A few medical school and residency applicants have asked me how to evaluate institutions, especially since interviews are virtual. This is a huge topic, but here are some thoughts:

• To me, geography is one of the most important factors – at least equal to the reputation of the institution. You want to make sure you are in a location that will make you happy – near community, family, friends and/ or the ability to enjoy your hobbies.
• Cost is sometimes a deal breaker when it comes to medical school. There’s not much more to say here except that most institutions are extremely expensive.
• Of course, didactics and academic opportunities are critically important for both medical school and residency. However, many medical schools of similar caliber have equivalent curricula and programs. You likely could be happy at many different medical schools. With regard to residency, it’s important to ensure you are getting a lot of hands-on experience and to look at what fellowships are available, with your interests in mind.
• Faculty is hard to assess because – like anything – there are good and bad ones. Also, faculty come and go. Having said that, if you are applying to residency, the program director is very important (understanding that he or she could leave).
• With regard to residency, call schedule and overall work hours are important to consider. Certain programs within the same specialty require a lot more hours and scut work than others.
• One of your best bets is to talk to current students at medical school or current residents in a training program. Oftentimes they will be very honest about the pros and cons of their institution.

Once you’ve assessed all of the above – narrowing down your list by geography and quality – I would analyze the vibe you have. If this sounds too touchy-feely, remember that intuition is not a magical assessment; it’s based on major and minor facts that you consciously and subconsciously analyze.

Remember: If you’re a medical school applicant, consider yourself fortunate if you have more than one option to choose from. Earning admission to medical school is getting harder every year. It’s a great problem if you need to struggle to decide among multiple schools!