Contact from PDs

[Hurricane]

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Now that the interview season is winding down, I'm starting to get a few calls and emails from PDs telling me that they're going to rank me highly. One of them wants me to call him back so he can answer questions, etc.

How am I supposed to respond if they are not in my top couple of programs? They are programs that I will rank, but not at the very top of my list. Not because there is anything wrong with the programs, but there are other programs and locations that will work better for me. So I think it would be wrong for me to lie and say I'm ranking them highly, but I don't want to be rude/burn bridges either.

 

[freshity]

i don't think you owe them any response, unless you contacted them first with questions. it's the same as when applicants write to programs expressing interest ("you're #1 on my list...", etc.) and add the caveat "please contact me if you have any further questions" or whatever. it doesn't make the person you are writng to obligated to contact you. it's an attempt to be available, to seem available. it's courtesy, that's all.

from the letter writer's perspective, it would be nice to have that person contact you back, because then you have a greater chance of gauging the interest level on their part, almost no matter what you talk about.

but in the end, it does not change the order of your list, because probably the order of your list is based on factors other than who contacts you the most. it's got to be the same for programs. while it's good to feel wanted (and the essence of that general feeling of being welcomed by a program may factor into your rank list somewhere), there's something more substantial on which we base this choice for all of us on both sides.

so, if you think it would be an awkward tel. call, then you're probably right, and there doesn't seem any reason to make it, unless you truly have some questions. good luck!

 

[AtYourCervix]

if you are ranking them, then i would say something to the effect of "i hope you would be as happy to have me as i would be to match at your program." its flattering, yet doesnt make any promises.

 

[Empedocles]

if you are ranking them, then i would say something to the effect of "i hope you would be as happy to have me as i would be to match at your program." its flattering, yet doesnt make any promises.

I agree with your post, anything within those lines is appropiate...