Do PDs really hold a grudge?

[EastCstBound]

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I've heard two sides of the story on this issue - applicants saying they're going to rank a program #1 and then changing their minds later or outright lying.
I've read a lot of posts here about people looking down on applicants who send out a bunch of "you're my number 1" letters, but in the end how much does it really affect you in terms of career prospects?

Some people say that it demonstrates that you're a liar if you don't actually rank the program #1 and others say that PDs don't care all that much in the end because they'll get great residents either way. Is it different for smaller sub-specialty fields where most PDs know each other? What if an applicant only told 1 program then changed their mind later? Do they need to explain themselves after the match?? I guess this is why this lovey dovey stuff back and forth can be too much and not reliable!

In the end I didn't send any "you're my #1" letters because I know how much I change my mind! Maybe it'll hurt me in the end though... But I imagine if I did send a letter and changed my mind later I'd feel obligated to send a PD an explanation...

 

[cowme]

Well, you can kiss your chances of ever going to that place again (fellowship or career) if you tell them they are #1 and get into your "true" #1. Also, I definitely know that some PD's will contact their PD colleagues in the region to blackball you. Certainly the extreme scenario, but not one I wanna mess with.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm applying to a mid-sized specialty and one of our faculty told us he remembers if someone says they're ranking number 1 and then don't end up there after he goes to bat for them. Says he remembers it when people are applying for fellowship.

I'm sure thats not always true but why risk it? He suggested that if you do have a last minute change of heart just give a quick call after lists are submitted and let him know that you changed your number 1 because _____ (sudden change of heart, wife changed your mind...etc, etc. etc)

These are your colleagues now, its time to start worrying about professional curtesy.

 

[peppy]

You also have to remember that you run the risk of running into these people again at conferences for your specialty. You might want to have something published in a journal for your specialty that the person is affiliated with. The person might even end up switching jobs and joining your department! All could potentially be awkward situations if the person happens to remember you in a negative light.

 

[Law2Doc]

I've heard two sides of the story on this issue - applicants saying they're going to rank a program #1 and then changing their minds later or outright lying.
I've read a lot of posts here about people looking down on applicants who send out a bunch of "you're my number 1" letters, but in the end how much does it really affect you in terms of career prospects?

Some people say that it demonstrates that you're a liar if you don't actually rank the program #1 and others say that PDs don't care all that much in the end because they'll get great residents either way. Is it different for smaller sub-specialty fields where most PDs know each other? What if an applicant only told 1 program then changed their mind later? Do they need to explain themselves after the match?? I guess this is why this lovey dovey stuff back and forth can be too much and not reliable!

In the end I didn't send any "you're my #1" letters because I know how much I change my mind! Maybe it'll hurt me in the end though... But I imagine if I did send a letter and changed my mind later I'd feel obligated to send a PD an explanation...

Agree somewhat with peppy above. Never a great idea to burn bridges needlessly, and you are kidding yourself if you think that being disingenuous is going to get you ranked better at most places.

But honestly most of the time your match history doesn't come up again. You won't run into the PD again, and if you do, it will be years later and he will have forgotten you in the many thousands of applicants he has seen since.

What it will do is more likely burn future applicants from your school. I know PDs who after getting lied to by folks from the same school year after year simply stopped ranking folks from that school. So you can be limiting options to the folks who follow you. Which I suppose in turn hurts the reputation of your alma mater. And this in turn devalues that part of your CV. Which may make you less competitive for things in the future.