Fellowship contact before match

[Vergie]

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Applied for Critical Care. Have a couple top choices. How forward should I be with them about match intentions? I emailed programs thank you's and updated them with CA2 ITE scores. My top choices both replied with congrats. Should I straight up tell them I'm ranking them 1 and 2? I feel like maybe this is a little different than residency but I don't want to seem too casual or be too forward.

Thoughts?

 

[partydoc]

Can't hurt

 

[deleted171991]

Applied for Critical Care. Have a couple top choices. How forward should I be with them about match intentions? I emailed programs thank you's and updated them with CA2 ITE scores. My top choices both replied with congrats. Should I straight up tell them I'm ranking them 1 and 2? I feel like maybe this is a little different than residency but I don't want to seem too casual or be too forward.

Thoughts?

You can tell them both you are ranking them #1. The risk is that #2 may call your bluff and offer you an out of match position.

You will probably not have any problems matching into one of your top 3, even if you don't tell them anything, unless you shouldn't be in critical care in the first place.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

DO: tell your number one they are your number one. The worse thing that can happen is that you don't get in and your pride is hurt. You will get over it. But fellowships want to fill and if you can guarantee them you will rank them first it can make their choice to rank you higher easier.

DON'T: tell a program they are your 'number 2'. Fellowship is not like residency or medical school. You have to play the game, it sucks, we know. If a program KNOWS you won't be their number one they could rank you lower over others who have stated they will rank number one. Better to keep in the dark a feign the person who doesn't want to play the game. You can still send a "I'm super interested" letter but they may not take it very seriously.