MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread

Started by kraskadva
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Are people sending thank you emails post-interview? I feel like that just clogs up their inboxes but saw a bunch of people talking about it over on Reddit...
IDK if i would to all programs but if there is one that you really want to match with then ya I would. I would also write it kind of like a hybrid thank you and LOI stating you plan to rank them high.
 
Are people sending thank you emails post-interview? I feel like that just clogs up their inboxes but saw a bunch of people talking about it over on Reddit...
It is not going to change your rank in any way but the consensus seems to be that it is a nice thing to do. I don't think it really matters one way or the other but if you're worried about not doing it, might as well just send a quick email and get it off your mind. If the program says do not send thank you emails definitely don't send any though.

I think letters or cards are way over the top though.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
just shotgunned some LOIs. Go big or go home
Good luck I have heard from many people involved in the process that LOIs are not helpful but hopefully it works for you. Its better to have a faculty member or ur home PD send something out for you.
 
Before being withdrawn from last year's match, I sent LOIs to my home state only and got 3 IVs the in the following 2 or 3 days. Thats with a CS fail and without a pasing score. Have to be strategic with the timing and content of the email. If timing or content is not good it could hurt your chances though so theres always that risk.
Can you share what speciality @Dr. Lion ? I'm definitely sending some next week if next two days don't go well.
 
The point is that it's strategyproof for the applicant (meaning you are better off or at least not worse off by being entirely truthful--in other words, by ranking your true order of preference). It's not for the programs, but there's nothing you can do about that.
Totally agree.
Why aren't these communications banned?
Because not everyone lies? We sometimes tell internal candidates (or people whom have rotated here) if they are in our top group -- that way they can stop interviewing if they want. But they have to trust us.
I literally took the word of a PD to mean the truth and it devastated me. I was so betrayed (i knew the PD more personally than any other.. audition and all of that).

Yeah, dont trust anyone. Rank the programs that way you want to.
Whether or not you trust people, you should rank programs in the order you want.
Are hand written thank you notes taboo this cycle because of fomite risk or are they ok to send ? Or is email the way to go ?
You're joking, right? Do whichever you want.
 
Totally agree.

Because not everyone lies? We sometimes tell internal candidates (or people whom have rotated here) if they are in our top group -- that way they can stop interviewing if they want. But they have to trust us.

Whether or not you trust people, you should rank programs in the order you want.

You're joking, right? Do whichever you want.
Any sage advice for us regarding LOIs?
 
Good luck I have heard from many people involved in the process that LOIs are not helpful but hopefully it works for you. Its better to have a faculty member or ur home PD send something out for you.
It worked for my significant other last year for at least 3 interviews. I obviously only sent these to my top programs because of a legitimate reason which would not be readily apparent unless they read the tail end of my personal statement. Each program has sent out multiple interviews by now so I sent today for fear of sending them too late. It’s a pretty unpredictable cycle
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Because not everyone lies? We sometimes tell internal candidates (or people whom have rotated here) if they are in our top group -- that way they can stop interviewing if they want. But they have to trust us.

Saying someone is in their top group is more believable than flatly telling them they'll be ranked #1 and then purposely ranking them low/not ranking them. It's difficult to trust PDs if many lie yet several are being honest.
 
I have been looking at the medicine spreadsheets. To me, it really seems very early still. Interviews are being slowly sent out in small batches it seems. Although a lot of people are saying most programs sent out invites already, its misleading. Its really most programs sent out "an invite" already. Could have been just a couple. I believe a big wave of IVs is coming in the next few days. We'll see.
I also feel they're going by regional bias first and high stats as well.
 
Totally agree.

Because not everyone lies? We sometimes tell internal candidates (or people whom have rotated here) if they are in our top group -- that way they can stop interviewing if they want. But they have to trust us.

Whether or not you trust people, you should rank programs in the order you want.

You're joking, right? Do whichever you want.
I literally said to rank programs how you want them lol
Just dont believe a PD who gives you any kind of indication you’ll be ranked high... because it can set you up for disappointment especially if that program was your number one regardless.
 
Got a couple hits so far this week which I'm glad for as they are some big university ones which has given me confidence; hoping for some more activity today/tomorrow. I'm applying GS, so I will assess where I am at at the end of next week, because I know that some programs have said they will start sending them out this week and next week explicitly. Then think about LOI's/calls if needed. So for now just sitting tight.

Also the election results are actively giving me stomach ulcers, I need to up the pantoprazole and maybe pop a benzo.
 
Both of these statements are not quite accurate.

A) Programs can tell you anything they want about where you are on their list. They can tell you the exact number if they want. There is nothing that prevents this. And you can tell programs anything you want -- exact positions on your list, or anything else. Neither party is allowed to ask the other for this information, especially if couched in the "I will only rank you highly if you promise you're ranking me highly". So either can tell, neither can ask.

B) This is a bit nuanced. It's correct that the way the algorithm works, you can't hurt yourself by ranking programs that you think you have less chances at (i.e. reaches) higher on your rank list. You can't lose a spot by "ranking a program too low". But, applicants might still prefer to go somewhere that "wants them more". It does an applicant no benefit to match at a "reach" place and be miserable. But since there's no real way to know what programs are doing, applicants should not try to do this.



The "favor the applicant" line is often quoted. There's a whole thread about the match alg that, if you're a math/computer nerd or are otherwise interested in the inner workings, is worth a read. But the match isn't actually all that "applicant favored". It weighs program and applicant interests basically equally. The only "favor the applicant" piece is that any ties are settled in the applicant's favor. This affects less than 1% of matches, so really plays a minor role. So, mathematically, the match only slightly favors the applicant.

Do you have a link to the thread that talks about the inner workings? Curious and couldn’t find a good thread. Searched “match algorithm explained” and other variations and couldn’t find good threads on this besides the basics of how it works
 
Got a couple hits so far this week which I'm glad for as they are some big university ones which has given me confidence; hoping for some more activity today/tomorrow. I'm applying GS, so I will assess where I am at at the end of next week, because I know that some programs have said they will start sending them out this week and next week explicitly. Then think about LOI's/calls if needed. So for now just sitting tight.

Also the election results are actively giving me stomach ulcers, I need to up the pantoprazole and maybe pop a benzo.
Yeah, for GS it seems as if the little programs tried to get in the game early and the bigger ones are starting to ramp up IIs this week and next after getting time to review a bunch.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Do you have a link to the thread that talks about the inner workings? Curious and couldn’t find a good thread. Searched “match algorithm explained” and other variations and couldn’t find good threads on this besides the basics of how it works

You can just google it. Search for stable marriage problem or Gale-Shapley algorithm.
 
Anybody have any suggestions on how many LOI's to send out to programs? I've sent 4 but really want to send one more to a school I've visted many times and in the same state as my undergrad.
 
Tried sending my first LOI yesterday and it yielded an II today.

Keep it short and genuine if you're considering it, I think they really appreciated that about the one I sent and that's why it worked out for me.

EDIT: just some extra info, it was a program outside of my region I had visited before and so I talked about how much I enjoyed it and kind of how it led me to discover this program.
 
Last edited:
Tried sending my first LOI yesterday and it yielded an II today.

Kept it short and genuine if you're considering it, I think they really appreciated that about the one I sent and that's why it worked out for me.
Helps that you have baller stats (if I remember correctly), but I am gonna definitely gear up for this cause I am getting passed over by places that know me, we just haven’t spoken since pre-COVID. I’m sure a nudge would hurt.
 
I generally said I was specifically sending one because I was out of the region and talked about a visit there I had once, what I did, why I enjoyed it and how it led me to discover the program. <1/2 page.

Awesome thanks! And you sent it to the program coordinator via email? I really want to pump a few of these out to my top programs that I haven't heard back from
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
As someone who EF'd up their own ERAS email address, I had a good reason to be contacting programs (I wrote the contact person listed in ERAS). Since it's so early in the cycle, I decided to just send emails to my top 10 programs (I'm applying in a noncompetitive specialty). I agree with the regional bias (my first 3 interview offers were all within a 50miles radius of my school). I feel like I got some positive responses to the emails (like "you'll be hearing from us soon") and eventually received invites from several of the programs that I had emailed. Keep any messages short and genuine.
 
As someone who EF'd up their own ERAS email address, I had a good reason to be contacting programs (I wrote the contact person listed in ERAS). Since it's so early in the cycle, I decided to just send emails to my top 10 programs (I'm applying in a noncompetitive specialty). I agree with the regional bias (my first 3 interview offers were all within a 50miles radius of my school). I feel like I got some positive responses to the emails (like "you'll be hearing from us soon") and eventually received invites from several of the programs that I had emailed. Keep any messages short and genuine.

I just now got my first in state invite and had 8 out of state invites. I truly think the regional bias is being blown out of proportion.
 
Someone on Reddit today said they talked to their home EM program about sending LOIs; apparently it is considered both way too early and annoying to be sending them right now.
Idk if it was true or not but in the IM spreadsheet chat someone said a higher ranked program replied to their LOI with "Dear X, thank your for your interest. Whatever!" someone deleted it now but I got a good laugh out of it lol
 
Good luck I have heard from many people involved in the process that LOIs are not helpful but hopefully it works for you. Its better to have a faculty member or ur home PD send something out for you.
can affirm that LOI was not helpful in the slightest
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Interview hoarding is gonna be real this year.
I suspect after people actually do a few they will start to drop. Sitting on a zoom call in a room for 3-6 hours is exhausting. Not to mention the pre interview socials for each. Fatigue will set in. I'm looking at my scheduled IIs now I can tell i'm gunna get my butt kicked with rotations, pre interview socials, and interview. I have no intention over doing more than the CORD recommendation for EM (17, if i'm even lucky to get that many). 12-15 much more likely for me.
 
Interview hoarding is gonna be real this year.

I am really afraid of that. BUT, the 2 people on my rotation with a billion have been declining interviews. Like I physically watched it.

1 has like 27 interviews and has cancelled at least 7 so far.

1 has like 15 interviews and has cancelled at least 3

can affirm that LOI was not helpful in the slightest

I sent 4 Level 2 update/Personalized interest emails, and updated my core site in person because I’m here right now. Core site invited me. 3 ignored me (and they’re in my top 5), and 1 replied with a generic cut and paste nothingness.
 
Someone on Reddit today said they talked to their home EM program about sending LOIs; apparently it is considered both way too early and annoying to be sending them right now.

I saw that too; I think it's really specialty & program-dependent though.

e.g.) if a program has sent 5 waves of interviews at this point (some have), I think it is reasonable to shoot the program coordinator a short LOI if you are OOS and the program truly is a top program for you.
 
MRW when I get an interview invite:

48d.png


The dopamine rush is real.
 
Its funny how we spend so much time worrying about sending or not sending LOIs, myself included. In reality, though, that choice probably has little to no effect on the eventual match. But it’s the only thing we have control over at this point
Yeah. I sent a handful of LOIs to some of my tops. Actually got an II from one of them. But so did everyone on the reddit spreadsheet that day lol. We’re all just clamoring for some illusion of control.
 
Hoooo, that invoice must have been brutal. 300 is the highest number I’ve seen yet.
530 FM programs and only got 17 interviews. That's the most I've seen. Also the lowest yield I've seen.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad