Can PD's see the number of programs you applied to?

[RodFarva]

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Sorry if im beating a dead horse here, but my google is broke. Only applying to one specialty, can PD's see the actual number of programs you have applied to? Thanks

 

[gutonc]

Sorry if im beating a dead horse here, but my google is broke. Only applying to one specialty, can PD's see the actual number of programs you have applied to? Thanks

Nope. The only things PDs know about where you applied is what you tell them. This includes your home program's PD.

Also, to pre-empt the inevitable follow-up question. PDs can not see your rank list either. The only thing they will find out is where you matched (assuming you didn't match with them) and then, only if you were on their rank list too. This is how PDs find out that you lied about ranking them #1.

 

[RodFarva]

Great, thanks- I let my insecurities get the best of me and applied to an appalling number of programs, just wanted to make sure they couldnt see that. Thanks a ton for your help

 

[gutonc]

Great, thanks- I let my insecurities get the best of me and applied to an appalling number of programs, just wanted to make sure they couldnt see that. Thanks a ton for your help

They wouldn't care anyway. People have lots of reasons for applying broadly (weak candidate, desire to try someplace new, lack of mentoring, whatever). PDs have a million other things to worry about. They really don't care.

 

[SB100]

On a similar note about what PDs can/can't see: If you mention to someone else at the program you interview at how interested you are, how easily does it get back to the PD? At the interview day for one of the two programs I really love (not sure if #1 or #2 yet) I told an administrative assistant how I'm hoping to match there.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Also on the same note, i've had two separate PDs ask what other programs i'm interviewing at and this threw me off both times. I answered truthfully both times but i feel like it may have hurt me since one of the programs is in my hometown (not where i go to school) and it may be obvious where my #1 program is.
So i guess the question is how do i answer this question and is it kosher for them to ask at all.

 

[gutonc]

Also on the same note, i've had two separate PDs ask what other programs i'm interviewing at and this threw me off both times. I answered truthfully both times but i feel like it may have hurt me since one of the programs is in my hometown (not where i go to school) and it may be obvious where my #1 program is.
So i guess the question is how do i answer this question and is it kosher for them to ask at all.

This has been asked and answered roughly a million times on this forum. Be as vague or as specific as you want. I personally started vague and then got more specific if pushed. I never mentioned a program in the same city.

But the most important thing I can tell you is that...it really doesn't matter. They're just trying to suss out how competitive you think you are and where they land on your perceived rank list.

You can get worked up about this if you want, but I'm going to assume you have better things to worry about (drinking beer, sleeping, summiting Everest, etc).

 

[gutonc]

On a similar note about what PDs can/can't see: If you mention to someone else at the program you interview at how interested you are, how easily does it get back to the PD? At the interview day for one of the two programs I really love (not sure if #1 or #2 yet) I told an administrative assistant how I'm hoping to match there.

That's not really a similar note. You're asking whether or not people in a particular program talk to each other.

Of course they do. Whether they'll remember your vague, non-committal comment the next time they run into the PD on the way to the can is a different question.

FWIW, all written communication (email and otherwise) is generally passed back to the PD/PC.

 

[zappeuse]

well lets not forget that PDs might know and talk to each other. I was shocked to realize that a PD on one of the iv-s knew exactly where other - same city - programs I interviewed at - I certainly was not the one to tell him..

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I told an administrative assistant how I'm hoping to match there.

Almost every candidate tells me this. It's pretty meaningless.

 

[armybound]

Almost every candidate tells me this. It's pretty meaningless.

you guys are my #1, aPD.

 

[gutonc]

Almost every candidate tells me this. It's pretty meaningless.

I wish we could sticky individual posts. This, right here, is the answer to roughly 75% of the active threads in the SDN Resident forums right now.