University of Wisconsin

You have got to love winter in the Midwest! I drove up to Madison from Chicago with no problem. Upon my arrival, I was informed of a winter storm warning for the following day, with predictions of up to 7 inches of snow. This did not bode well for my drive back to Chicago the following evening, but you know how weather men are. Seven inches of snow could easily materialize as no snow at all.

Madison is a nice little city. I think Ann Arbor has a nicer downtown, but Madison has the lakes. And they are beautiful. Especially when covered with snow. The program is actually very similar to Michigan (although no one there would admit it). It is smaller (only 25 interns) and not quite as intense. But they have similar career guidance and flexibility of scheduling. The residents all seem very nice, they are mainly from the Midwest though. I think a program where residents are from all over appeals to me more. But I certainly liked Wisconsin. It was an odd interview experience since there were only 4 of us interviewing that day. I think that perhaps is responsible for some element of my not being incredibly excited about this program. It was just an odd interview day.

It has started snowing the morning of my interview, but it did not look like the predicted 7 inches were going to materialize, so I was planning to return to Chicago that evening. As we finished up the day however, visibility was getting progressively worse and the wind picked up, which meant any snow that had fallen would be blowing all over. And traffic was reportedly a nightmare. So the kind people at the medicine office offered to put me up for another night so I wouldn't have to drive back to Chicago in that mess. I happily took them up on their offer and spent the evening watching "Project Runway" from the safety of my hotel room.

I made it back to Chicago safely this morning, and tonight it is back to Seattle. Finally! I have an interview Monday in San Diego which will mark the half-way point in my interview season. Then a few weeks off before the travels begin again.