Don't Tase Me Bro

[thecampuslegend]

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In July/August I did a Sub-I and loved the program. The hospital granted me an early residency interview so that I wouldn't have to travel all the way back during the actual interview season. At that time I told a few doctors and the PD that the hospital was my number 1 choice and that I would love to match there. At that point....everything I said was truthful. But when interview season actually came, I got interviews at programs that I had no business interviewing at and my rank list has changed. I have stayed in contact with a few residents from that program and they tell me that the only way I wouldn't match there is if I rank another hospital ahead of theirs.

So now I feel like a dick. I told this program they were my number 1, which they were at the time, but now I have a new number 1. And if i end up matching somewhere else - they will know that I lied to them. Part of me wants to do right and send an email to the PD being like, "hey, circumstances have changed and although you are still near the top of my list, you aren't my #1." I don't want my actions to have negative repercussions on future students from my school. The other part of me is like "dude you're an idiot and risk getting bumped way far down." I have talked to the residents from the program letting them know that my rank list has changed, but they just said to choose what's best for me. What should I do if anything?

 

[shan564]

I'd say you should send them an email on February 21. You wouldn't be hurting them in any way by waiting until after the rank lists are in - they'll still get the exact same match list. And this way, they wouldn't be surprised when they find out that you didn't match there.

 

[akhim]

^ that could actually be a safe bet. that way you tell them, but theyre not surprised and you dont look like a puss. i would also apologize too in the same letter. at the end of the day you gotta do whats best for you too.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Like this doesn't happen every match. Most PD's won't care one way or another.

Sending a letter on Feb 21 sounds like a great idea, until you actually match into that program. Won't you feel dumb then?

You're making this into a bigger issue than it needs to be. Here's what I would do: Prep an email to the program, thanking them for their interest. Explain that although you really enjoyed working there and would have been very happy matching there, after your interviews you realized that your interests had changed. You're sorry for any confusion or problems this may have caused. Love thecampuslegend

Hold onto it, and see what happens on match day. If you match there (certainly a possibility), it goes directly to the trash. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. If you don't, you send it on the afternoon of match day.

Remember that you haven't really caused a problem. If they don't get you, they get the next person down on their list. If they hadn't ranked you at all, they still would have ended up with the same match.

Lesson to learn from this (for others, too late for the OP): Don't do this. Sure you might love a place that you do an away rotation. Maybe you will rank it #1. But maybe not. Don't promise things until the end of the interview season.

 

[SpecterGT260]

Like this doesn't happen every match. Most PD's won't care one way or another.

Sending a letter on Feb 21 sounds like a great idea, until you actually match into that program. Won't you feel dumb then?

You're making this into a bigger issue than it needs to be. Here's what I would do: Prep an email to the program, thanking them for their interest. Explain that although you really enjoyed working there and would have been very happy matching there, after your interviews you realized that your interests had changed. You're sorry for any confusion or problems this may have caused. Love thecampuslegend

Hold onto it, and see what happens on match day. If you match there (certainly a possibility), it goes directly to the trash. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. If you don't, you send it on the afternoon of match day.

Remember that you haven't really caused a problem. If they don't get you, they get the next person down on their list. If they hadn't ranked you at all, they still would have ended up with the same match.

Lesson to learn from this (for others, too late for the OP): Don't do this. Sure you might love a place that you do an away rotation. Maybe you will rank it #1. But maybe not. Don't promise things until the end of the interview season.

This should get a sticky......

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile

 

[akhim]

👍 ^I agree. doctors are pretty smart

 

[kindasorta]

.

 

[catmandoo]

this hapened tomy friend in military match for EM. he ended up sending the old #1 PD an email saying that he really liked the program, but it wouldn't be he #1 anymore. The PD wrote him back saying he appreciated his honesty and wouldn't change their ranking of him.. and that he wished him luck, but selfishly hoped my friend would still end up going to his program.

 

[Cali2]

Please, please don't send that email before match day. As others have said, you'll feel pretty silly if you match there. If you had a very good relationship with the PD/program leadership, you can always send an email after match day explaining how your list shifted etc. If the only time you met them was at the courtesy interview, I wouldn't even call attention to it by sending an email.

 

[Buzz Me]

I would have abstained from telling a program they were my #1 choice until after I'd finished all my interviews.

Having said that, totally agree with aPD's advice.