University of Pennsylvania Program Individual Response

What is your in-state status?:

Out of state

On what date did the interview take place?:

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?:

9 out of 10

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

7 out of 10

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

7 out of 10

What was the stress level of the interview?:

2 out of 10

How do you think you did?:

9 out of 10

How did the interview impress you?:

Positively

How long was the interview?:

30 minutes

How many people interviewed you?:

5

What was the style of the interview?:

One-on-one

What impressed you positively?:

UPENN has a phenomenal emphasis on education. They really put a lot of bank on hiring great educators and great faculty. The faculty have an incorporated score for promotions that is based on their feedback as an educator. They also have a phenomenal hospital system and great sub-specialties in anesthesia. The Chairman is quite a stand up guy and even PICKED US UP in the morning. He could have easily sent someone else to do that for him but he didn't think he was too important to greet the applicants in the lobby. He shows you right away that he is a caring guy. The PD is also phenomenal and incredibly nice. He appears to have a very fatherly presence and the residents had no complaints. The intern year is more surgery than medicine but the interns seem to like it very much. The residents support collegiality amongst the surgeons and anesthesiologist residents. It appears that the Chairman has a huge presence in the hospital and is very well published. This is truly an amazing program to be a part of. Oh and if you're into Peds...CHOP!!!!!! And they have a simulator!!! Report as inappropriate

What impressed you negatively?:

Philly is technically a big city but has such a small city feel to it. The SEPTA SUCKS! I'm sure it is convenient but why does it have so few lines when the population is twice that of Boston?? Even the T has >5 lines. COME ON! I was also negatively impressed by the lack of organization in proper messages by the support staff prior to the interview day. They gave me the wrong times and thus I did not get to book the proper times for transportation back. They did not inform us beforehand about a research meeting. But this is all very minor. Oh I guess one more thing is that they have lots of buildings and it will take a long time to get used it all. Report as inappropriate

How was your interview day? Please summarize.:

there are about 18-20 applicants a day and we are divided into the morning group and afternoon group. Some of us come in by 7:20am and will leave at the end of lunch (around 12:30pm). The afternoon group comes in for lunch (around 11am) and will leave around 3:30. If you are in the morning group, prepare to interview immediately! They gave us 10 minutes to eat some breakfast and we started right away. We had 5 interviews. 3 of them are with various faculty and can last anywhere from 20-40 minutes (depending on how much you talk). Everyone meets with the PD and chairman in a span of 30 minutes for both. They usually have it divided well so that you get the Chairman for 15 minutes and the PD for 15 also. I didn't know this and didn't feel like I got to say everything I wanted with the Chairman so beware!!! After the morning interviews, we had a tour. Some of you will have a one on one tour with the chief residents. This depends on when your break is in between interviews. And then there is a final group of about now 4-5 applicants who take the final tour of that half of the day. Then lunch where the PD and Chairman will give their talk. Do not expect a powerpoint. They are both very animated talkers. Then you can leave afterwards, there is no wrap up. The afternoon group has a similar day but they start with the PD and chairman talk/lunch and then go on to interviews or tours before ending the day. Report as inappropriate

What was your primary mode of travel?:

Automobile

What was your total time spent traveling?:

4-6 hours

What airport did you use?:

Where did you stay?:

At program supplied housing

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?:

Sheraton University City

How would you rate the hotel?:

10 out of 10

Would you recommend the hotel?:

yes

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?:

< $100