Contents of final letter to PD of 1st choice

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StringBean

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Hello everyone.

Thanks for all your help so far... but I have another question.

What exactly should be said in a final letter to the PD of your 1st choice. I mean, you can't put all the same old... i really think we're a good fit b/c blah, blah, blah... cuz that was already in the post-interview letter. Any ideas on how to word the follow-up?

Thanks again!
 
Anyone... BKN???

Any help here???
 
StringBean said:
Anyone... BKN???

Any help here???

I may not be the one to answer, since I don't too much care what the applicant's number 1 is, only my own.

But, I'd keep it simple. When I recieve a letter about "you're my number 1", I like it to be short and pleasant, on the lines of: I'd like to train at _______, and I assure you that if we match, I'll work hard and do my best to assure that you will never regret training me.

I guess what I'm suggesting is to push the advantages to the PD of matching with you, not so much your desires.

Hope this helps.

BKN
 
Try five reasons why you would be a good fit for the program.
 
To play the devil's advocate...

Does it actually matter if you send a letter to your first choice program? Re: BKN's comments, isn't it implied that you will work hard and not make the PD regret the selection? Assuming that programs follow NRMP's advice and base their ranks strictly on their order of preference (ignoring the "I wuv you so much" letters from applicants), can a letter from an applicant actually move them up the rank list? BKN?
 
As long as you don't send something totally wacky ranting about the sun gods, your tin foil helmet, and how you were a resident there in your past lives, it can't hurt, so why not maximize your chances of getting your #1?
 
Mumpu said:
To play the devil's advocate...

Does it actually matter if you send a letter to your first choice program? Re: BKN's comments, isn't it implied that you will work hard and not make the PD regret the selection? Assuming that programs follow NRMP's advice and base their ranks strictly on their order of preference (ignoring the "I wuv you so much" letters from applicants), can a letter from an applicant actually move them up the rank list? BKN?

I'm ambivalent about this one, and I'm speaking only for our place. I try to be as objective as I can, which means that the desires of the candidates shouldn't matter. In fact, I specifically tell our interviewees that they need not write a thank you note. But. . .A few years ago a candidate who was marginal in our pool said to our then PD "Dr. ___, if you hire me, I'll make sure you never regret it." Dr. ____ was impressed and I believe it moved him up a few places. In fact, he matched, and I'm not sure he would have otherwise. BTW, we never have regretted training him. 🙂

So the "I wuv you so much" letters don't help at our shop, but the demonstration of maturity and dedication to the patient rather than self is really important. Those qualities should have been evident in the application and interview. If a candidate were on the fence, a good letter might tip the balance occasionally.
 
Ahhhh, i really, really HATE this process.

Thanks for all the info/advice! But do you believe I still can't get the damn wording down. This is RIDICULOUS! :scared:
 
BKN said:
I'm ambivalent about this one, and I'm speaking only for our place. I try to be as objective as I can, which means that the desires of the candidates shouldn't matter. In fact, I specifically tell our interviewees that they need not write a thank you note. But. . .A few years ago a candidate who was marginal in our pool said to our then PD "Dr. ___, if you hire me, I'll make sure you never regret it." Dr. ____ was impressed and I believe it moved him up a few places. In fact, he matched, and I'm not sure he would have otherwise. BTW, we never have regretted training him. 🙂

So the "I wuv you so much" letters don't help at our shop, but the demonstration of maturity and dedication to the patient rather than self is really important. Those qualities should have been evident in the application and interview. If a candidate were on the fence, a good letter might tip the balance occasionally.

But only occasionally...

I just came from our ranking meeting, and I've got to say that post-interview correspondence only came up twice--and they were both to the detriment of the applicant. (One was unintelligible, and the other totally off the wall.)

So listen all, don't sweat it. 99% of our discussion was recapping the academics and the interpersonal ratings from interview day. The rest was some airing of concerns about more marginal candidates and a (very) little lobbying to move our favorites up a slot or two (but not dramatically, and not out of line with the scores from interview day). If you must get in a last word at this late date, be pithy and sincere (and lucid, for gosh sakes!!!!). And if you don't, it's really not likely to hurt you.
 
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