Advice: Should I e-mail my #2 and #3??

[Bloom57]

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So my #1 knows I am ranking them first, but they are the type of school that will not give you any feedback on how you are ranked.

I really like my #2 and #3, and could be very happy there, but I have not contacted them yet. I have been warned that schools can get offended if you say they are only "highly ranked". I am considering sending an e-mail to the program director at 2 and 3 to express my interest for them.

What have you all been doing? Send e-mail and risk offending them? Ignore them and risk being overlooked?

 

[sawtella]

I was in the same dilemma. I figured that A email is better no than NO email, so I sent letters to my #2 and #3. Both responded promptly saying "thanks for letting us know, we will definitely put that into consideration."

 

[doc MD]

today is Feb 15th...

 

[username456789]

today is Feb 15th...

And?

Programs still have a week too, you know. Although at this point they may be less likely to shuffle things around.

 

[asmallchild]

So my #1 knows I am ranking them first, but they are the type of school that will not give you any feedback on how you are ranked.

I really like my #2 and #3, and could be very happy there, but I have not contacted them yet. I have been warned that schools can get offended if you say they are only "highly ranked". I am considering sending an e-mail to the program director at 2 and 3 to express my interest for them.

What have you all been doing? Send e-mail and risk offending them? Ignore them and risk being overlooked?

Programs know how to play the game just the same as students. They know what "highly ranked" truly means. I personally think it's low yield (but ultimately not harmful) as I do not think it will change the rank list, which has often been finalized weeks in advance. I realize this changes from program to program. What I can definitely advise against is telling multiple programs they are your #1. Programs definitely do talk and that kind of thing can backfire catastrophically.

 

[sore eye asses]

I would tell your #2 that you're ranking them third, and tell your #3 you're ranking them second.

Also, I would tell your #9 you're ranking them fifth.

Finally, send a strongly worded letter to your #4 telling them you were going to rank them sixth, but have since decided to rank them eighth due to several of the residents having crooked teeth during your interview there. Explain to them calmly but assertively that they will need to provide the current bucktooth residents with braces and headgear (where appropriate) so that the problem will be rectified prior to your matriculation. Explain that you can’t be expected to practice good dermatology while having to look down the barrel of a six-millimeter overbite on a daily basis.

 

[pupster]

👍

I would tell your #2 that you're ranking them third, and tell your #3 you're ranking them second.

Also, I would tell your #9 you're ranking them fifth.

Finally, send a strongly worded letter to your #4 telling them you were going to rank them sixth, but have since decided to rank them eighth due to several of the residents having crooked teeth during your interview there. Explain to them calmly but assertively that they will need to provide the current bucktooth residents with braces and headgear (where appropriate) so that the problem will be rectified prior to your matriculation. Explain that you can’t be expected to practice good dermatology while having to look down the barrel of a six-millimeter overbite on a daily basis.

 

[Sailor Senshi Dermystify]

I would tell your #2 that you're ranking them third, and tell your #3 you're ranking them second.

Also, I would tell your #9 you're ranking them fifth.

Finally, send a strongly worded letter to your #4 telling them you were going to rank them sixth, but have since decided to rank them eighth due to several of the residents having crooked teeth during your interview there. Explain to them calmly but assertively that they will need to provide the current bucktooth residents with braces and headgear (where appropriate) so that the problem will be rectified prior to your matriculation. Explain that you can’t be expected to practice good dermatology while having to look down the barrel of a six-millimeter overbite on a daily basis.

I hope when I am a Derm resident in the near future, Sore eye asses is my attending or the PD at my medical school. You will be a hoot to work with. You have so much personality and know how to make a serious situation funny, lol.

 

[coffee nut]

I think you guys have it all wrong. I told my #2 and #3 they were "ranked to match," but not to get their hopes up. #4 and #5 also sent me letters telling me I was their #1, so I thanked them for letting me know, and told them I would take that into consideration. Bam!

 

[doc MD]

And?

Programs still have a week too, you know. Although at this point they may be less likely to shuffle things around.

If emailing a program matters so much then (1) it should have done sooner and (2) interviews would be pointless.

So these emails of telling a program that they are your number 1 is some magical email?? It seems more like a desperate attempt by a candidate with few interviews. why stop at 2 and 3? why not 14 15 16?

 

[Bloom57]

First, we sent honest e-mails. People are not sending their #14 and 15 e-mails that they are highly ranked... because they are not.

Second, programs are proud and don't want to take residents from too far down their rank list, so they would rather move a candidate up a few spots if they are likely to come. Additionally, at the end of the day, all of us applicants are so similar (intelligent, hardworking, personable, team players...) that if I were a PD, I would rather have someone who really wants to be at my program.

P.S. I sent my #2 and #3 e-mails. #2 said "thanks, we will take that into consideration and good luck". Haven't heard from #3 yet. We will see what happens!!

 

[doc MD]

First, we sent honest e-mails. People are not sending their #14 and 15 e-mails that they are highly ranked... because they are not.

Second, programs are proud and don't want to take residents from too far down their rank list, so they would rather move a candidate up a few spots if they are likely to come. Additionally, at the end of the day, all of us applicants are so similar (intelligent, hardworking, personable, team players...) that if I were a PD, I would rather have someone who really wants to be at my program.

P.S. I sent my #2 and #3 e-mails. #2 said "thanks, we will take that into consideration and good luck". Haven't heard from #3 yet. We will see what happens!!

fact: you're not a PD
everything else you stated is an assumption.

 

[Bloom57]

fact: you're not a PD
everything else you stated is an assumption.

Wow I never said I was a PD, and of course those are all assumptions: I WOULD NOT BE ASKING IF I KNEW THE ANSWER

I sure hope I don't end up in a program with such an arrogant applicant. Shame on you.

 

[dermathalon]

If emailing a program matters so much then (1) it should have done sooner and (2) interviews would be pointless.

So these emails of telling a program that they are your number 1 is some magical email?? It seems more like a desperate attempt by a candidate with few interviews. why stop at 2 and 3? why not 14 15 16?

Actually, these emails do matter. You probably already know this but programs already have a few favorites before and after the interview and everyone wants to be wanted...human nature. Agree that the emails should have gone out a little earlier.

There is nothing desperate about these emails. I had 25+ interviews and sent one of these emails out as well as did people that I knew that had 20+ interviews.

People do get moved up the list because of communication. It does happen but probably not at all programs. Some programs look at your application picture and have already decided to rank you high so go figure...

 

[doc MD]

Wow I never said I was a PD, and of course those are all assumptions: I WOULD NOT BE ASKING IF I KNEW THE ANSWER

I sure hope I don't end up in a program with such an arrogant applicant. Shame on you.

🙄 wow....shame on you...unbelievable. If I recall, it is a shame on you for coming on here to find a way to be deceitful and dishonest. You are 'fishing' for ways tell your #2 and #3 that they are high on your list w/o offending them because your true #1 isn't saying anything to you. poor baby.

 

[doc MD]

Actually, these emails do matter. You probably already know this but programs already have a few favorites before and after the interview and everyone wants to be wanted...human nature. Agree that the emails should have gone out a little earlier.

There is nothing desperate about these emails. I had 25+ interviews and sent one of these emails out as well as did people that I knew that had 20+ interviews.

People do get moved up the list because of communication. It does happen but probably not at all programs. Some programs look at your application picture and have already decided to rank you high so go figure...

I agree, there is nothing desperate about these emails when submitted in a timely fashion. It is a cordial move on the part of the candidate. However, a last minute attempt at this time is a sure sign of desperation. I disagree that an email would move a candidate up a list. Why? Because IMHO, other than the OP, more than a majority already have emailed, flooding the department's inboxes and for the most part normalizing everyone's rank.

 

[Bloom57]

🙄 wow....shame on you...unbelievable. If I recall, it is a shame on you for coming on here to find a way to be deceitful and dishonest. You are 'fishing' for ways tell your #2 and #3 that they are high on your list w/o offending them because your true #1 isn't saying anything to you. poor baby.

Wow you continue to show this board how disgusting you are. I even looked at your previous posts- more evidence of how you berate people on this forum. You do have important ideas and comments, but you should try to give them in ways that do not put others down. Please work on your interpersonal skills before you go to residency. Good luck to you.

 

[doc MD]

Wow you continue to show this board how disgusting you are. I even looked at your previous posts- more evidence of how you berate people on this forum. You do have important ideas and comments, but you should try to give them in ways that do not put others down. Please work on your interpersonal skills before you go to residency. Good luck to you.

creep much? please continue to show your insecurities by personally attacking me. I suggest you take your own suggestions and work on yourself first before telling others what to do.

 

[dermathalon]

I agree, there is nothing desperate about these emails when submitted in a timely fashion. It is a cordial move on the part of the candidate. However, a last minute attempt at this time is a sure sign of desperation. I disagree that an email would move a candidate up a list. Why? Because IMHO, other than the OP, more than a majority already have emailed, flooding the department's inboxes and for the most part normalizing everyone's rank.

I was referring to the general concept that these emails do matter. Again agreed that emailing earlier matters. If you are suggesting that a last minute email will not move a candidate up a rank list, then I agree with that too since many programs have started submitting their rank lists by now.

However, if you submit an early and timely email relating your indication to rank #1, then this can definitely move you up a rank list. I've seen it happen on several occasions.

I don't think sending a program an email that you are ranking them #2 or #3 will really do much beyond getting a thank you email reply.

Also, how far down you go on your rank list is a huge (and stupid in my opinion) bragging rights issue because I've seen PDs fleece about how they only had to go to blah blah to match everyone. I know for a fact from previous residents that some of these programs will call applicants...you can connect the dots on the rest of the story.