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U Michigan Hosps-Ann Arbor

Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

NRMP
1293080A0
ACGME
0802531045

Applicant sentiment — from 150 anonymous posts, 2016–2027

4.8 / 10

What anonymous posters said

Anonymous posters frequently discussed a past reputation issue tied to an old online thread, with several saying concerns had since improved and others suggesting problems persisted; opinions on resident happiness were mixed. Multiple posts described long work hours and strong academic/research standing, while several noted limited cosmetic dermatology exposure.

AI-generated summary of opinions expressed in anonymous, unverified posts. It describes what posters wrote, not verified facts about this program. Based on these 150 posts · Updated Aug 2026 · Contest or respond to this entry · Takedown & right of reply

Match terms
ann arborann arbor dermmichiganmichigan dermu michiganumichuniversity of michigan

Fame & Shame

2025–2026 Derm

2 entries

1. Super sweet residents, they try really hard to make you feel welcome, the course coordinator and director are extremely responsive and invested in your experience, and they all write nice comments about you! Mostly working with residents and a few dedicated days with an attending 1:1 in clinic. Attendings you work with are also super kind.

1. Parking sucks; expensive at main hospital and even then, have to drive around to find a spot for a while.

Page 8 of 12

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What programs have people been impressed by so far?

#22512019-2020 DermMar 23

NYU, I don't know what the past interview impressions were talking about, the faculty were very funny/witty and not "stone faced" at all. I wish that we had been able to see Bellevue (I got to see it during medical school interviews, and I do think that it is the crown jewel of NYU). Still, I enjoyed the presentations since all the faculty members came out to give their take on the school and their specialty. Also, UTSW, so many residents came out, program is super strong, PD seems super invested in the program (especially to have stayed the PD for ~30 years), the 2-day interview and the faculty/residents coming out on a Saturday made a strong impression on how much they value the educational aspect of the dermatology department. Derm interviews end up being quite an elaborate production.

Mar 23
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agree with NYU, really left a strong impression on me. Another underrated one was Michigan. I thought the interview staff were exceptional and the interviewers had all read my app/had insightful questions

Mar 23
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Emory!!!! Just kidding ... UVA was really solid

Mar 23
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I'm actually so suprised by Michigan! That goes to show that you take the things said on the internet with a grain of salt. What ever malignancy that was there is definitely in the past. So many great changes have been made and the residents were genuinely happy.

Mar 23
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interview day doesn't always equate to what it is actually like to work there x2

Mar 23
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hopefully Michigan has changed as people have said since that post a few years back. I have friends who are there for things like ENT and plastics and they're known for having one of the best surgical cultures in the country

Mar 23
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UAB! If this program were in a more popular or sexy location it would be a top tier type program. Extremely well-rounded with a big wig chair who advocates like heck for her residents for fellowships, jobs (private or academic). Residents get their fellowships in a very happy collegial atmosphere. Low COL, high QOL, overall awesome!

Mar 23
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MCW! residents are incredibly nice, faculty is diverse in training and the program is growing. During the interview, chair is ambitious (he is an incredibly big name) and really trying to seel program. He has already accomplished a lot. Low COL and they really wanted everyone to be there. I also interviewed at UAB, it did not feel top tier. The faculty is incredibly small for it to be a top tier... yeah I was really disappointed by UAB too

Mar 23
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MCG having a 100% Mohs match rate was impressive to me given the national averages

Mar 23
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over what time frame?

Mar 23
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I think is quite new program

Mar 23
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Not sure over what time frame but seemed like since the chair has been there. the program was started in 1967 so not exactly new

Mar 23
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agree with NYU...definitely solidified itself as #1 program in the country << you're trying too hard with this comment

Mar 23
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Einstein vs WashU?

#21512019-2020 DermMar 23

Same idea as Michigan << what does that mean? << see below

Mar 23
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thoughts on Einstein vs Michigan? << if you have any inclination of going academics, michigan is your best bet. If you want private practice, Einstein will set you up for it. Most of their faculty do not engage in meaningful research. A few select faculty are pumping out the research. More diversity at Einstein in terms of patient population so you will be very good at skin of color. Also, depends if you want a fellowship. I know last year a chief resident didn't match for Mohs. Michigan is probably better for fellowship too. Think about your career goals when making this decision. Both locations are not ideal. Michigan has had some malignancy issues, but any program in NYC will be relatively colder than outside of NYC

#21502019-2020 DermMar 23

Einstein for location and patient diversity<einstein is in the bronx, not a great location...I'd go to Michigan hands down, it is superior in every aspect

Mar 23
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michigan so you don't have to live in the bronx

Mar 23
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einstein so you can live in NYC and not ann arbor<lol any other thoughts on programs itself?

Mar 23
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Michigan has ?malignant reputation FWIW

Mar 23
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What kind of dermatologist do you want to be? Academics? Michigan hands down. Amazing network. Their residents go on to become Chairs of departments. Einstein for gen derm

Mar 23
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Someone below wrote NYU, Pitt, USC, Miami and Michigan as poss malignant programs. I saw reasons for NYU, Pitt, USC and Michigan but NOT Miami. Does anyone have any reason why they would say Miami is malignant? I have heard good things.

#19472019-2020 DermMar 23

They say those programs are malignant so you rank them lower, and then they can match at them, lol

Mar 23
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I think there's a lot of people who state something with authority when either they don't really know themselves or when they're just being malicious and stating false stuff, but from my own limited personal understanding, these programs are the ones that repeatedly -- year after year -- are cited as "malignant." But I think people are using a broad definition of malignant and the reasons for being listed as "malignant" are different for each program -- NYU has been stated to have unhappy residents who do a lot of scut (as can be said about Columbia) with not the nicest attendings; Pitt has been stated to have somewhat uncaring attendings; USC is broadly a scandal-ridden school so not particularly dermatology department-related; Michigan has supposedly improved; UMiami they just work you hard eg, 7:00 am daily lectures (as can be said about UCSF). So I think malignant in derm programs is not like general surgery malignant, I think just one or more of hard working/unhappy residents/not very nice or caring attendings.

Mar 23
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<<well said. I a lot of the "malignant" rep just means your are working a little harder in some way relative to some other programs. However, some of these top programs are top programs because they work you a little harder...forcing you to learn a little more. -- Agreed --> I would disagree slightly. Sometimes "working harder" doesn't mean learning more. It just means working harder. x3

Mar 23
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<lol someone said lower that malignant means having morning lectures. Very broad range of definitions here

Mar 23
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I think people have the expectation that derm residency should be a 9-5 cush job...? << I don't think that person was conflating 7 AM lectures with malignancy, I think it was a separate question

Mar 23
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7 am lecture is a special type of torture but not malignant, agree.

Mar 23
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idk I equate malignant with people (attendings, coresidents, PD, chair, etc) being actively mean and malicious. Like not caring about the residents or caring that they are unhappy. Long hours, early lecture = sucks but not necessarily malignant if people know about it in advance and sign up for it.

Mar 23
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Since we're already discussing Michigan, any other notoriously malignant top 5/ top tier programs? > wtf is happening. supposedly every program is malignant?

#19382019-2020 DermMar 23

Any program with daily didatics before 8am. <name names x2

Mar 23
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HAS DIDACTICS AT 7AM EVERY DAY << HF has morning lectures <<LOL someone deleted UCSF being malignant

Mar 23
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UCSF is malignant

Mar 23
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how are 7am lectures = MALIGNANT? I think people are confusing working hard and dedicated learning with malignant LOL << I don't think anyone is conflating 7AM with malignant. It was a seperate question.

Mar 23
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the initial response though spoke of lectures before 8am = malignant, so it can be inferrered the subsequent responses were in the same vein

Mar 23
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I've heard that Stanford is very very....NON malignant <uhhhhm i've never heard that before

Mar 23
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originally it said not malignant, some foo edited it

Mar 23
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resident lurker here FYI UCSF's lectures start at 8 am everyday not 7 am. There is a 7:30 am dermpath session before lecture on Tuesdays.

Mar 23
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r

#19332019-2020 DermMar 23

<what scandal? x2 (☉Д☉)

Mar 23
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<-some resident posted online about how much they disliked the program, bad-mouthing it, etc. turns out the person was a problem resident in other ways so people took their rant with a grain of salt. UMichigan addressed it during interview day and told everyone they were taking steps to make their program less malignant. IIRC PD also just changed recently. (lurking derm resident). Thread: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/malignancy-at-michigan-dermatology.1296049/

Mar 23
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< wish more programs would come to terms about their malignancy ;)

Mar 23
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Ok, I will come out of lurking. I am a resident at UM. I'm not going to answer a ton of questions but wanted to chime in and say the online badmouthing was regarding conditions that are now totally different and the PD really made an effort to hear grievances/change. That person who did the posting was a sour character who was unhappy in general. There were also some blatant lies like our PD discourages people from getting pregnant (I think 9 people have had kids in the past 2 years). Is our program perfect? Of course not. Am I happy here? Yes I am. Did someone pay me/threaten me to post this, definitely not. If you come and interview here please ask quesitons about this - we will be 100% transparent with you. <Thank you for this!

Mar 23
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Well this should be a good lesson learned for UMichigan. Often, we as applicants will get overlooked because of something on our application and programs (especially top tier) can just go to another applicant for an interview who checks all the boxes. The justification given (rightfully) is that they should not have to settle since they can get an applicant who has it all. Well UMichigan, while these rumors might not be true or the issues have been addressed, I can just rank a program that is not filled with drama and doesn't have people getting so worked up that they post online. X2

Mar 23
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This "well well well michigan, i'm too good for you" post is the saltiest shit i've read on here. I'm not derm but i'm couples matching with derm and I hope you don't end up in my partner's program

Mar 23
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take it for what it's worth, but I have friends who are current residents at the Michigan program. 1 loves it, 2 can't wait to get out

Mar 23
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I think this would be true of many big programs or maybe that is overly pessimistic of me.

Mar 23
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Or they matched residents who fell so low on their rank list that they're happy to "end up" at Michigan. I don't think it's anyone's number 1 program. << nahhh UM is definitely a backup school

Mar 23
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<< there are some wayyyyy worse (toxic) programs than UM that are bragged about as being good. UM's just the one that people keep talking about because it's already out there in rumors. They honestly have improved considerably<what are some of the other toxic programs? x2

Mar 23
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Miami, Pitt, USC

Mar 23
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<-- in what way has USC been/is toxic?

Mar 23
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I just opened up my 12/14 Michigan date on Interview Broker. Hopefully this really helps out whoever was first on the waitlist!

#18952019-2020 DermMar 23

thank you for not hoarding interviews x3

Mar 23
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prayin for the trickle

Mar 23
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yo just send me the direct link to the interview broker XD

Mar 23
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YOOOO YOU THE HOMIE. THANKS SO MUCH FAM.

Mar 23
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anyone going from SF to Michigan on 1/8 by any chance? Theres literally no good flights.....whatre you guys doing

#18762019-2020 DermMar 23

My family is in SF and I am living in MI now.. I'm just commenting with sympathy because you totally lose the entire day in travel + time change. Delta has the best times. Other than that I have no useful advice.

Mar 23
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what are the strongest telederm programs in the country?

#17662019-2020 DermMar 23

probably Harvard. Not sure who else has telederm

Mar 23
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A lot of other schools have strong telederm programs << like who? <emory< a lot of programs have integrated it at one of their sites. VA commonly has telederm at a few programs across the country.

Mar 23
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Iowa, BU, Michigan, mizzou, etc

Mar 23
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ok but which one is best? how is Pitt?

Mar 23
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not sure which is best, but some google searching may tell you. I hear Mizzou's is strong

Mar 23
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Can we create some sort of list on what reputations/tiers are? Think this would be useful since I feel like there's not a great objective system of rankings. >>Maybe someone can make a tab and everyone can make their preconceived thoughts on program strengths, might be useful to compare especially since some of us geographically limited lol > A list like this is probably not useful or valid. But it would be fun to see what people think. Tier list page made!

#17102019-2020 DermMar 23

Top tier: UPenn Harvard UCSF NYU Mayo Michigan, Emory, Henry Ford?) and Michigan and Mayo are not top tier. Would add Stanford, Hopkins, and UCLA instead)

Mar 23
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would also add UTSW https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/157864/practice-management/us-dermatology-residency-program-rankings-based/page/0/1 <<what is the difference between this article and the doximity rankings? Is there more validity to one vs the other? << lol, someone put UCLA in top tier (UCLA isn't even a Department, it's a Division) >> lol UCLA low tier for sure << realistically, probably middle to low, great overall health system but will always have hands tied and no real ability to grow

Mar 23
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UCLA is a solid program, strong surgical training, lacks the super complex patients of some more intense programs but it depends on what you are looking for in your training << I don't think anyone's saying it's a bad program, just not a top tier, that's kind of silly

Mar 23
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UCLA is the perfect example of a low-to-mid tier program that is nonetheless quite competitive given it's in California. Again, there's often a disconnect between prestige/quality of training and competitiveness. Location, location, location.

Mar 23
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No way that Hopkins and UCLA would be top tier over Michigan and Mayo

Mar 23
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Mid-tier: OHSU, Iowa, Minnesota, UPMC >> Would probably put MN as low tier? >> Thoughts? Why? >> Minnesota would probably be in same tier as OHSU, Iowa, UPMC. Iowa has great faculty, but I think it does suffer from being in a relatively non-diverse, predominately white, smallish-city in Iowa. Minnesota, OHSU, and UPMC are in more urban environments with at least UPMC and Minnesota having more ethnic / racial diversity, (Portland is super white as well). Also, no one should trust that MDedge nonsense x5

Mar 23
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To be fair they tried to make an objective measure. Many of the opinions here leave out some good programs and add in top medical schools that are not top derm programs

Mar 23
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MN, Iowa as med-high tier? Would drop UPMC to low tier (just feel like no residents really enjoy it there but maybe that's just me lol)? And Iowa usually as a top 20 program on almost all ranking systems (though you cant always trust these things so who knows). I think its one of those places that suffers in many peoples minds because they have a not-so great med school and its in the mid west, but the derm program is actually extremely well-respected independednt of those facts

Mar 23
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1. Penn 2. UCSF 3. NYU 4. Harvard 5. Stanford 6. Northwestern 7. Emory 8. UTSW 9. Hopkins 10. Wash U 11. Mayo 12. Michigan 13. Iowa 14. HF 15. OHSU 16. Colorado 17. Minnesota 18. Utah 19. Cornell 20. Vanderbilt

Mar 23
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<-What is this list based on? Its totally inaccurate. Hopkins and Vanderbilt are mid tier programs at best. No Yale? No UW? No Wisconsin? No Miami? No Sinai? Cornell over Columbia? UPMC is definitely mid to top tier. Also, tiers maybe, but I dont understand how you can possibly rank 1 vs. 3 vs. 8 off the cuff << yeah, 1-3 is pretty standard, gets messy with next 5 I was about to post how accurate this list is. Some of the programs listed above are no way in the conversation. You can maybe disagree with Wash U/Cornell to the left tho. I'd agree Vanderbilt too high too

Mar 23
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<Yale for sure. x4 . Think that list is pretty accurate for top 20 minus Wash U, Cornell, and Vanderbilt. Would replace with Yale and Columbia. And Cleveland Clinic maybe. <<I question the order of some of these too. Hopkins is not a top 10 (but it is a top 20 probably). I agree that Sinai, miami, Columbia would also be top 20. Vandy should not be on that list and neither should a few others.

Mar 23
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<How good are the following programs: UPMC, Hopkins, UCSD, Miami.

Mar 23
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I think those are all decent programs (mid-top tier?). I would say that I typically view Hopkins as a mid-tier program (they don't have a lot of diversity in terms of training sites, though Hopkins itself is a great hospital). Miami is typically considered a Top 10 program - but they also are quite disorganized, old facilities, longer hours (Saturday clinics). UPMC takes a lot of MD/PhDs and has great Mohs training, though I never found their program actually attracts people who want to be there. UCSD is solid, somewhat basic-science focused. It's outshined by other programs in California (e.g. Stanford, UCSF, USC) and San Diego has great weather / beaches, though admittedly isn't the most exciting place to live / lacks a lot of arts / culture compared to most bigger cities in the United States.

Mar 23
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name me a state with better Mexican food tho

Mar 23
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have people's opinions changed about the number of programs they should have applied to (less? more? about the same?)

#15772019-2020 DermMar 23

about the same x2, more x0, fewer x7 (no Texas programsx2)

Mar 23
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As someone who has never left the West Coast, I should have listened to my mentors when they said programs in the South, Midwest, and to a lesser extent the East Coast wouldn't take my application seriously

Mar 23
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<--- TRUTH

Mar 23
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<-- any reasons West Coast programs take so long to send out invites if they're known to have geographical bias (a few Texas programs have gone out despite their bias)

Mar 23
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not sure. I don't think there is a connection between geographic bias and when they send out invites

Mar 23
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<-- maybe poster meant programs that have geographical bias might just screen out applicants from other regions

Mar 23
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UMich PD used to call out of region applicants (with no warning) and say "we want to interview you - would you actually come here?". Terrifying!

Mar 23
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what are you supposed to say to that besides "yes"?

Mar 23
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I posted on the swap, but anyone want to switch to a 1/9 Michigan interview date? Thank you!

#14622019-2020 DermMar 23
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Anyone with a Michigan interview date want to switch for 1/9/19 date?

#14002019-2020 DermMar 23

Could you possibly contact the PC regarding this? Your request is visible on the chat and on the swap date pages so I think you've done the best you can from this side of things. > Didn't post on the swap page sassyman/woman >> Leaders and Best, ladies and gentleman.

Mar 23
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What about prelims / TY?

Mar 23
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Program Michigan - Location Columbia <anyone else?

#10902019-2020 DermMar 23
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about the same x2, more x0, fewer x7 (no Texas programsx2)

#1872019-2020 DermMar 23

As someone who has never left the West Coast, I should have listened to my mentors when they said programs in the South, Midwest, and to a lesser extent the East Coast wouldn't take my application seriously

Mar 23
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<--- TRUTH

Mar 23
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<-- any reasons West Coast programs take so long to send out invites if they're known to have geographical bias (a few Texas programs have gone out despite their bias)

Mar 23
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not sure. I don't think there is a connection between geographic bias and when they send out invites

Mar 23
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<-- maybe poster meant programs that have geographical bias might just screen out applicants from other regions

Mar 23
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UMich PD used to call out of region applicants (with no warning) and say "we want to interview you - would you actually come here?". Terrifying!

Mar 23
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what are you supposed to say to that besides "yes"?

Mar 23
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