
Does anyone have thoughts on the Northwestern advanced rotation? I have the option of advanced or outpatient focused.
personally, loved the outpatient rotation to get to know as many people in the department; also was very hands on so could show work ethic to many people
Apr 15
0
0
Second guessing myself. Duke or Northwestern?<i will come find you and yell at you if you put northwestern higher than duke. for your own good < northwestern
Anyone have opinions on Northwestern besides the fake vibes comments?>> Theres tons of opinions on it besides that on here just cntrl + F idk what more you want to gauge your opinion on it
no need to be rude :) but thanks >> How is that rude? You asked for opinions, someone told you how to find said opinions other than the ones you didn't want, and then specified what else you wanted?
Mar 21
0
0
any tea on northwestern? < Weird vibes, did an away here > weird in what way ? < Some faculty involved with residency training were rude, also 7:30 am didatics (hybrid, some in person, and when virtual camera is on) < Was told by resident that the chair has her clear favorites (those who do more research)>you would have favs too if you were the chair. this is a weak critique thats like that anywhere >> Yeah don't think chair having favorites is real tea
Anyone else feel a positive bias towards programs that gave us a resident buddy, and is that unfounded??>> Northwestern assigns you a 'resident mentor' aka spy and micromanager so it give me a negative bias < Northwestern assigned us resident mentors and they were not spies, I found them helpful and they helped me get more clinics with an attending I asked for a LOR :) >> GLURK GLURK GLURK GLURK >> you obviously want to match there because why are you so mad LOL focus on the programs that you like..simple <3 >> I clearly don't want to go to a sus program, you're the one bent over backwards nobody else here is pressed but you. Enjoy! << Omg the GWORLZ are fighting
see right, but whichever one you'd want to match at and think your app is competitive for IV