Help request from PD (or anyone with experience)

[MedPassion]

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My top choice is a highly competitive residency program. It's a great fit for me. Most important is my Wife is there. My interviews were strong but I'm still a "reach" candidate, borderline at best. My grades are below average of most residents. I just work my tail end off 24/7 and I've excelled in other areas. I'm almost desperate to get into this program: we are expecting.

My Dean has offered to make a "phone call" on my behalf. My letter writers have also offered to do the same.

1. Is there any real value to this? I'm not comfortable asking others to fight my battles but it seems common.

2. If a Dean calls, is there any additional benefit to additional faculty members calling? What is the upper limit.

3. Do calls from faculty who have already written strong letters add any additional value?

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Law2Doc]

My top choice is a highly competitive residency program. It's a great fit for me. Most important is my Wife is there. My interviews were strong but I'm still a "reach" candidate, borderline at best. My grades are below average of most residents. I just work my tail end off 24/7 and I've excelled in other areas. I'm almost desperate to get into this program: we are expecting.

My Dean has offered to make a "phone call" on my behalf. My letter writers have also offered to do the same.

1. Is there any real value to this? I'm not comfortable asking others to fight my battles but it seems common.

2. If a Dean calls, is there any additional benefit to additional faculty members calling? What is the upper limit.

3. Do calls from faculty who have already written strong letters add any additional value?

Thank you for your suggestions.

If someone is willing to call a friend/colleague at your desired program then let them do it -- this is the way the world works, the "old boy's club", so to speak. If they are going to just call "cold", but don't really know the PD any better than you, I'm not so sure it's going to help.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You absolutely should take them up on their offer.

As L2D mentions, if anyone knows the PD, that would be the best person to make the call.

If not, then I'd suggest either the Dean or someone who's worked closely with you.

I would say that the upper limit of # of callers is 2: Dean + 1 faculty OR 1 faculty. Beyond that won't help, and could make you look more desperate than you are.

 

[dragonfly99]

You should let people help you. Now is no time for egregious levels of pride.
This is the way the world works. And consider yourself fortunate that people are willing to do this for you.