Is it appropriate or do you guys think it's a good idea to email programs that reject you and ask them to reconsider your application? Or is a rejection set in stone and there's no point in bothering the PD or PC with such requests?
Emailing back Rejections
- Thread starter akhim
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2012
- Messages
- 577
- Reaction score
- 698
Well, it's not like they can double reject you, so you have nothing to lose. Still, I would imagine these places have been doing this long enough that they know how many interview offers to send out to fill their available slots. I wouldn't expect much to happen by asking them to reconsider.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 10,671
- Reaction score
- 15,379
I would only do this if you have a really good connection / relationship / etc with the program, or if it offers something that really makes it stand out. Simply asking me to reconsider your application is not going to do anything useful.
- Joined
- May 10, 2011
- Messages
- 999
- Reaction score
- 56
I only emailed one program I was rejected from--one that was very high on my list going into applications and where I felt I could articulate very well why I'd be a good fit based off the strengths of the program. Didn't help though.
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2012
- Messages
- 289
- Reaction score
- 31
I've only ever anecdotally heard of this working when the applicant has someone "powerful" pulling for them ... have never heard of it working when the applicant just ouf-of-the-blue cold calls a program that has declined them. Not saying it doesn't happen though, but it's probably pretty hard.
I am not sure I understand the thinking behind questions like these. Is the thinking that such maneuvers would work because program directors are issuing rejections frivolously? As in, maybe they didn't mean to send a rejection, so if they get a cold call then they'll realize that it was a mistake after all? Or is the thinking that program directors don't review applications very carefully? And if they only do cursory screenings due to time constraints, is the thinking that a cold call might cause them to reconsider their patterns of activity and take more time to review applications more carefully?)
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
- Messages
- 856
- Reaction score
- 34
You are probably wasting your time sending the email unless there is something about your application that has changed. You may get some traction by having someone known to the PD contact them on your behalf, but then you risk getting a courtesy interview and end up wasting your time and money on a program that won't rank you.
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 1,213
- Reaction score
- 398
I think it's generally a: "They receive more than enough qualified applicants and perhaps they rejected me because they thought I had no ties to the area and wouldn't actually go there when in reality my parents live there so maybe they'll reconsider" thought process.
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2006
- Messages
- 959
- Reaction score
- 9
I dunno about this. It is pretty eminently clear where my parents live, unless this has changed since you put in the permanent address section of ERAS, and the top-tier institution in town (which, granted, I also have ties to since I went to undergrad there) has not rejected me yet, though I'm not expecting an invite. I am not trying to pursue further any programs that rejected me, I have plenty of invites I'm happy with and I doubt it would gain me anything, wasted effort.
- Joined
- May 21, 2011
- Messages
- 1,213
- Reaction score
- 398
I'm saying that the people who think it will benefit often think this, clearly you're not in that group.
Also, many people in medical school create their own permanent address and are no longer tied to their parents in that way.
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2006
- Messages
- 959
- Reaction score
- 9
If that's the case, then why use their parents being in town as an excuse to plead for an interview? I'm not tied to my parents, I just move around so much that my parent's address is the only permanent address I have, where my contract can be sent and stuff.
Anyway, sorry to be argumentative, I just don't really see any good reason to pursue a program that rejected you. I'll be sad when my hometown program rejects me but they get stellar candidates and my chances of getting ranked even if they gave me a pity invite are slim to none.
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2008
- Messages
- 541
- Reaction score
- 11
I used my own address for medical school because I own my house. At the same time, having family in the region is very important for a lot of people. Two of my interviews in California at top notch places both came out and asked me why I was applying there (California). I had never lived in California and this could be seen by reading my ERAS. Once I explained my new family ties, my application there made a lot more sense. It definitely played an impact on the interview. Now will this be enough to get people an interview at someplace they are rejected, that is questionable. At the same time, to think that it plays no whatsoever in the residency process is probably wrong in most occasions.
In addition, using your parents address as a permanent address has nothing to do with your relationship with them. For me, having them close by would provide a lot of support. If I needed it, I would have someone to cook me a meal when I am working non-stop, someone who can help me fix my car, or run an errand when I am working night float for a month and can't do these things during regular work hours. On top of that, I would have someone to talk to when things are getting stressful that wouldn't judge me. These things are huge and can keep people sane. A lot of residencies realize this and it can impact a residency selection.
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2006
- Messages
- 959
- Reaction score
- 9
I understand that. I guess maybe I'm just bitter because, though I'm close to my family, the cities where my parents and sibling live have top 10 hospitals I have no chance in hell at. So I know I will not be able to live physically near my family, and therefore think it shouldn't be such an important part of the process because it puts people like me at a disadvantage since I have no ties to the areas of my top choices.
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2008
- Messages
- 541
- Reaction score
- 11
Yeah, I can understand that. It does put people in your position in a tough spot. It's hard to tell some programs that you are more than happy to live there when nearly every single candidate is dying to go to the programs. I think that the family ties works best for middle to lower tier programs. A few top programs may consider it, but are most likely less influenced by such factors.
But I don't have a crystal ball to know this about an applicant. So unless there's something obvious--like being born in the area, using the family member's permanent address in the ERAS application, or doing undergrad at my institution--I won't know that an applicant has an important tie to the area. It certainly can make a difference for a "bubble" applicant (ie,someone who's application may not be stellar, but still meets all of our interview criteria). All things being equal, I'd much rather offer the interview to the person who may be distant at present but has a substantial local tie instead of someone who will decide to cancel three days before the interview because they' think they've gone to enough places. But without something within the application to say "local" -- it's just all guesswork. By the time an applicant sends me a "please reconsider" email, all my spots are full and my wait lists are too long to reasonably expect a spot to open.
Sometimes I fantasize about requesting a percentile of certainty when applicants send their interview confirmations: "I would like to schedule my interview for December 7th and there is a 70% likelihood that I will actually show up."
Anyway...not that it will help anyone now, but I think the best time for an applicant to notify a program that he/she has a non-obvious tie to the area is late September via email directly to the coordinator. We're generally busy but not swamped yet, and we can add the info as a note within ERAS. Mileage May Vary, of course
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2008
- Messages
- 541
- Reaction score
- 11
That's very helpful to know, I would never have thought to e-mail programs that early on in the process. I have written some "in the area e-mails" with success in late oct/early nov, but didn't think to discuss the family angle early on. Hopefully people in the future can see this and notify specific programs with strong regional ties.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2009
- Messages
- 4,293
- Reaction score
- 9,716
I certainly would not email every program that rejects you asking for reconsideration. However if there is a particular place you had your heart set on which you are objectively competitive for that rejected you then there is no harm in sending a short email to the PD stating briefly why you are interested in the program and what is so great about you.
Certainly I got rejected from a program made the case for why I should get an interview and was offered an interview and subsequently matched there!
All interview slots may be full however. I was lucky that at the program I'm at they were nice enough to interview me even though all their interviews were taken.
Certainly I got rejected from a program made the case for why I should get an interview and was offered an interview and subsequently matched there!
All interview slots may be full however. I was lucky that at the program I'm at they were nice enough to interview me even though all their interviews were taken.
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2011
- Messages
- 385
- Reaction score
- 111
I think a personal email can be helpful if you are in limbo and have not been rejected yet. If you have a rejection in your ERAS box...let it go and move on. Short of a big wig calling on your behalf and it's unlikely to happen. Even then would you really want to go somewhere that rejected your app initially and who you had to ask for reconsideration?
Edit: Good for the above poster. Didn't read the entire thread first but generally I stand behind my thoughts. Some exceptions may apply.
Edit: Good for the above poster. Didn't read the entire thread first but generally I stand behind my thoughts. Some exceptions may apply.
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Messages
- 3,451
- Reaction score
- 628
I wouldn't count on them knowing where you're originally from despite what you're application says. I've interviewed at a couple NYC programs who were asking me why I wanted to come to New York since I am from western Pennsylvania, not noticing that I was born in, grew up in, and went to college in NY. I just happened to go to med school in PA.
To the original post, if there was a program that you REALLY want to go to I would give it a try. I have several friends who have been rejected from programs who have been contacted several days later saying it was a mistake and they weren't supposed to be rejected. If those are the mistakes that are caught, imagine how many are not caught when PDs and program coordinators are dealing with massive amounts of paperwork and applicants. It seems easy for someone to slip through the cracks
