CWRU intern here,
UG t-script. required, but don't quite know why. You don't need an official t-script. I got my college transcript from our med skool registrar and submitted that. no biggy.
Pluses to CWRU's program:
Resident personalities-really cool, laid back, down to earth guys, like me
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Pretty diverse group across the board. There's not a person in the program that I don't like.
Great hospital network: University hospitals-private hospital, elective cases, yada, yada, yada. MetroHealth medical center-level 1 trauma, indigent population, you get to do a lot here (the ccf guys come here too, but spend less time). VA medical center-as with any VA, you're like the attending. Rainbow Babies & Children's hospital-one of the best in the region. so we have the "big 4" in terms of hospital systems (VA, private, level-1 trauma, county, peds).
Operative experience: I got to do a lot as an intern when I rotated earlier this year - hip pinnings, closures, plating, DHS', driving the scope, etc. As mentioned above, you get to do a crap load at the VA, Metro. Full complement of subspecialties-sports, trauma, tumor, peds, joints, spine, hand, foot/ankle.
Well known/respected program nationally: Spine and Joints are probably the most well known programs. Strong in everything else. Big name attendings.
Location: not LA, NY, Miami, or Chicago, but cleveland is a major city with major sports, and just about everything you could need. I'm from here, so I think it's great.
Academics: extremely strong academic presence (No. 1 NIH funding). sixth year is available for those who want it (2 of the 6 interns go into the lab for a year after 1st year). You can do as little or as much as you like.
There are a couple of fellows floating around, but they're not taking food out of our senior guy's mouths.
Work load: you don't sleep on call. It's just that simple. . . . .and I love it. Good thing is you only take 6-7 calls a month as a intern/junior. Work load is heavy, but that's how you learn. You take in-house call 1st and 2nd year, and then about 3 1/2 months during 3rd year. After that, you're taking call from home.
Minus:
Honestly, the only thing that I would consider changing would possibly be our Sports experience. You'll see what you need to see. You'll be competent doing ACL's, rotator cuffs, etc. But it's definitely not a strong point in our program. But then again, sports is where I'm leaning right now, so nothing could ever be enough. And you'll find that at many large, academic programs the sports program is usually not a stregth of the program. That's what fellowship is for.
All in all, a rock solid program. you'll be ready to handle anything in gen-ortho once you're done. great preparation for fellowship or academics or private practice.
With that said, I'm at Metro doing trauma right now so I get to interact with the CCF guys. solid group of guys. Nice personalities. I rotated there. . . .it's a nice program. Ranked them #7. Would have been top 5 easily if it weren't for that damn research year. But again, it's just my 2 cents.
