okay, since 200+ people have at least looked at this post, I'll try again with a slightly different slant: Can anyone name some lesser-known programs (or at least lesser-known to people not yet on the interview trail) that aren't necessarily the "big names"? No restrictions as to "good" or "bad", since aparently EVERY ortho program is good and I'm interested in learning about ones you don't hear about often (ie: not Harvard, Mayo, Penn, HSS, Stanford, UCLA).

thanks! (or if no one responds again I guess maybe "thanks for nothing" )

You might try asking your academic advisor or head of your ortho department. My husband took in a list of ortho programs (compiled from FREIDA) and they were both able to give him a rough ranking for all of them as well as some insight on differences in research, operating time, etc. I'm not sure where that list went after applications went it, otherwise I'd try to be of more help!

Here are a few "great" lesser known programs:

Univ. of Minnesota
Michigan State- Kalamazoo
William Beaumont- Det, MI
Greenville SC
Allegheny General, Pittsburgh
Akron General

Is there a particular geographic area you are looking for?

In in the east, some "great" lesser-known programs include:
LIJ
Lenox Hill
UMDNJ-NJMS
Union Memorial
Rochester

thanks for the responses...you both have given me some new names to look into

I have to disagree with listing Rochester as a lesser known/lower tier program. Rochester is a pretty big academic place and has a very good reputation. In terms of competiveness, a lot of the programs listed above (LIH, Lenox Hill, Beaumont, Kalamazoo) are also excellent community programs that are pretty competitive, with many applicants.