Applicant sentiment — from 89 anonymous posts, 2017–2027
5.5 / 10
What anonymous posters said
Several anonymous posts noted that relatively few students matched into dermatology from this program, prompting speculation about causes. A number of commenters described the interview process and invitation timing as occurring in batches, and some posts described interview days as engaging or positively received, with mentions of increasing clinical exposure in certain subspecialty areas.
Match termsvanderbiltvanderbilt dermvanderbilt univvandyvandy dermvumc derm
Fame & Shame
2026-2027 Derm
3 entries
❌1. 10 weeks of consults, covering VUMC + children's hospital. You're truly on your own, walking all over the place with no cap on number of consults. The consult room is a janky addition to the outside of a research building, with no access to running water. For some reason, the rest of the building is not directly accessible by card, and you have to go across the courtyard to the outpatient clinics for a bathroom. Two of the attendings are perfectionists for whom nothing you do will ever be good enough. Other than these 10 weeks during PGY-2, a relatively normal residency experience.
❌2. I think it's more than the 10 weeks during the second year of derm. during my away there was a second resident in a different year on consults too.
💬1. The other resident is just there to help out, making it a lot better than previously when it was just a single resident on consults for 5 week straight at a time. The second resident has pretty normal hours, and they're there instead of clinic. Overall the culture is great at Vanderbilt. Call room is a luxurty compared to other places.
2025–2026 Derm
2 entries
❌1. 10 weeks of consults, covering VUMC + children's hospital. You're truly on your own, walking all over the place with no cap on number of consults. The consult room is a janky addition to the outside of a research building, with no access to running water. For some reason, the rest of the building is not directly accessible by card, and you have to go across the courtyard to the outpatient clinics for a bathroom. Two of the attendings are perfectionists for whom nothing you do will ever be good enough. Other than these 10 weeks during PGY-2, a relatively normal residency experience.
❌2. I think it's more than the 10 weeks during the second year of derm. during my away there was a second resident in a different year on consults too.
I love that Vandys clinic is literally in a mall. Their consult service is wild tho
Feb 21
0
it was pretty bad on my away. ran around the hospital until 9pm some days. rounding with the attendings felt very serious and IM vibes>what were the dress vibes for the social? both male and female
Feb 21
0
casual. jeans and nice shirt
Feb 21
0
You love to see it >how long is the inpatient?
Feb 21
0
"you become a dermatologist during second year" lol 10 weeks during PGY3>dassit? thats not bad o:
Feb 21
0
> makes me wish I applied to Vandy... but alas it would've been out of my geo preferences anyways ;z
Feb 21
0
"you become a dermatologist during second year" lol 10 weeks during PGY3>dassit? thats not bad o:
Mar 7
0
0
anyone know how vanderbilt typically matches its med students? seems there is a strong bias against taking home students in past years
I feel like anyone who signaled them (gold or silver, especially gold) should get that back and be able to use it elsewhere. I know this will never happen, but this is really unfair.
Feb 21
0
emory first now this. signals i could have used elsewhere
Feb 21
0
emory said it on website
Feb 21
0
no ones going through every program's website
Feb 21
0
they said it before ERAS was due or no?
Feb 21
0
emory did. Vandy just said it today.
Feb 21
0
lowkey down to report them to the ACGME
Feb 21
0
IU Southwest IM also did this
Feb 21
0
emory first now this. signals i could have used elsewhere
Mar 7
0
emory said it on website
Mar 7
0
no ones going through every program's website
Mar 7
0
they said it before ERAS was due or no?
Mar 7
0
emory did. Vandy just said it today.
Mar 7
0
0
New Vandy insta finally up for those looking to follow along for recruitment-->vumc_derm
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
Mar 7
0
0
Hey ya'll we have most of the spreadsheet filled out now (a separate copy exists despite someone sabotaging and deleting). We are still missing matches for: Kansas (KS), Vanderbilt (TN), Temple (PA), MCG (GA), St. Lukes (PA), HCA Corpus Christi (TX), HealthPartners (MN), Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville) (FL), EVMS (VA), Marshfield Clinic (WI), DCC-Flint (MI), LSU - New Orleans (LA).
Hey ya'll we have most of the spreadsheet filled out now (a separate copy exists despite someone sabotaging and deleting). We are still missing matches for: Kansas (KS), Vanderbilt (TN), Temple (PA), MCG (GA), HCA Corpus Christi (TX), HealthPartners (MN), Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville) (FL), EVMS (VA), Marshfield Clinic (WI), DCC-Flint (MI), LSU - New Orleans (LA).
Mar 21
0
Hey ya'll we have most of the spreadsheet filled out now (a separate copy exists despite someone sabotaging and deleting). We are still missing matches for: Kansas (KS), Vanderbilt (TN), Temple (PA), MCG (GA), HCA Corpus Christi (TX), HealthPartners (MN), Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville) (FL), UFlorida (FL), EVMS (VA), Marshfield Clinic (WI), DCC-Flint (MI), LSU - New Orleans (LA).
Mar 21
0
5 to 10
Mar 22
0
0
Incoming M1 here deciding between WashU and Vandy. Cost is the same. Can someone give me advice on which to choose? I heard WashU did pretty bad in the derm match this year and don't want to be held back since derm is one of the specialties i am really looking into when starting medical school. Does anyone know if WashU supports their derm applicants?
Both schools are excellent when it comes to their Derm residency programs. I would go with personal fit. Maybe weather. I think both are true P/F in preclinical.
Mar 26
0
Not sure what you mean by what you heard in terms of Wash U and the Derm Match this year, but both medical schools are excellent when it comes to their respective Derm residency programs as your home program. I would go with personal fit. Maybe even weather (Nashville vs. St. Louis). I think both are true P/F in preclinical so they're equal there. In past years, Wash U has done just fine when it comes to their internal applicants going for Derm.
URGENT!!!!!!!! If anyone is interviewing at Vanderbilt on 1/28 and able to switch to 1/14, can you please respond here? I am looking to switch to the 1/28 date from 1/14. Thank you!!
jealous! what did y'all get