Location vs program

There is a ton of time before match lists are due. A few things to consider: most of your happiness quotient will be based on your day to day activities... How much will missing out on flexibility affect your daily happiness vs. the location? Then there is to consider that you're setting yourself up for your day to day for the rest of your life.

Next, perhaps spend a little time refining what you mean by academics. Are you interested in self funding your own research program, running clinical trials, becoming a PD or chair, or being a floor attending? Do you have a strong desire to work at a powerhouse program like MGH or UCLA or would a lower tier more clinically focused academic program be just fine? The answer for different permutations here will probably be wildy different.

Once you've gotten an idea of what you want, start asking programs: how many of their grads are doing this? Find people who recently got those jobs and look at their credentials. Compare them to recent grads of these programs and if you need to, ask some extra questions of your contacts at programs of interest as to how you might attain those credentials.

Also, for future interviews, try laying a career goal out (leave out the program teirs part) and ask how the program will get you there... For example: right now I think I'd like to be a floor attending on an academic inpatient unit? How many of your recent grads have done this and how will you prepare me for the academic aspect?

Finally, I'm curious why you don't think this program has good mentoring... Hardly something they'd shout, no?

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Location vs program