Calling programs

[psychmatch]

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Is it okay to call programs/the PD to let them know about any updates? Also,if we get a prematch offer from a program and don't want to go there due to location reasons mainly,can we let our desired programs know about those prematches and that we are not taking them? Is this any violation? How else to express our interest to them at this point?
Thanks.

 

[psychmatch]

Anyone??

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You are welcome to update programs if you wish. Email is fine, prob better than calling unless you have something really important to say.

Announcing that you are not taking prematches is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it might signal that you really like my program and hence you're staying in the match. I feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about that.

On the other hand, perhaps you're trying to twist my arm to give you a prematch. Hinting that you have all these other prematches, and maybe you'll take the next one. That doesn't make me feel so good.

Anyway, just be careful with this if you try to spin it as a positive.

Overall, I bet none of this makes much difference in the end.

 

[error404]

I am curious about updating. (I know its a little late and that some programs have already finished their rank lists.)

What's a tasteful way to send an e-mail that says, "hey, I just won World's Greatest Candidate Award* and so you should totally move me up your list"?

How big a deal should an update be to warrant an e-mail? It seems silly to say, "hey, I totally honored my last rotation," but what about a new publication? Or a national award?

*Not Really

 

[Law2Doc]

Anyone??

I agree with aPD -- do not call people by phone for this kind of update. Use email or snail mail. Getting someone on the phone can annoy them because, honestly, your residency aspirations are probably not the most important thing they are doing on a given day and in a busy day some med student calling them with an update is going to P.O. somebody if it pulls them away from something actually time sensitive. (Remember, most PDs are also clinicians and administrators as well as serving as a PD, and so they are quite busy during the next few months juggling multiple full time jobs). Email is more acceptable because they can look at it when they actually have the time.

And no -- updating just to tell them you got an A/Honors in XYZ elective generally doesn't warrant an email.

 

[psychmatch]

What about this: during the interview in October/November,the PD asks where else you got interview calls from and its a little early,so they say you are welcome to call or email me with questions and let me know about the rest of your programs as well later?
I'm just calling about 2 of my top choices,just the PD's that I felt I connected with on a more personal level.Is this fine?
And yeah,I want to let them know that I am staying in the match cos I want to go to their programs! I hope they do feel warm and fuzzy 🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

What about this: during the interview in October/November,the PD asks where else you got interview calls from and its a little early,so they say you are welcome to call or email me with questions and let me know about the rest of your programs as well later?
I'm just calling about 2 of my top choices,just the PD's that I felt I connected with on a more personal level.Is this fine?
And yeah,I want to let them know that I am staying in the match cos I want to go to their programs! I hope they do feel warm and fuzzy 🙂

Although a PD who said this may be more receptive to phone calls, I'd still say calling is only a good idea if you have a specific question that merits a call. It is not acceptable just to update or to tell them you are staying in the match. Because it can be a nuisance to a PD to get pulled away from something important just to field a call from an applicant. Use email. Put yourself in the place of a busy physician who doesn't want to have to field calls from a hundred applicants a day who have nothing time sensitive to tell them.