Do PD's communicate with other PD's

[golfpropsychguy]

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A buddy of mine who is already a resident in a program in NY told me that I should be careful of telling too many programs that I am ranking them highly because most of the PD's communicate with eachother prior to ranking there prospective applicants. Does anyone know if this is true. I kind of find it hard to believe that any PD would have anytime to even bother.

any insight is appreciated.

Thanks😀

 

[OldPsychDoc]

A buddy of mine who is already a resident in a program in NY told me that I should be careful of telling too many programs that I am ranking them highly because most of the PD's communicate with eachother prior to ranking there prospective applicants. Does anyone know if this is true. I kind of find it hard to believe that any PD would have anytime to even bother.

any insight is appreciated.

Thanks😀

Your hunch is right...and think about it--even if the PDs did have time and inclination to compare notes on their applicant lists, WHY would they??? If it's all so "hush-hush" and competitive--why should one PD divulge propreitary info about their applicants? Would you trust what another PD told you about an applicant that you were competing for?

Honestly, the paranoia this time of year is almost reaching pharmacological levels... (Or maybe it's narcissism--"I'm so special that programs will take it personally if they found out that I liked another program more...")

 

[swanny]

I haven't communicated with other PDs about rank lists, and they haven't communicated with me. I can't see what the benefit would be if we did. Almost all of our applicants tell us that "I am planning on ranking your program highly." I think your hunch is correct!

However, we do have a listserve and discuss many other issues of interest regarding psychiatry training, such as changes in the USMLE and Board exams, competency requirements, and even how to better assess applicants! Ranking applicants isn't an exact science. We get anxious about the Match too. In the end, we rank applicants that we think would be the best fit for our programs, and I hope you rank the programs that are the best fit for you. Good luck!

 

[redapple123]

I haven't communicated with other PDs about rank lists, and they haven't communicated with me. I can't see what the benefit would be if we did. Almost all of our applicants tell us that "I am planning on ranking your program highly." I think your hunch is correct!

However, we do have a listserve and discuss many other issues of interest regarding psychiatry training, such as changes in the USMLE and Board exams, competency requirements, and even how to better assess applicants! Ranking applicants isn't an exact science. We get anxious about the Match too. In the end, we rank applicants that we think would be the best fit for our programs, and I hope you rank the programs that are the best fit for you. Good luck!

Thanks for ur input.

So when you say 'best fit' what is the main factor which decides.
Do you consider USMLE test scores & Step 3 again while preparing a ROL or it is solely on the interview performance ? ( or Everything as a whole )

 

[josehernandez94]

I haven't communicated with other PDs about rank lists, and they haven't communicated with me. I can't see what the benefit would be if we did. Almost all of our applicants tell us that "I am planning on ranking your program highly." I think your hunch is correct!

However, we do have a listserve and discuss many other issues of interest regarding psychiatry training, such as changes in the USMLE and Board exams, competency requirements, and even how to better assess applicants! Ranking applicants isn't an exact science. We get anxious about the Match too. In the end, we rank applicants that we think would be the best fit for our programs, and I hope you rank the programs that are the best fit for you. Good luck!

I sent you a PM.

 

[swanny]

Everything as a whole. Things like scores, interview performance, and the interaction of the applicant's goals and our program goals are all considered. I'm sure each program uses a variety of methods to assess applicants, and may weigh certain factors differently. At our program, we emphasize clinical training using a biopsychosocial model, so we look for candidates that have that goal as well, and also seem: able to relate well with people; eager to learn and receptive to feedback; intelligent and hard working. I'm sure most program directors want similar candidates. Nevertheless, it can be hard trying to assess this. Ranking the candidates is also difficult, because many of them meet these expectations. We do the best we can, and it (usually) works out!

 

[whopper]

From what I've noticed, program directors talk to other PDs but not to the degree where they're talking about individual candidates. Its about more general things. PDs have a lot on their plate to worry about. When each program has at least hundreds if not thousands of candidates, they're not going to get to the point where they talk about a specific 1, and if they did, that candidate would've had to have been so over the top to the point where I wouldn't expect it.

I have though noticed that when applying to fellowship, the field is much much smaller (a handful to a few dozen tops for 1-4 spots) and almost all the fellowship directors know each other, at least professionally, even if they're on the other side of the country. However I have also noticed that they too as mentioned above are in a competition for the best candidates so they too will not divulge their "secrets".

I did though get some interesting stories from PDs during my fellowship interviews, something like "darnit, last year that program took my #1 candidate and they did it again this year", or "we took their #1 guy away from them and when I saw their PD at the AAPL convention a few months later he gave me a dirty look". However this type of thing doesn't happen on the residency level.

Honestly, the paranoia this time of year is almost reaching pharmacological levels... (Or maybe it's narcissism--"I'm so special that programs will take it personally if they found out that I liked another program more...")

I think its a natural response given what medstudents are used to, and its become a learned response. Remember, when getting into medschool, there's dozens to hundreds of applicants for every one spot. Several medschools have brutal programs. Premed applicants are told of the impossible odds and the bending over backwards they will have to do. By the time they apply to residency, the fear & "kowtowing" they are accustomed to doing is not as necessary, but they don't yet know it. Almost any candidate, with very few exceptions, that got an interview is someone the program is seriously considering. So if you made it that far, they want you, perhaps more so than you want them.

 

[Faebinder]

It's a good time to spread rumors about the existance of the "Secret Telepathic Psychiatric Network" and of course it's secret hand shake you are supposed to do when going on an interview.

 

[psychattending]

A buddy of mine who is already a resident in a program in NY told me that I should be careful of telling too many programs that I am ranking them highly because most of the PD's communicate with eachother prior to ranking there prospective applicants. Does anyone know if this is true. I kind of find it hard to believe that any PD would have anytime to even bother.

any insight is appreciated.

Thanks😀

While I communicate with other PDs we rarely discuss any specifics about the current applicants. As several have suspected, we are too busy. As Swanny indicated I think most PDs receive statements from a lot of applicants, indicating that they are going to rank us highly. Since it is not specific, I don't consider it to be an untruth. I would not though tell a school that it is your #1 choice if it is not.