Can we ask the program if we are ranked? Thanks.😕
Ask program if they rank me, ok?
- Thread starter leewa
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2004
- Messages
- 348
- Reaction score
- 0
In the end, it wouldn't serve anything anyway (aside from easing your mind). Even if you are ranked in a place that "typically" would get you to match there, you can never know how everyone else in front of you plans to rank the program. That being said, I wish I knew where I stand with my #1 program as well but I guess we'll find out come March. Best of luck! 👍
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 10,752
- Reaction score
- 15,612
It is technically against the match rules. You should not ask. As others mention, the answer doesn't really matter. Simply rank the programs in the order you prefer. You cannot "lose" a spot because you ranked a program low on your list. The match will put you into the program highest on your list that has ranked you high enough to match.
it does kinda matter, if you are going through a lot of inner turmoil over e.g. your #1 vs #2, if you knew you weren't going to match at #1 anyway, you wouldn't need to think about it. So it would be nice to know, and not torture yourself over something that doesn't matter.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
If you've been able to identify them as #1 and #2, then you still don't have to think about it. You rank them in the order you want, and let the system run its course.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2004
- Messages
- 348
- Reaction score
- 0
um, no, my point is that you are struggling over whether to rank program A #1 and program B #2, or vice-versa. If you know you are not being ranked at program A, then it is a moot point. If, on the other hand, your chances are very high that you will match at both places, you better be damn sure you like A over B if you are going to rank it higher. This might necessitate second looks, more communication with residents etc. to make the decision.
You aren't going to be told whether you are on a program's final rank list or not, and I imagine the conversation would be incredibly awkward were you to ask. If you feel good about the interview, assume that you are somewhere on the list, but realize that just being on the list doesn't guarantee a Match.
Always be sure you like program A more than program B when you submit your Rank Order List.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
It would be helpful to know most future events ahead of time, but that's just life -- you find out when the time is right. Otherwise we would all be lotto winners.
it's not a future event, it's a current event (are they ranking me NOW). At least you agree now that it is helpful...
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
It's the "finding out" where you are ranked that's the future event. And that's what you want to know now. My point is that you don't get to know until March - it's not information you or any applicant is entitled to. So no point mulling about how helpful it would be to know it now. Much like you won't know a lot of things in life until you get there, regardless of how helpful it would be to know these things ahead of time. It's why oracles and seers have been held in high esteem since biblical times. So no, I don't really agree with you that you ought to be able to know this kind of thing. But I would agree that someone who can see into the future would have significant advantages in life.
omg. This convo is going nowhere. You know, you shoulda stuck with law. I never said you "ought" to know if you are ranked, which implies you have a right to the information. Don't worry, I'm not losing sleep over it, I'm simply rebutting the annoyingly smug statements made in this thread by people who have their tidy little rank lists that this information would not be in any way helpful. I can imagine a system where programs inform applicants they are not ranking, out of courtesy, this is just not the way it works. It is no way similar to trying to forecast say, an earthquake, where the information is simply not available to make the prediction, rather than hidden. I can't believe I have to explain this difference.
btw, It must be nice to stay so zen about life, I wish I could be like that. 🙄
btw, It must be nice to stay so zen about life, I wish I could be like that. 🙄
- Joined
- May 15, 2008
- Messages
- 5,089
- Reaction score
- 55
OP,
You can't ask a program to tell you where they ranked you.
You can guess whether they ranked you by the general vibe you got at your interview...my impression is that most programs rank most (or even almost all) of the people they interview. If you get there and act like a jerk or totally don't seem like you'd fit into that program, they might not rank you.
What you probably really want to know is whether they ranked you high enough to match there, which is something they very likely would not tell you.
They also don't really know who is ranked high enough to match and who isn't, other than the very top people on their list...
If you really want a better idea of where you stand, the only way I know to find that out is to go through indirect channels (such as attending @your institution who knows the attendings or PD at that place). I know I'll probably get flamed for saying this, and I pretty much don't do this personally, but I know that in med school that some people did this. I mean, the program is unlikely to say exactly where you are ranked, but they may be willing to give a general idea (i.e. whether they are very eager to have you there vs. not really so much). Technically this isn't the way things work, but the Match isn't necessarily what it purports to be. If you don't "know someone who knows someone" you'll just have to wait and see.
You can't ask a program to tell you where they ranked you.
You can guess whether they ranked you by the general vibe you got at your interview...my impression is that most programs rank most (or even almost all) of the people they interview. If you get there and act like a jerk or totally don't seem like you'd fit into that program, they might not rank you.
What you probably really want to know is whether they ranked you high enough to match there, which is something they very likely would not tell you.
They also don't really know who is ranked high enough to match and who isn't, other than the very top people on their list...
If you really want a better idea of where you stand, the only way I know to find that out is to go through indirect channels (such as attending @your institution who knows the attendings or PD at that place). I know I'll probably get flamed for saying this, and I pretty much don't do this personally, but I know that in med school that some people did this. I mean, the program is unlikely to say exactly where you are ranked, but they may be willing to give a general idea (i.e. whether they are very eager to have you there vs. not really so much). Technically this isn't the way things work, but the Match isn't necessarily what it purports to be. If you don't "know someone who knows someone" you'll just have to wait and see.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
A lot of programs would consider this kind of communication inappropriate, and so the yield isn't going to be that high through indirect channels either. But sure, not zero -- not everybody plays their cards as close to the vest when talking to faculty colleagues.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2009
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 0
I've posted this in the appropriate forum but was curious to hear what those in this ERAS/NRMP subforum would say. It also relates to liking Program A more than Program B if I'm ranking A ahead of B. 😀
I was given an interview at a program where I didn't think I would get an interview. It went okay considering it was early in the interview season. This is my dream program and I would love to make it #1. Everyone is advising me to rank it #1 as the golden rule of the ROL is "rank em how you like em"
But, I also completed an away rotation at a smaller, less prestigious program. I completed the interview last week and walked away feeling it went much better than the aforementioned interview. Would it help me to send a letter of intent to this less prestigious program and rank them #1 instead of ranking my dream program #1? I'm not sure how much this letter would help but I got to know everyone quite well on the away and get the impression a letter of intent here would help more than the letter of intent at the large prestigious institution.
I'd love to be a dermatologist from this dream program but at the end of the day, I'd really like to just be a dermatologist. Help!
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2000
- Messages
- 39,952
- Reaction score
- 18,721
I was given an interview at a program where I didn't think I would get an interview. It went okay considering it was early in the interview season. This is my dream program and I would love to make it #1. Everyone is advising me to rank it #1 as the golden rule of the ROL is "rank em how you like em"
But, I also completed an away rotation at a smaller, less prestigious program. I completed the interview last week and walked away feeling it went much better than the aforementioned interview. Would it help me to send a letter of intent to this less prestigious program and rank them #1 instead of ranking my dream program #1? I'm not sure how much this letter would help but I got to know everyone quite well on the away and get the impression a letter of intent here would help more than the letter of intent at the large prestigious institution.
I'd love to be a dermatologist from this dream program but at the end of the day, I'd really like to just be a dermatologist. Help!
Again, rank the programs in the order you like them, not in the order you think they will rank you.
Please forget about "letters of intent":
1) its very late in the season; many programs have already formulated their Rank Order List
2) even if it wasn't late, these letters do not generally change your ranking
3) if you must, send a letter to each program telling them how much you liked the program and would be happy to be a resident there. Honestly, this is no weaker a letter than one that tells a program "you're Number 1!!!!😍😍😍😍😍"
So rank Top Notch Derm program first if you honestly love it better than Mediocre Derm Program, or do the reverse. It doesn't matter; if they rank you high enough to match and you do the same, you will match.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2009
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 0
wow thank you for the quick and helpful advice!
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,062
Depends on the specialty -- there are still places winding up interviews.
Similar threads
