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maybe i'm paranoid, but what if you email your #1 choice program and let them know that they're your #1 choice and your email gets around to other PDs?
emailing programs
- Thread starter anaismd
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Anaismd,
It's up to you to decide if you would like to inform your #1 choice that they are indeed your # 1 choice. I wouldn't worry about program directors sharing that information with other PDs because it rarely happens. I know this because I have asked a number of program directors how often they communicate with one another during the residency application process - in particular, on whether or not they talk about specific applicants.
They usually do not discuss information about their applicants with one another, especially information such as how they plan to rank their applicants. They also tend not to share any information regarding how interested an applicant is in their progam with any other program.
Do they ever talk about applicants? The answer is yes but usually if the applicant has done something that they perceive as negative. An example would be an applicant who is a no show for an interview. Although being a no show for an interview is not likely to hurt you in noncompetitive residencies, it can seriously damage your chances when you apply for competitive residencies that offer fewer positions. In these specialties, the program directors are a much smaller group who know each other well. They are more likely to share the negative information with one another.
Hope this helps,
Samir Desai
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
It's up to you to decide if you would like to inform your #1 choice that they are indeed your # 1 choice. I wouldn't worry about program directors sharing that information with other PDs because it rarely happens. I know this because I have asked a number of program directors how often they communicate with one another during the residency application process - in particular, on whether or not they talk about specific applicants.
They usually do not discuss information about their applicants with one another, especially information such as how they plan to rank their applicants. They also tend not to share any information regarding how interested an applicant is in their progam with any other program.
Do they ever talk about applicants? The answer is yes but usually if the applicant has done something that they perceive as negative. An example would be an applicant who is a no show for an interview. Although being a no show for an interview is not likely to hurt you in noncompetitive residencies, it can seriously damage your chances when you apply for competitive residencies that offer fewer positions. In these specialties, the program directors are a much smaller group who know each other well. They are more likely to share the negative information with one another.
Hope this helps,
Samir Desai
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
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anaismd, i actually faced the same dilema yesterday. i sat and sat and sat pondering on whether i should send a letter or send an email to my top schools, particulary my number 1. finally, i just sent a letter because i start feeling as if the PD may forward a copy to other PDs.
I am applying to a competitive residency and have actually had PDs say to me during interviews that they will call other PDs to discuss applicants. Plus, if I did an away rotation in that field, they mentioned that they would also call that school to see how I performed despite strong recs that I received from the program. So, I think your worries are justified. Do I think it will matter in the end? Unless you did a poor job, I truly do not know...
good luck...i am sure you will end up where you're supposed to be...
I am applying to a competitive residency and have actually had PDs say to me during interviews that they will call other PDs to discuss applicants. Plus, if I did an away rotation in that field, they mentioned that they would also call that school to see how I performed despite strong recs that I received from the program. So, I think your worries are justified. Do I think it will matter in the end? Unless you did a poor job, I truly do not know...
good luck...i am sure you will end up where you're supposed to be...
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All students should realize that it is not unheard of for program directors and other members of the selection committee to call faculty who have written letters of recommendation on your behalf. If your letter-writers have written you a strong letter of recommendation, you should not be concerned about the residency program calling them. You should, however, keep your letter-writers abreast of how things are going for you in the residency application process. That way, when and if, they are called, they will be informed about your progress in securing a residency and will speak about you enthusiastically. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not keeping their letter-writers informed of what's going on.
As for program directors calling one another to discuss their applicants, in my previous post, I mentioned that this does not happen often. I base this on discussions I have had with program directors of various specialties. Can I say that it never happens? No, I can't but for a minute let's consider what this would involve. Even in competitive specialties that have relatively fewer residency programs, for the program director to discuss your application with other PDs, he would have to know where you interviewed and then make calls or inquiries to all of those programs. Keep in mind that you are not their only applicant. So the PD would have to do this many times over. As someone who has been involved in the selection of residents, I know that it is an incredibly busy time of the year for program directors and members of the selection committee. Imagine the time it would take for these folks to do all of this checking up on you.
Having said this, I can still understand your concerns. If you remain concerned, instead of emailing or writing them to inform them that they are your #1 choice, why not use the words "highly rank". You can such language when communicating with multiple programs - then you don't have to be so concerned.
Good luck with everything,
Samir Desai
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
As for program directors calling one another to discuss their applicants, in my previous post, I mentioned that this does not happen often. I base this on discussions I have had with program directors of various specialties. Can I say that it never happens? No, I can't but for a minute let's consider what this would involve. Even in competitive specialties that have relatively fewer residency programs, for the program director to discuss your application with other PDs, he would have to know where you interviewed and then make calls or inquiries to all of those programs. Keep in mind that you are not their only applicant. So the PD would have to do this many times over. As someone who has been involved in the selection of residents, I know that it is an incredibly busy time of the year for program directors and members of the selection committee. Imagine the time it would take for these folks to do all of this checking up on you.
Having said this, I can still understand your concerns. If you remain concerned, instead of emailing or writing them to inform them that they are your #1 choice, why not use the words "highly rank". You can such language when communicating with multiple programs - then you don't have to be so concerned.
Good luck with everything,
Samir Desai
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
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