Do residency committees see where else we have applied?

[dukeisadog]

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When applying to medical school, I know that on the AMCAS application the last page included a list of all other medical schools we were applying to, and admission committees could see this. Is this the same for residency applications? Let's say we want to apply to a ton of programs for whatever reason, some people may look at that and think an applicant is desperate and trying to increase his/her odds of matching. I could also see it as helpful; for example, if you're from the east coast and all of your applications are to west coast programs they'll know you're serious about moving. Also, if you're applying to two separate fields (let's say EM and IM) they will see that you're not set on one field, which can hurt the applicant. Any suggestions? The reason I'm asking for both of those reasons: my Step 1 score isn't stellar but I'd like to match in something fairly competitive so applying to many programs might help, and also I'm not sure which of 2-3 fields I may want to match in so I might apply to 2-3 and see what happens. I really appreciate any guidance, thanks!

 

[Miss Alyssa]

I don't think residency programs can see what other schools you applied to because sometimes during interviews they ask candidates where else they applied. As far as I know they can call other program directors and ask about particular candidates or talk to other specialties in the same hospital.

 

[Phur]

No, they don't know what other institutions or specialties you applied to. And technically it's against the rules for them to ask where else you applied, but many programs ask anyway.

They can see where you did match if they rank you, but that's not until all is said and done.

 

[scotchtapetest]

Not only they can't see where/what you have applied, it is actually a match violation to "force" you to reveal the places you have applied to. They can ask but can't make you if you don't want to (i.e. No means No and some of them need to be reminded of that)!

 

[K31]

When applying to medical school, I know that on the AMCAS application the last page included a list of all other medical schools we were applying to, and admission committees could see this. Is this the same for residency applications?

No, that doesn't show up on the AMCAS application the schools get. They only know where you are accepted, and IIRC only then after a certain date.

Same thing for residency applications--the programs don't see where else you have applied.

 

[TenderRender]

No, that doesn't show up on the AMCAS application the schools get. They only know where you are accepted, and IIRC only then after a certain date.

Same thing for residency applications--the programs don't see where else you have applied.

That's pretty interesting, I could've swore that when I interviewed at a school, I saw that my interviewer had my AMCAS, including the backpage. I obviously didn't get a good look though, but from across the table it definitely looked like my med school list as she was flipping through the app

 

[Butler]

That's pretty interesting, I could've swore that when I interviewed at a school, I saw that my interviewer had my AMCAS, including the backpage. I obviously didn't get a good look though, but from across the table it definitely looked like my med school list as she was flipping through the app

That would be a big no no if Ad Coms got their hands on that information. Gives you information about the applicant's application that he/she did not specifically release. Violates confidentiality of the whole process.

 

[NickNaylor]

No, that doesn't show up on the AMCAS application the schools get. They only know where you are accepted, and IIRC only then after a certain date.

Same thing for residency applications--the programs don't see where else you have applied.

It's not AMCAS, but I know for TMDSAS the adcom definitely gets a list of schools that you're applying to (Texas and otherwise) - or they used to. One of my interviewers at a Texas school had the list of schools I was applying to mixed in with his notes.

 

[Longshanks]

That would be a big no no if Ad Coms got their hands on that information. Gives you information about the applicant's application that he/she did not specifically release. Violates confidentiality of the whole process.

Absolutely not. We're already passed this part of the game but if you read all the stipulations, AMCAS explicitly states that adcoms can see what schools you are holding acceptances (after Feb 15th or March 1st, IIRC). You agreed to this by the very nature of applying. What confidentiality was ever part of an application process?

Getting back to residency applications - everyone talks. And even if it is "against the rules to ask" and you can say no, try saying no and then come back here and let us all know how that worked out for you. Just be honest, or shift the conversation in a natural way.

 

[Butler]

Absolutely not. We're already passed this part of the game but if you read all the stipulations, AMCAS explicitly states that adcoms can see what schools you are holding acceptances (after Feb 15th or March 1st, IIRC). You agreed to this by the very nature of applying. What confidentiality was ever part of an application process?

Getting back to residency applications - everyone talks. And even if it is "against the rules to ask" and you can say no, try saying no and then come back here and let us all know how that worked out for you. Just be honest, or shift the conversation in a natural way.

OP was referring to interviewer knowing all the schools he had applied to, not all the schools he was holding acceptances at. I think it is a serious ethical mishap to allow Ad coms to see all the schools you have applied to. I would question any school that requests or somehow has this information.

As an add on: should a PD ask you what other programs you have applied to, I recommend just giving them a vague answer. Like a few schools in the region, or a mix of community/academic programs or whatever. Being purposely vague should cue them off that you are not going to disclose that information. If they are pushy, I would just tell them no straight up. You can withhold information without being disrespectful or rude to an interviewer if you use some tact.

 

[MT Headed]

Absolutely not. We're already passed this part of the game but if you read all the stipulations, AMCAS explicitly states that adcoms can see what schools you are holding acceptances (after Feb 15th or March 1st, IIRC). You agreed to this by the very nature of applying. What confidentiality was ever part of an application process.

As of February 15th, a medical school that has accepted you can see where else you have been accepted. As of April 1st, every medical school you've applied to can see where you've been accepted.

There doesn't seem to be any loophole where an interviewer can see what medical schools you've applied to. If you are interviewing in April , I suppose they would know where you've been accepted.

 

[Longshanks]

OP was referring to interviewer knowing all the schools he had applied to, not all the schools he was holding acceptances at. I think it is a serious ethical mishap to allow Ad coms to see all the schools you have applied to. I would question any school that requests or somehow has this information.

Schools/Adcoms and RDs will find this out no matter what. Some applications to specific schools actually ask you to list the schools you've applied to on their secondary, and as Nick pointed out, TMDSAS reveals what schools you've applied to.

If you're a business owner or an RD, what is ethically wrong about knowing what your competition is for an applicant? Applicants to schools and jobs use this to their advantage all the time to negotiate better financial aid packages or wages. There's nothing in other industries & professions that ban this from occurring, and it's not something the federal government has mandated. We're not talking about asking whether or not you plan to get pregnant, your religious beliefs, or your sexual orientation.

Is it an uncomfortable question? Absolutely. But it isn't unethical in the least.

 

[Longshanks]

As of February 15th, a medical school that has accepted you can see where else you have been accepted. As of April 1st, every medical school you've applied to can see where you've been accepted.

There doesn't seem to be any loophole where an interviewer can see what medical schools you've applied to. If you are interviewing in April , I suppose they would know where you've been accepted.

It can still play a factor in a decision if you interviewed earlier in the season at a school that either takes a notoriously long time for decisions or the few schools that wait until they finish interviewing applicants to make a decision. Or potentially affecting schools you were on wait lists for.