How many IVs are needed to match in general? Also, if a program specifically asks for no TY emails, how do you express your interest post-interview?

If they explicitly say that they don't want thank you emails, I'd take that to meant that program doesn't really care very much about "showing interest" and probably just ranks people based on how they did at the interview.

If they explicitly say that they don't want thank you emails, I'd take that to meant that program doesn't really care very much about "showing interest" and probably just ranks people based on how they did at the interview.

It's interesting that you mention that. The thing is that, unless you really blow it, I think most interviews don't hold a ton of weight. Most questions are not really all that make or break type things, and I never really understand how much of a difference it can make. Say me and you are at an interview and there is only one spot. PD asks what makes you want to go into field x? Me bla bl abla bla. You-bla bla bla bla. What makes you pick our program: Bla bla bla. How is the PD really going to choose between say me and you based on our answers/IV?

I don't see how unless one is rude, really unpersonable, etc. the interview can really hold that much weight. Seems like IVs are kinda pointless. I may be wrong though.

It's interesting that you mention that. The thing is that, unless you really blow it, I think most interviews don't hold a ton of weight. Most questions are not really all that make or break type things, and I never really understand how much of a difference it can make. Say me and you are at an interview and there is only one spot. PD asks what makes you want to go into field x? Me bla bl abla bla. You-bla bla bla bla. What makes you pick our program: Bla bla bla. How is the PD really going to choose between say me and you based on our answers/IV?

I don't see how unless one is rude, really unpersonable, etc. the interview can really hold that much weight. Seems like IVs are kinda pointless. I may be wrong though.

You are.

You are.

Ok, fair enough! Could you please elaborate on how the IV makes a difference? I'm quite curious about this. Also, one of the places I interviewed at mentioned that is a higher chance of getting ranked if you IV at a later date, closer to match date. Thoughts on this?

Also, one of the places I interviewed at mentioned that is a higher chance of getting ranked if you IV at a later date, closer to match date. Thoughts on this?

Who said that, the PD? Random interviewer? Chief resident? If the first, cross that place off your list. If the other two, they (unsurprisingly) probably don't know what they're talking about.

Who said that, the PD? Random interviewer? Chief resident? If the first, cross that place off your list. If the other two, they (unsurprisingly) probably don't know what they're talking about.


Not the PD, but someone pretty high up in the department. Why do you say to cross it off the list though if it was the PD? Although I have been previously told otherwise, I don't know how programs remember candidates they've met months ago.

Can you elaborate on the whole issue about the importance of IVS? Btw-what field are you a fellow in?

Not the PD, but someone pretty high up in the department. Why do you say to cross it off the list though if it was the PD? Although I have been previously told otherwise, I don't know how programs remember candidates they've met months ago.

I say cross it off the list because if they're going to be that shallow about how they evaluate candidates, can you imagine the sort of people who will wind up there?

Can you elaborate on the whole issue about the importance of IVS?

Really? Are you really asking me why it's important for employers to meet potential employees? And vice versa?

Btw-what field are you a fellow in?

Irrelevant, but use deductive reasoning and you'll figure it out. It'll still be irrelevant but at least you'll feel better about yourself.

I say cross it off the list because if they're going to be that shallow about how they evaluate candidates, can you imagine the sort of people who will wind up there?



Really? Are you really asking me why it's important for employers to meet potential employees? And vice versa?



Irrelevant, but use deductive reasoning and you'll figure it out. It'll still be irrelevant but at least you'll feel better about yourself.

You know, although many times I find your advice helpful and you can provide good insight, many times you can be testy man! :( I don't know why that is.

For example, I asked you what field you were in-I assume it's heme/onc or something cancer related, but why the harsh/testy response? It's just a question!

How many IVs are needed to match in general? Also, if a program specifically asks for no TY emails, how do you express your interest post-interview?

Our Dean advised 8 - 12 interviews. I think this assumes that you are not applying with any "red flags" that might decrease your chances.

I agree with the above comment on TY emails, I probably would not be in touch with the program if they specifically asked for no TY emails. I would wait for them to call or email me if they wanted an expression of interest. Technically though emailing to let the program know they are your #1 choice is not a thank you letter and it might help you out.

Our Dean advised 8 - 12 interviews. I think this assumes that you are not applying with any "red flags" that might decrease your chances.

I agree with the above comment on TY emails, I probably would not be in touch with the program if they specifically asked for no TY emails. I would wait for them to call or email me if they wanted an expression of interest. Technically though emailing to let the program know they are your #1 choice is not a thank you letter and it might help you out.

That is a good point regarding the no ty email. Although I usually bunch them into one-who wants 2 emails from the same candidate? I would find that annoying if I was a PD.

Re: red flags, why would any program IV you with a red flag if they don't want you in the program or are concerned about the red flag? Also what are considered red flags-failed steps/courses/bad comments?

That is a good point regarding the no ty email. Although I usually bunch them into one-who wants 2 emails from the same candidate? I would find that annoying if I was a PD.

Re: red flags, why would any program IV you with a red flag if they don't want you in the program or are concerned about the red flag? Also what are considered red flags-failed steps/courses/bad comments?

I also agree with gutonc. Interviews are huge. Even more important than for med school. They are checking you out for an interpersonal skills job. There are plenty of people with high steps who can end up giving PDs headaches when they reach internship and can't pull their weight or work well in that setting, so they need to meet folks face to face. Some places interview folks with otherwise good CV with a few minor red flags and give them an opportunity to explain those away. It's an uphill battle though.

You know, although many times I find your advice helpful and you can provide good insight, many times you can be testy man! :( I don't know why that is.

For example, I asked you what field you were in-I assume it's heme/onc or something cancer related, but why the harsh/testy response? It's just a question!

Curious how you're going to respond when your senior tells you to "look it up" in response to a similarly basic (MS1-ish) question next year. Are you going to get as bent out of shape then as you did here? If so, good luck to you. It's going to be a very long year.

Curious how you're going to respond when your senior tells you to "look it up" in response to a similarly basic (MS1-ish) question next year. Are you going to get as bent out of shape then as you did here? If so, good luck to you. It's going to be a very long year.

Dear Gutonc,
I'm not bent out of shape. I'm just telling you to be nice! :) I know you can be. Your advice can be very helpful sometimes, but please be nice? It's been a long few months. :D

Moving to ERAS/NRMP.

Gutonc is an acquired taste.

:D :D

Your advice can be very helpful sometimes, but please be nice? It's been a long few months. :D

I think you missed the sarcasm...Gutonc wasn't trying to be testy.

As to your original questions...applicants with red flags but otherwise good applications may be granted interviews if the PD/interviewers want some clarification, or want to see if the applicant has moved on past those red flags. And there's a big difference between "DUI misdemeanor in college," "failed multiple classes in med school" and "took a year off to care for sick parents," etc. Not every red flag is the same.

You're overthinking the whole interview thing. Getting interviews is a good thing. Not getting them is a bad thing. Yes, they're very important (often one of the few ways PDs/interviewers can distinguish between the various applicants, who may all have similar stats on paper). No, there's no magic between when you interview and your likelihood of matching.

You are.

I tend to agree. The interview definitely seems important but the level of importance seems to vary greatly. One program interviews 20-25 people a day and only the PD and chairman conduct the interviews. The combined interview time for people was about 15 mins with very simple questions (why this specialty? Why this institution? Any questions for me?). It seems very difficult to distinguish applicants in such a short time period with basic questions. I know the interview still comes into play at this program but I wonder how much it does matter vs the places where you spend 2-3 hours interviewing.

I tend to agree. The interview definitely seems important but the level of importance seems to vary greatly. One program interviews 20-25 people a day and only the PD and chairman conduct the interviews. The combined interview time for people was about 15 mins with very simple questions (why this specialty? Why this institution? Any questions for me?). It seems very difficult to distinguish applicants in such a short time period with basic questions. I know the interview still comes into play at this program but I wonder how much it does matter vs the places where you spend 2-3 hours interviewing.

You are both right and wrong. The people who think that numbers get the interview, and that once you get the interview you have a 1 in 15 chance are wrong. Numbers continue to matter a lot.

But the interview is important. Where you are wrong is that it is difficult to differentiate applicants in a short time with basic questions. All it takes is a choice few words in the answer to any one of these basic questions to come off as conceited, ignorant, just plain weird, or any number of things. Do so and you have killed your chances.

You are both right and wrong. The people who think that numbers get the interview, and that once you get the interview you have a 1 in 15 chance are wrong. Numbers continue to matter a lot.

But the interview is important. Where you are wrong is that it is difficult to differentiate applicants in a short time with basic questions. All it takes is a choice few words in the answer to any one of these basic questions to come off as conceited, ignorant, just plain weird, or any number of things. Do so and you have killed your chances.

I don't know. I answered the why specialty question in my personal statement so if they didn't like that answer they wouldn't have given me an interview. The why this program question is hard to mess up as well if you know anything about the program. I don't know maybe I'm giving us applicants too much credit.

I'm a chief resident, and heavily involved in our applicant selection process.

To answer the question of how much interviews matter, I think you need to consider the experience/skill of the INTERVIEWER.

To a veteran PD with lots of interviewing experience, I think even a 20 min interview can really change their impression of an applicant, even if they are totally polite and give all the right answers.

To a novice interviewer like myself, I have to say that I dont really have the skills or experience to tease things out like my PD does. So for my interviews, its frankly hard to distinguish between a lot of applicants.

Novice interviewers with poor skills tend to ask very different questions than good interviewers. A novice interviewer or someone who just wants to have a conversation without really probing into an applicant will ask the "soft-ball" questions. More skilled interviewers have ways to elicit responses that tell them something about the applicant that the applicant cant necessarily hide with a pre-canned response. For example, they might ask something like "tell me a story about a difficult sitaution you had" or something along those lines.

I'm a chief resident, and heavily involved in our applicant selection process.

To answer the question of how much interviews matter, I think you need to consider the experience/skill of the INTERVIEWER.

To a veteran PD with lots of interviewing experience, I think even a 20 min interview can really change their impression of an applicant, even if they are totally polite and give all the right answers.

To a novice interviewer like myself, I have to say that I dont really have the skills or experience to tease things out like my PD does. So for my interviews, its frankly hard to distinguish between a lot of applicants.

Novice interviewers with poor skills tend to ask very different questions than good interviewers. A novice interviewer or someone who just wants to have a conversation without really probing into an applicant will ask the "soft-ball" questions. More skilled interviewers have ways to elicit responses that tell them something about the applicant that the applicant cant necessarily hide with a pre-canned response. For example, they might ask something like "tell me a story about a difficult sitaution you had" or something along those lines.

Even the generic hard ball questions like that can have a prepared response. The truly unique questions that seem out of left field, but really do tell something about the applicant, are impossible to prepare for unless you know the exact question and can figure out what they want from it.

Even the generic hard ball questions like that can have a prepared response. The truly unique questions that seem out of left field, but really do tell something about the applicant, are impossible to prepare for unless you know the exact question and can figure out what they want from it.

It sounds like you think these "generic" questions have a right and wrong response. They don't.

I am sure there are a number of people, read interviewers, who frown upon someone who gives nothing but prepared responses to generic questions. This is just one example of how one can not do well in an interview there are a multitude of others. You are definitely giving us applicants too much credit, and probably giving interviewers too much credit as well.

It sounds like you think these "generic" questions have a right and wrong response. They don't.

I am sure there are a number of people, read interviewers, who frown upon someone who gives nothing but prepared responses to generic questions. This is just one example of how one can not do well in an interview there are a multitude of others. You are definitely giving us applicants too much credit, and probably giving interviewers too much credit as well.

Of course you have to phrase it in a way that's conversational and not like you memorized it word for word. What I mean by prepared response is having something in mind for "hardest situation you've faced". I don't mean that you say the same exact thing every time but it would be foolish to go into an interview without having any idea of what you would say in response to an extremely common question.

The generic hard ball questions can be prepared for in the sense that you know they are likely to show up on the trail multiple times and you have a general idea of what you want to say. Not the extreme of writing your answer down beforehand and memorizing it.

My bad for not being clear about what I meant by prepared.