Opinions/info on Dartmouth

Dartmouth is a great program. Headed by Dr. Weinstein (chair) and Dr. Carr (PD), it offers excellent training. Residents are a tight group, happy & diverse and attendings have chosen Dartmouth (and NH) for great QOL. They are unique in offering the MSCE 6yr program with combined master's degree. The residents love it for a laid back year (40hrs/wk and lots of East Coast skiing) and the business/healthcare-quality training is a resume-booster. Not lacking in any sub-specialty (onc maybe?) as far as I could tell. The hospital is brand new (w/in a couple years) and each exam room has 42" plasma monitors for viewing electronic records and films.

Some people consider the location a knock on the program. Small town NH is not a happening single's scene, but the agrarian setting means tons of outdoor activities- XC skiing/mtb trails surround the hospital and ski areas are within an hour- and low % HIV pts. They described the seasons to me as "the winters are long and cold, and the summers short and cool" and the town "a pub scene" with lots of dark beer and wool sweaters. Otherwise, they are shipped out to CT for peds training- sometimes a pain in the ass for the family oriented surgeon.

Hope that helps. I ranked it high, but not No. 1 b/c my wife-to-be couldn't relocate. Curious to see what others on the trail thought. I think they interviewed 60-80 for four spots.

I interviewed at Dartmouth a couple years ago when they first introduced the six year track. It seems fine, I guess, if you're into that sort of thing, but know that it is a very academic center. Dr. Koval is now on staff at Dartmouth, along with the names mentioned above. They have some pretty big names there....but the location, in my opinion sucks. I was there on a Friday night and the only thing going was a one block area. Also, if you're not from the northeast and want to fly out for a weekend, it's damn near impossible. Nobody flies to that tiny airport in Lebanon, NH. But, everyone's different. Location mattered for me.

just to add a few more questions on dartmouth,

did the residents like/dislike the away rotations from dartmouth to boston, etc.?

how does the program decide who does the 5 year versus 6 year track, is this ranked differently, are interviewees asked to make their decision prior to the interview?

thanks for all the help!

Candidates are not asked their preference for the 5 or 6 yr. tracks at interviews. In fact, it is my understanding that the same rank list is submitted for both match codes, i.e. they pick students they like and let the student ranking determine who does 5 yrs and who does 6. I ranked them 1 and 2 respectively and was very open w/ Dr. Weinstein about this and he did not seem to mind at all b/c he knew I wanted to be a Dartmouth regardless of the length of my sentence.

Big names at a very academic center in the middle of nowhere is exactly why I am going there next year. Of all the places I interviewed it had the best blend of informal/relaxed environment (residents and staff) and good reputation. Plus they operate a ton! Chiefs say they would feel 100% comfortable going into general practice w/o fellowship.

Reminds me a little of Mayo in that it is a big name program in the middle of nothing. However instead of corn fields it has hiking, fishing, hunting, skiing, camping everywhere. Previous post is correct though, Friday night activity is limited to one city block. If you like pavement, search elsewhere.