Thread by @IEMcElroy

My advice for #Match2022: trust your gut.

You have received an invite to a program so it means they are prepared to invest their time and energy into getting you to the next level of your career, so embrace this opportunity to evaluate the program as a fit for yourself. /1

Just as much as we are evaluating you, evaluate us. Be thorough, if you see red flags, honor those! If you feel warm and fuzzies, honor those! You (in theory) only train once, so this decision is very important - take that leap of faith. /2

In my own process, I took a massive leap of faith to get to where I am now and I have no regrets and would do it again. But in that process, I did some massive soul searching because, honestly, you couldn't have told me I was going to leave CA. /3

My journey went like this: I had 3 programs that I was deciding between.

Program A was the program that I had dreamed of working at since I was a child. I did an away there and it felt like home. When it came time to rank I didn't put it as number 1. /4

Not because it wasn't a great place that would give me a phenomenal experience but because on the trail I had found a place that better suited my needs outside of being in my backyard. I found a place that I felt was going to push me in ways I didn't know where possible. /5

A place that would force me to grow and take risks, but in an environment that would also catch me if I fell. A place where even from the interview day I knew that I would find a second family to walk with me not just for 7 years but for a lifetime. /6

Honestly, not ranking Program A #1 broke my heart a little but I also know that my story with them isn't done.

Program B was a slightly different story. I wanted to like this place so bad because again, within my comfort zone, and its "pedigree" would open doors for me. /7

But this program was full of red flags. The biggest being the blatant disrespect they had for me. During an interview with someone important I was asked why my names didn't "match" (African first name/Irish last name). And when asking for clarification there was a double down /8

So i curtly responded: "Because slavery". Probably not the smartest move but I also felt incredibly disrespected. To further this insult, after explaining what my name translated to in English (Faith) I was then called "Faith" the ENTIRETY of the remaining interview days /9

There were numerous other red flags that happened along the way but it was clear to me that if on the day where programs are ALSO supposed to be on their best behavior if residents/faculty were being blatantly disrespectful I wanted no part of this institution. /10

For me, how you treat applicants, secretaries, the waitstaff is just as important as how you treat professors and "VIPs". The elitism I experienced at this program was a huge red flag and although I almost toughed it out because it meant being closer to home /11

my gut/heart told me to walk away and after talking with my family - they agreed that this was not the place for me. The "pedigree" wasn't worth it, not at the expense of my core values.

So that takes me to program C. /12

When I applied to this program it was honestly on a whim because I didn't think I was qualified (That's a different imposter syndrome story about shitty mentorship). But I got my interview, hopped on a plane and explored the opportunity sincerely. /13

I was BLOWN AWAY. Not by the name or the number of chairs they had produced. But by the people. I felt a genuine connection with the faculty I interviewed with. The staff helping out with the interview felt like old friends and the residents felt like new ones. /14

Even on my interview day - this program challenged me to think of how they could bring out new sides of me. How they could enhance the raw talent they saw in me. And not just in the abstract, they gave concrete examples of programs/initiatives I could partake in /15

Ones that I am actively partaking in today. The residents were not afraid to talk about the flaws they saw and more importantly neither was the administration. They had concrete examples of how they were going to address them (and did). /16

I left that program with what I call the "fuzzy wuzzies". I only felt that for 2 programs. Program A and Program C. When I say go with your gut I mean it. I picked program C because of what my gut was telling me about the people and the culture. /17

Every program will have its pros and cons. You will get a solid education at probably any of your top choices. But it is up to you to find the program that will be able to push you and help you grow outside of your comfort zone. /18

Find the program that will help you exceed your own expectations of yourself but will also not break you in the process. A name may open doors but the people behind those doors may not have your best interests in mind. So, find your people. /19

Having the right people support you will open far more doors than any name will. Most importantly it will open the right doors for you. That's my two cents. Best of luck on your journeys! My DMs are open. /x

Special Shoutout to Program C aka @MGHSurgery #since1811