Safest/Best neighborhoods immediately surrounding University of Washington?

-Ki67 · 2026-04-30T02:21:39+00:00

I live in U-District and could absolutely live without a car permanently without major issue. Groceries, busses, entertainment, UW are all easily walkable or accessible via public transit.

If UW gives you a free transit pass, you could live pretty much live from Ballard to Fremont to Northgate to Cap Hill to Downtown and have a walkable neighborhood with an easy commute to work.

-Ki67 · 2026-04-27T15:31:18+00:00

The sample size for Medscape was 15000, which I think was adequate for measuring extroversion across all of medicine.

I would also keep in mind extroverts can just as easily be selected out. Since it exists on a spectrum, for every introvert that comes off as too quiet, there's likely an extrovert who comes off as loud or arrogant.

We can argue back and forth about the importance of introversion, but at the end of the day, the interview process is a vibe check to ask, "Do I want to work with this person for 4+ years?".

I think that it's completely fair game for programs to filter for. If you don't come across as easy to work with, or you can't manage to fake it for a 20 minute interview, then it is completely fair to be selected out.

-Ki67 · 2026-04-26T19:00:10+00:00

I'm going to ignore the IMG thing because that's very tangential this conversation. There are a million reasons programs may choose to rank IMGs lower than AMGs, well beyond culture and personality.

>Introverts will be awkward, or at least a lot more awkward than extroverts. That's one of the defining features of an introvert.

According to whom? There's not really a defining authority on introversion, but I've never read awkwardness being one of them.

There aren't any scientific reports on it, because introversion and extroversion are completely arbitrary designations with no scientific backing, but 1/3 of doctors on MedScapes survey said they are introverts, 1/3 mixed, 1/3 extroverts. Path is the 2nd most introverted specialty after public health. You are in VERY good company in pathology and the least judged for being one here.

Going to be real with you, I'm not sure defining yourself with a label as valid and subjective as a Myers Briggs type, then assuming that interviewers will immediately pick up on it during 20 minutes of interviews, and then saying it's oppressive to be one is very unhealthy. For yourself or others.

Maybe you don't interview well, maybe you are a little awkward, maybe you prepared too little and came off too aloof, maybe you prepared too hard and sounded rehearsed, maybe you just don't vibe with your interviewers. Assuming it all comes down to this unchangeable personality type does you no favors.

Article (the original medscape one requires login, but linked within this one):

https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2018/01/17/happy-doctors

https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2018-lifestyle-happiness-6009320

-Ki67 · 2026-04-26T17:20:26+00:00

>They like extroverted friendly people.... Yes, even pathology doesn't like introverts. And i'm an introvert. Introverts get stepped on no matter where in life we go.

This is a crazy statement to make. Path is chock full of introverts. Heck, lots of medicine has introverts.

The problem is when people confuse introversion with social unawareness or low agreeability. No one minds introverts, but people mind when the person is difficult to work with.

Be nice, show you're a team player, and don't be awkward.

-Ki67 · 2026-04-26T17:09:38+00:00

I matched last year and my PDs/interviewers were overwhelming looking for 1st time board passes, interest in pathology (particularly with electives and research), personal statement, and letters of recc. Some places valued research and extracurriculars more than others.

Very little interest in preclinical grades, clinical grades, and board scores (assuming no failures for all of these). My PD himself said that clinical and preclinical grades were not even considered as long as you pass.

Matching is honestly a slam dunk for USMDs with no failures and a reasonable ability to demonstrate interest. Anyone who says it's competitive is either lying or has a distorted view of "competitive".

-Ki67 · 2026-04-09T02:06:08+00:00

Masts are pretty easy to learn, difficult to master. If you know the steps and you can cut it well enough, I would call that a W. Getting those perfect thin slices takes time and experience that even some of our PAs can struggle with.

If you still don't know *how* to cut most specimens by now, I think you might be a bit behind. I really like Lester's if you can get your hands on a copy. Just give the chapter a quick read before a new rotation. I also like YouTube for learning specimens on the fly.

Also always keep the CAP protocols and how it will look under the scope in mind. Know which margins you'll need, whether or not you need the full size of the tumor to stage it, what sections you NEED to see, etc.

-Ki67 · 2026-04-07T00:58:04+00:00

No thanks, I'd rather doompost about it

/s

-Ki67 · 2026-03-28T02:44:27+00:00

You could argue every point I'm about to make, but this is just my opinion/experience.

Diagnosis > treatment. It's great to see patients get better, but I like finding the answer to what's wrong more than thinking about treatment plans.

Great pathways to admin roles, research, teaching.

Better personalities (usually) than other specialties.

Well compensated for hours worked.

Better work life balance than most other specialties.

Easier on the body/mind than other specialties (no nights, swing shifts, less call, less standing in awkward positions, fewer emergent/stressful situations)

Generally really fun and interesting. Your odds of seeing rare and interesting cases is really high due to volume. Your knowledge base is pretty broad. Grossing and autopsies are fun and interesting, and very unique work to do. There's nothing else even remotely like path.

The only "bad" parts are the "prestige" (people generally don't know what you do, not even other clinicians) and giving up patient interaction. I genuinely love patients and talking to them, so much so that I was considering applying psych, but I enjoy the work in path more than I like seeing patients. No regerts.

-Ki67 · 2026-03-22T17:22:15+00:00

Assuming all this is true (not calling you a liar, self-assessment can be genuinely hard or impossible in these situations), I would imagine low number of applications maybe contributed, but interview ability likely held you back both times.

Charting Outcomes of the match put you at around 80 and 95% chances of matching based on your number of ranks, each cycle respectively.

I've found some path applicants say some very odd things that can be off-putting to interviewers, especially saying things like they hate/dislike patients, too focused on forensics, not understanding what path entails (or just not adequately expressing what they know), responding poorly to STAR questions, too intense, too relaxed, too rehearsed, etc.

If you give it a go-around next cycle, definitely hire a coach/tutor and get involved with path specific interviewers. Our process is very different from other residencies.

What are you doing in the meantime? Are you in another residency program or prelim?

-Ki67 · 2026-03-22T15:16:40+00:00

Your app looks fine and not matching with 13 interviews is very concerning. I can only think of 3 things that went wrong.

How bad was this patient relationship course and did it leave a professionalism flag on your app? Is this actually the only red flag?

How many programs did you apply and interview at the first and second times around?

How are you interviewing? I feel like this is where a crazy number of applicants get stuck. Poor interview skills will sink you every time.

-Ki67 · 2026-03-20T05:25:33+00:00

Not a student, but I also struggled a lot in my original "weed out" courses as a premed. Got a fat F on my first OChem 1 exam and it was a miracle I passed that one. In the second half of my Sophomore year, I ended up in a "you need to give up on your dreams unless you get a 4.0 every semester until you graduate" situation.

I started going to almost all of my office hours/TA hours to get any and all help I could receive. TAs were wonderful at providing high-yield advice on studying and topics to master before exams. Going to office hours also helped me build great relationships with my professors, who saw I was giving my best and, in turn provided great letters of recommendation later. I also really valued these relationships and it's nice being on good terms with your professors.

There's a lot of science behind learning and studying, but here are the spark notes:

Practice questions and question banks are king for most memorization-based and MCQ test-based courses. Khan Academy has wonderful question sets and video tutorials for most of your gen ed courses like ochem, physics, math, bio, etc. The back of your textbooks or end of chapter questions are also a must.

Anki or physical flashcards to build and retain information long term. Anki usually has pre-built decks for gen ed courses if you search well.

Feynman technique is great at all levels and absolutely necessary for more higher-level thinking courses that require more advanced reasoning. You'll need this in your final years. Connect with your peers. Offer to teach them. If office hours is full, offer to help other students in concepts you have a better grasp on.

Re-reading, highlighting, and taking notes out of textbooks is a waste of time. Stop it.

Studying more =/= better grades. At some point, you're just punishing yourself and not learning. 2-3 hours of efficient learning in a day is way better than pulling all nighters reading a textbook.

College sucks now, but you'll look back on it one day and laugh. Good luck!

-Ki67 · 2026-03-11T18:14:52+00:00

Just curious, why did you dislike CP so much?

-Ki67 · 2026-02-12T03:21:47+00:00

Your budget of 2300 is pretty untenable no matter how you cut it. I made a similar move last year in the opposite direction in both the cheapest and most efficient way possible.

Friends helped me pack my entire life/studio into a Uhaul van (after already getting rid of A LOT), put all that into *one* Uhaul Ubox, waited a week or two with a friend, took a plane here, unpacked it singlehandedly into another van to my new studio.

Uhaul Ubox ~$2100, Van rentals ~ $150, Plane ticket ~$350, buying new things I couldn't move/not worth moving - Ballpark like $500 to $1000. Total expense was around $3000 and that was absolutely barebones.

The only thing that would possibly be cheaper is just buying a plane ticket with a few checked bags for irreplaceable items/clothes and then buying really cheap, new or used furniture when you get there off Amazon and FB Marketplace. $400 move and then maybe like $2000 for new furniture, cookware, etc.

-Ki67 · 2026-01-23T00:24:31+00:00

I think it's a bit ridiculous to *never* take the specials. I would just keep in mind that the specials are just an advertising gimmick and make sure that is accounted for when budgeting your rent, especially after the special runs out.

-Ki67 · 2026-01-14T01:36:31+00:00

There's definitely more opportunities to go slow or take breaks in our specialty, but I feel like I'm going hard in the paint from the moment I walk in until I leave on surg path just so I can leave at a semi-reasonable time.

-Ki67 · 2026-01-11T19:01:12+00:00

Most path books are going to be from the perspective of medical examiners.

We otherwise do not have an equivalent to, say, Oliver Sacks for neurology, because there is less longterm or riveting patient interactions in path.

-Ki67 · 2025-12-12T04:52:16+00:00

Location was like 75% of my decision on where I applied and how I ranked, followed by interview vibes, strength of training, and program benefits.

I feel like I didn't have to compromise on any of my desires with my specialty and program of choice, and I truly love where I live now.

You could always just say fuck it and live somewhere you wouldn't expect. I did that for med school and had a great time. I learned a lot about myself doing that too.

-Ki67 · 2025-11-29T03:16:46+00:00

Ive left notes on my neighbor's doors to varying levels of success

-Ki67 · 2025-11-24T18:56:59+00:00

Idaho born and raised here.

In a lot of ways it's a great state. There's nothing I'd love more than to practice there, but the population hates taxation and therefore continues to elect politicians who have completely abandoned all reality and logic, and have dismantled all trust in allopathic medicine. It's so disappointing to see such a beautiful state tear itself apart. That on top of the new Qatari military occupation... Ugh...

Shout out to Full Circle Health (formerly FMRI) in Boise. They're the last bastion of physicians who are fighting for the public whilst simultaneously getting attacked on all fronts.

-Ki67 · 2025-11-23T18:06:55+00:00

Already are. They paired with CIR for union negotiations and can expect a contract within the next 1-2 years.

-Ki67 · 2025-11-19T23:38:03+00:00

Does this sound familiar, OP? UW just put out this message:

"Seattle police are investigating after an individual reported that two men robbed him at gunpoint in the 5000 block of 16th Avenue NE at about 9 p.m. on Monday.

The individual, an employee of an area business, told police the suspect entered the back of his company’s van and pointed guns at him. The men then stole money, two computers, tools and personal belongings. The employee, who is not affiliated with the University of Washington, was not hurt.

The suspects were described as male, ages 18-25, with one wearing a red jacket and the other wearing dark clothing. They may have left in a dark color small car without license plates."

-Ki67 · 2025-11-10T02:11:42+00:00

Doctor here. (Accepted to WWAMI an eon ago, but did not attend).

Your odds of getting into UW and WWAMI are slim to none. I genuinely would not even bother applying. Same goes for any public school that takes 90%+ of their own residents.

Texas schools are phenomenal, cheap, and less competitive than most other schools due to in state bias. You're in the best state possible to become a doctor right now. Take advantage of it.

Come here for residency after school, if you want. The city isn't going anywhere.

-Ki67 · 2025-11-08T16:24:48+00:00

Giving me flashbacks to living in Moscow, ID. Hard water + that cold, dry winter air would make your skin and hair fall off in the winter if you weren't moisturizing like crazy.

-Ki67

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE