Contacts after the Interview

[cleareyedguy]

---

Members don't see this ad.

From the other side of the interviewing fence...

What are your reactions to getting contacted by programs after you've interviewed? Would getting more than a generic contact affect your rank list? Do 2nd looks help make up your mind? Would getting no contact indicate a program's disinterest? Are you turned off if you get 5 calls? Do you get contacted but decide that you're not going to return the call or email.

Do you return calls/emails and/or send thank you notes to all programs or just your top few? Do you tell your top ranked program that they are your first choice?

 

[rtennis18]

To answer some of your questions, I really did like to be contacted by the programs after I interviewed there. I think getting more than just a generic reply would affect the way I did my ranking. I think getting no contact would tell me that the program is less interested, just because I would have no idea what they are thinking on the other end. I ended up sending emails to only my favorite programs, and not the programs that I was not seriously considering. I definitely made a point to tell my top choice that they are my favorite program.

 

[josehernandez94]

From the other side of the interviewing fence...

What are your reactions to getting contacted by programs after you've interviewed? Would getting more than a generic contact affect your rank list? Do 2nd looks help make up your mind? Would getting no contact indicate a program's disinterest? Are you turned off if you get 5 calls? Do you get contacted but decide that you're not going to return the call or email.

Do you return calls/emails and/or send thank you notes to all programs or just your top few? Do you tell your top ranked program that they are your first choice?

here are my answers, starting with your last set of questions first:

-i've returned every phone call and email i've received. i think it's just common courtesy, even with programs i'm not super interested in. i also sent thank you notes to every person at every program that interviewed me, for the same reason. i did tell my #1 choice that they're, in fact, #1 and also sent notes to a couple of the other programs that are high on my rank list indicating that. i sent those types of notes to fewer than half the programs i plan to rank.

-in terms of communication from programs, there are pros and cons. it's flattering to hear from them and also, knowing that many programs do, in fact, contact applicants, i would be concerned if i didn't hear anything, especially from the places i'm most interested in. communication from programs certainly carries much more weight if it's tailored to me/my application as opposed to something that's just generic. all that said, i have to say that it hasn't affected my rank list at all. this is in part due to the fact that i've been contacted by all the programs i'm ranking highest as well as the fact that i have nothing to lose by ranking my "dream program" #1 even if they have no interest in me. i suppose it might make me feel unwanted had i not heard anything from my top choice, especially if i knew that they had contacted other applicants (see the thread i started on this topic), and that could affect how i'd rank them--as much as programs don't want applicants that aren't really excited to be there, i don't think i'd be as enthusiastic about going to a place that didn't seem excited about me. if i wound up going there, i'd constantly wonder if they thought less of me a resident, if i had less of a margin of error to screw up, and if i had fewer opportunities to do things i wanted.

-the caveat to the whole communication thing is, it can definitely be awkward, especially from places that contact me multiple times. again, from an ego perspective, it's gratifying, but generally i don't have much else to say/other questions to ask from the last time we talked. if i did, i'd certainly email or call. basically, i get the vibe that they'd like me to disclose how i plan to rank them, even though no one has explicitly asked that.

 

[jane70]

How nice to answer from the other side! It's funny to think both sides have the same dilemmas.

For me, the type of contact and how often has definitely mattered. I want to feel like my top program(s) want me, not just in reassurance for a match, but to feel like we would be a good fit. It does affect my ranking to a certain degree. I am ranking my programs not at all just on the contact I've had but it does make a difference if I hear from a program that we both liked each other, both think we would make a good fit....kindof like a relationship. For example I have been pretty torn about my top 3. One of the programs has done zero contact with me and when I returned for a second look I felt totally blown off. I flew across the country for literally just 2 hours of talking to residents who happened to be at the site I went to. No one knew I was going to be there, there were no rounds, didactics, nothing. I really liked the program and my solicited feedback was very strong from them, but the apathetic second look and lack of unsolicited feedback is dropping them on my list. Not for ego reasons but I wonder if it's a good fit.

So in short, yes I say personal contact is very good. 2nd looks can have a really big impact. If my visit had been organized and a great day I know I would rank them higher. No contact makes me think the program isn't really interested. 5 calls may be a little much, but spaced out love letters here and there to stay in touch are a good thing. I've returned all contacts and sent thank you's to everyone b/c it's rude not to. I do alter what I say. My #1 I told them you are my #1. My 2 and 3 I said very highly/top of my list. Others I said highly/more vague language.

 

[whopper]

From the other side of the interviewing fence...

What are your reactions to getting contacted by programs after you've interviewed? Would getting more than a generic contact affect your rank list?

Well Cleareyedguy, you know I'm on the wrong side of the fence.

But I do remember my applicant days.

If I got positive word from a program and it didn't seem like a generic response, all things being equal it would push up that program in my match list among other programs that had about as much appeal to me.

But it could also open the question that the program was desperate, especially if the program showed deficiencies. 2 particular programs contacted me a few times and told me they wanted me very much. One looked very good--and that was a good confidence boost. The other didn't look so good and their attempts to contact me made them look desperate in my eyes.

 

[mgdsh]

I think it's great for a program to show genuine interest. For a PD director (who probably has a ton of things to do and take care of) to sent a genuine letter, phone call, or email is definitely helpful.

While I'm no expert on the residency process. I always did give programs a bit more weight and consideration if I felt the PD was truly on my side. To me that shows that they really are willing to do whatever they can to make sure their residents have the best experience and education at their program.

I also liked it when I was able to interview with more higher ups at a program. Interviewing with a resident is always great, but the more higher ups take that their valuable time to get to know me on an interview, the more favorable the program looks.

 

[sikegeek]

I liked being contacted with genuine interest post-interview. At least in one instance, it affected a program's position on my list to a certain degree. It's flattering. Obviously if they like me, it shows good judgment on their part. 😉

On the other side of that, it made me kind nervous to talk to a PD when I knew they weren't going to be my top choice. I didn't really feel put on the spot so much, but I just wanted to be extra cautious about how I worded things.