Do you remember in first grade, when you were first being introduced to the wonderful world of mathematics? You were discovering the joys of addition and subtraction without yet being frustrated by the complexities of multiplication and division. No matter where or when you went to school, I am sure a teacher taught you that, ‘you can’t compare apples and oranges. You can only compare apples with apples. That is why 3 oranges + 2 apples do not equal 5 orange apples.’ At first, this was a concept that our minds needed time to process but with time, it became a notion that was ingrained in the way we approached the world. Little did I know that almost two decades later, this very basic concept would make me reflect once again.
I am now six interviews into my tour, and the time for me to make some decisions is drawing nearer. But here’s the thing, there is not very much that separates one program from the next. They all meet the requirements of the Royal College, they all guarantee a good education in pediatrics, and they all have residents that seem to love where they are. In fact, they are all truly wonderful. Yes, every program has its little things that make it unique, but as I just said, EVERY program has them. And so I am left to compare apples with apples. Have you ever tried comparing apples with apples? Some are red and some are green; some are a little harder or a little softer; but at the end of the day, they all fulfill the requirements of being an apple. I assure you that it is not a comparison that is as easy to make as I was once led to believe.
And so, where does that leave me? Well, it leaves me with four interviews to go and six remarkably similar apples. How will I choose between them? Well, I have about one month to figure that out and I will be sure to let you know but in the meantime, I am really craving an orange.