University of Michigan

I apologize for not keeping things up-to-date. I’ve been without internet access while in Michigan, despite my best attempts to “borrow” people’s unsecured wireless connections. Unfortunately, that is quite difficult to do while on a train, since you keep moving past the connections before you have time to get online.

So after arriving in Chicago, and taking my skirt to the cleaners in the hopes that they can work wonders with oil and wool (lesson #1: don’t cook while wearing your only suit, lesson #2: place chicken gently into hot oil, do not toss), I went to Michigan Avenue to find something to wear to my interview in Michigan. I had bought my suit months ago online from Banana Republic, and was not hopeful that they would still have it in the stores, but luck was on my side, and I was able to find pants to go with my jacket. Which was good, given the temperatures up here, I would be much happier with pants than a skirt.

In Michigan I stayed with a cardiologist and his family, an alumni of the University of Washington, who kindly volunteer their extra bedroom to visiting medical students during the interview season each year. That evening it began snowing, and showed no signs of letting up. In the morning, all the schools had been closed for a snow day, but luckily the city bus was still running, and I easily got to my interview on time. Michigan is definitely a different sort of program from the two I have interviewed at thus far. For one thing, it is huge. Forty interns, which is more than twice as many as the other programs I’ve looked at. They work hard first year, but it is front loaded, so the schedule gets easier as you go along. The program really care about their residents and take care of them. The residency directors are incredible, and really seem to enjoy what they are doing. There is a lot of support, and career guidance. They also have a research requirement, so there is protected time in your 2nd and 3rd years to do research. The residents have a union, so they have a lot of perks. You get a Christmas bonus, of 7% of your salary each year. You get holiday pay if you have to work on any state holiday or your birthday. They have guaranteed vacation each year—4 days off at either Christmas or New Year’s. It is a very nice program.

It is, however, in Michigan. Surprisingly, I really like the Midwest. Yes, it is flat. They do have a ski area in Ann Arbor, which doubles as a garbage dump the rest of the year. People are very nice. The town of Ann Arbor is great, not too big, not too small. They have a Trader Joe’s. Housing, while expensive by Midwest standards, is significantly cheaper than Seattle (and really, what isn’t?). It’s a great program, a great city, and I think I could be very happy here. But it is also very hard to leave the northwest. We shall see where the computer decides to send me.

Next it is back to Chicago for the weekend, and then Madison, Wisconsin. Thursday it is back to Seattle, a weekend of snowshoeing, and then 20 hours in San Diego. Then a few weeks off, which will be a welcome break. I’m still debating whether or not I want to interview at UC Davis in Sacramento. Although if I put off scheduling the interview much longer, all their interview dates will be full and I won’t have a choice!