contact with programs

[sunny9505]

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Anyone having much contact with programs between interviewing and now? I have only heard from 1 out of 9. Also, what are you supposed to do to let a program know of your interest? Is an email saying just that enough?

 

[leaf]

I just got a formal letter from one program (the only official contact I've had), but then, I'm still interviewing. I think it's really in late January and February that the bulk of contacts take place, so I'm not worrying yet. Not sure if an e-mail or a letter is preferred....I'd tend to go with the letter, just because I think it looks more official and I like stationery. 🙂

My question is, what do you say to the programs in response to their letters?

ETA: Oops. Asher's post reminded me that I did get a call from another program after they met about my application, but that program said it always calls applicants several weeks after the interview to give them a sense of where they stand. However, most programs that I've visited have told me either that they don't contact applicants, period, or that they call toward the end of the season. I've communicated informally with a couple of interviewers, primarily those with whom I shared a common interest -- if you're really interested in a program, perhaps writing to interviewers who share your interests might be one way of indicating that you've thought about the program and would be a good intellectual fit.

 

[Asher]

Probably 80% of the programs I've interviewed with sent either an email or letter following up with me, usually after the selection committee has met to discuss my application. It has been nice to get some feedback but it is of limited value in a way since they all use the vague language of "we plan to rank you very highly" or that they hope to see me in July. The programs that haven't sent follow-up letters generally told me on the interview date that they would be calling me in late January or that they did not contact any applicants following interviews.

I've struggled with knowing the right way to follow-up to a couple of my follow-ups! The letters were such that they needed a response for nothing else that I appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into the preparation. It is hard to know what to say though if you loved the program and plan to rank them a close second to your first choice.

As for expressing interest in programs, I tried to put some effort into my thank you notes to programs that hopefully conveyed at least somewhat my degree of interest in the program. The one exception to hand-written notes was for one program that I liked so much that I wanted them to know right then how happy I would be to end up there.

All of this stuff is giving me a serious headache. At least I can start entering my list today (although I'll probably change it a million times between now and late Feb);

 

[carolyn]

Originally posted by Asher
It is hard to know what to say though if you loved the program and plan to rank them a close second to your first choice.

I've been flipping my first two choices around and have finally settled on which is #1. Needless to say, I would love to go to either one. I've emailed my first choice and told them they're my #1. Now how am I supposed to email my other program and let them know that they're my second choice (when they could have easily been my first!)? What type of vague wording have people been using? Ie., can you tell them they're "at the top" of your list even though you don't mean "THE top" but rather "top portion" of your list???

I mean, besides "I plan to rank you really really high!" and "I would really love to come to your program!"... how do you convey that they're "*almost* your #1???

 

[monocyte]

One strategy would be to write a detailed (but concise) e-mail as to why you liked your #2, ending with "...and therefore I will rank you very highly". That's what I did. But I wouldn't worry too much about it in any case.

 

[whopper]

Much of this is conjecture, but I do have a lot of experience with interviewing and telling candidates. I used to be an executive board member of a co-ed Honor Fraternity and I had to interview 5-15 people a semester for 3 years. I also did hear a lot of talk between doctors at a specific program on how they were going to pick candidates in my last rotation.

The nitty gritty.

In case you hadn't known the rules of the Match strictly forbid programs from telling candidates where they are on their Match list. I don't know if this applies to candidates as well though I did make sure I didn't cross this line becuase if I did I might've made myself look like an ass.

If a program mails, invites you for a 2nd look etc, that's an indicator that you're favored. Especially if those mails can be specifically tagged as NON-form letters. At the rotation I was at, they didn't invite everyone back for a 2nd looksie.

However its also possible that these programs do it as a form type of response to simply increase the number of people interested in them to increase their chances of getting the candidates they want, by making those candidates think they're favored...which for some people will make them think they're high on the program's Match list. This specific idea is something the Match reccomends against in their explanation of the Match algorithm.

 

[carolyn]

Originally posted by whopper
In case you hadn't known the rules of the Match strictly forbid programs from telling candidates where they are on their Match list. I don't know if this applies to candidates as well though I did make sure I didn't cross this line becuase if I did I might've made myself look like an ass.

Whopper, I had been worried about this too so I looked it up on the NRMP site. Basically, you can volunteer the info but you can't ask for it. I got this from the NMRP website (url below):

Match Communications

"Applicants and program directors may express a high degree of interest in each other and try to influence decisions in their favor, but must not make statements implying a commitment. Although the Match Participation Agreement does not prohibit either an applicant or program director from volunteering how he/she plans to rank the other, it is a violation of the NRMP policies to request such information.

Program directors and applicants frequently engage in the practice of sending letters following the applicant's interview with the program. Those letters often contain statements that can be misinterpreted by either party. Match participants must understand that such letters are not binding and have no standing when final rank order lists are submitted."

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/about_res/ensuring.html

Hope that helps.

 

[whopper]

Thanks for the info Carolyn.

I have received some after interview communications from 3 programs and an invite to see a program for a 2nd time. I was also told upfront that I was a highly favored candidate at the program that invited me back for a 2nd look.

1 program I just automatically nixed from my Match list. ITs the one where the attending cussed me out. I mentioned it in another thread: post interview impressions.

2 I'm thinking of nixing. These 2 programs have limited patient divirsities and tend to work their residents much much more than the other programs. These programs also have limited research. If I nix 3, I'll end up with 7 on my list which is still a large number from what I understand.

However the top 3 programs on my list keep on switching places the more I think about it. Its to the point where I'm actually thinking of going to a psychic or leaving it to a coin toss cause no matter how much I think about it, the more it changes!

-one of them is the top paying psychiatry residency in the country-excellent program near my girlfriend
-the other is a top program near my girlfriend
-the other is a great program (not a top one, but still good) 3 hrs away from my girlfriend, but its the only place where I worked and loved being there---and I got no idea if I'll like the other 2 places.