Johns Hopkins University Program Individual Response

What is your in-state status?:

Out of state

On what date did the interview take place?:

2/1/2008

How do you rank this residency among ALL other residencies?:

9 out of 10

How do you rank this residency among other residencies to which you've applied?:

9 out of 10

What is your ranking of this program's facilities?:

4 out of 10

What is your ranking of this program's location?:

3 out of 10

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?:

4 out of 10

What was the stress level of the interview?:

7 out of 10

How did the interview impress you?:

Positively

How long was the interview?:

20 minutes

How many people interviewed you?:

4

What was the style of the interview?:

One-on-one

How was your interview day? Please summarize.:

Impression: C'mon...it's Hopkins. <br><br> Lodging: They put you up at a sweet Hyatt in the Inner Harbor. Parking's $27 for the night, and you pay - ouch. <br><br> Dinner: Nice restaurant a short walk across the Harbor from the hotel. 6 applicants, 6 residents, all of whom were really friendly, outgoing, positive about the program. <br><br> Schedule: Report at 0730 - breakfast and short presentation from the PD, Dr. Schwengel. She's been at JHU for 19 years but only 1 year as PD - you can tell she's kind of getting the swing of things, and is maybe not the warmest fuzziest person you'll ever meet - a little flat and a little stilted during the interview. Her immediate plans include revamping/improving the didactics (which are apparently nonexistent) by hiring a PhD educator. That oughta do it! <br>Then, tour - on average, the facilities are average, with super-nice new OR's in one bldg and the old, brick, cramped, windowless OR's in the main OR suite. Hospital is obviously amazing w/ 920 beds, too many bldgs to count, Metro in basement of hospital, and they're working on a new ICU/OR tower that the chair was apparently pivotal in designing. <br>Then, 4 interviews (PD, chair, 2 others) 15-20 minutes, interviewers were very well-prepared and had some challenging, serious questions. Not intimidating (hostile) per se but pretty stressful when you can tell you're being evaluated/analyzed as opposed to a casual chat. Then, lunch with many of the same residents, out by 1300. Well-run day overall. <br><br> Pros: C'mon...it's Hopkins! Halsted, Blalock, leadership of anesthesiology for decades. Clearly one of the few names that will take you ANYwhere - even your grandma knows Hopkins. It's a think tank; they have experts, and they train leaders. It's obviously a national/international referral center, so the acuity of cases is crazy. Residents talk about doing CA-1 lap choles...on ppl w/ heart transplants. Huge ICU (attendings in 5 diff. ICUs) and research programs if you're into that. Hours are awesome (55-65) all things considered, though you def get pounded in the ICU. Enough CRNAs to help w/ cases but not take the good ones. Optional regional month @ Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, you stay in Hopkins-owned apt (!!!) for free. Residents are happy and do not seem overworked/maligned. <br><br> Cons: Regional is relatively weak. Location: in Baltimore, and a bad part of Baltimore at that; could be a huge minus for you. Didactics being revamped, definitely not the program for DEpendent learners. No moonlighting. Not a huge ton of perks, pay is average. Facilities are not so good right now, but new tower supposed to be up early 2011. Report as inappropriate