How are you guys going to rank programs?

[Mrbojangles]

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I'm having a hard time ranking the programs I have interviewed at so far. So while I was waiting for my flight at JFK a week ago, I made an outline of things I was looking for. I was going to make an outline and ascribe points for each criteria so I can come up with an objective scoring system for each program. But the list I made was so long and I really couldn't decide on points I'd allot for each criteria and a grading system for each criteria. How many other people out there are as neurotic as I am 😉.

 

[joedogma]

So for there seem to be a few programs that stand out for me. After that, I plan on using a magic 8-ball to help with the rest of my ROL...

 

[2005]

I'm having a hard time ranking the programs I have interviewed at so far. So while I was waiting for my flight at JFK a week ago, I made an outline of things I was looking for. I was going to make an outline and ascribe points for each criteria so I can come up with an objective scoring system for each program. But the list I made was so long and I really couldn't decide on points I'd allot for each criteria and a grading system for each criteria. How many other people out there are as neurotic as I am 😉.

I was thinking about setting up a scoring system kind of like the Glasgow coma scale with 3 catagories: the program itself, benefits, and location, assigning a certain number of points for each catagorie. Then I can compare numbers rather than relying soley on my gut feeling.

 

[yaah]

It's kind of juvenile, but one thing I found strangely effective was to suddenly pretend that you had matched at that program, and see what you felt. Are you regretting not ranking another program higher? Are you regretting "settling" for that program? Things like that. Of course, this requires a fairly active imagination. However, normally I have a hard time faking things, so much so that I can't even practice presentations I have to give effectively, but this strategy was effective.

Some may call this schizophrenic, but it forces you to look honestly at your choices.

Oddly, there were a couple of programs I was really enthralled with after the interviews, and for one of them in particular I felt kind of crappy after "assigning myself" to it. And this changed my rank order.

 

[deschutes]

That is exactly what I have been doing.

Imagine if you will, the NRMP page loading on your screen March 17.

Imagine the program name appearing.

How do you feel then?

It is telling.

 

[yaah]

Heck, do what I did and send yourself an email.

Congratulations!

You have matched in PATHOLOGY at xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[deleted57552]

It's kind of juvenile, but one thing I found strangely effective was to suddenly pretend that you had matched at that program, and see what you felt. Are you regretting not ranking another program higher? Are you regretting "settling" for that program? Things like that. Of course, this requires a fairly active imagination. However, normally I have a hard time faking things, so much so that I can't even practice presentations I have to give effectively, but this strategy was effective.

Some may call this schizophrenic, but it forces you to look honestly at your choices.

Oddly, there were a couple of programs I was really enthralled with after the interviews, and for one of them in particular I felt kind of crappy after "assigning myself" to it. And this changed my rank order.

That is an interesting idea and isn't schizophrenic at all. I shall keep this strategy in the back of my mind come rank list entry day. When match day arrives and if I am fortunate enough to match in one of my top 2 or 3 programs, I think I will feel more relieved (and happy too) but realize that this is only the beginning.

 

[2005]

So what I want to know is, what happens when you don't get to interview someplace where you really want to go, you match someplace else, and then the place where you really wanted to go goes unfilled for some reason? What a nightmare!

 

[yaah]

That likely means the PD at that institution screwed up. Either they had a high opinion of their program that was not shared by those they interviewed, or they interviewed the wrong crop of people. Or alternatively, they messed up their rank list and didn't list enough candidates.

Be careful though, that some programs don't fill only because they don't fill their CP only spots, and this often has very little relevance to the AP/CP and AP only applicant pool which are often considered and ranked together. CP only spots are almost like separate residency programs, and programs would rather leave them unfilled then fill them with unqualified people. Because CP runs very well without much resident input, and CP only residency spots are mainly for people planning on a research academic career.

 

[cytoborg]

I'm having a hard time ranking the programs I have interviewed at so far. So while I was waiting for my flight at JFK a week ago, I made an outline of things I was looking for. I was going to make an outline and ascribe points for each criteria so I can come up with an objective scoring system for each program. But the list I made was so long and I really couldn't decide on points I'd allot for each criteria and a grading system for each criteria. How many other people out there are as neurotic as I am 😉.

😳 Hehe...glad I'm not the only one. My list of criteria ended up being about 35 things long...I used a 1-5 scoring scale for each. Sounds crazy, but actually, the way the totals turned out pretty much validates the gut feelings I already had about each program! Interesting! Of course, some criteria are more important to me than others, but instead of driving myself crazy trying to assign weights, I just eyeballed the list and adjusted it accordingly. Of course, I still have a couple of interviews, so everything will probably go to hell all over again.

I am also doing the Match Day visualization. Even if a program looks great on paper, if you imagine yourself feeling "Eh" when you open the envelope, then it's probably not the right program.

 

[ziadp]

I tried to create a list of factors and score them based upon their importance. IT did not work, I had a hard time blinding myself....anyways, I think that the gut reaction method sounds wonederful. In the end, i beliece personality types dictate what works best.

Though, I have toyed with the idea of ranking programs based upon who had the best lunch....that would be interesting. (will not though because the program with the best lunch is the program I least liked....maybed I can do it based upon the reverse order....huh.)

Anyways, it is Saturday, I am going to go drive to dallas now. Have a lovely weekend all!!!! And lets hope the trauma pager stays silent this weekend (I want short rounds when I get back.)

 

[stormjen]

I used a scoring system to decide where to apply; for my ranking, however, I'm using the vibe or gut feeling, combined with the location and cost of living.

 

[deschutes]

Late yesterday it occurred to me that the major factor influencing my rank list was - public transportation 😛

 

[yaah]

"Little" factors like public transportation or parking are important! If it is going to cause you a hassle it will be as big of an issue as benefits or something else. A lot of times though, people try to justify their rank list to themselves based on certain factors. But you don't really have to do that. Rank the ones you like, for whatever reason, but make sure it's actually an important reason to you. Lots of people will give program X lots of points for a certain benefit (like, for example, free gym access) when they in actuality will probably never set foot in said gym.

 

[vetiver]

i've finished a few interviews now, with this question: how much will/should people's perception of program directors influence rankings? example: program A: loved the program, loved the PD. program B: liked the program, thought the program director was snotty, hadn't read my app, and was kind of an a-hole. program C: less academic of a program but unexpectedly loved everything about it, except the PD was a little odd, and just sent me a very positive, but highly personal and informal follow-up message that i find unprofessional and a little disconcerting.

obviously, program A wins, but it's hard to know how much to consider your first read of the PDs. i know that they will influence your residency, but is a sub-optimal PD enough to really dip a program in your rankings? just curious. happy holidays/break from interviews, guys.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I agree that when you visit a program and you gel well with the chair and the PD, that enhances the experience of the interview visit. However, personally, I am wary of that criterion when picking programs if the chair/PD is the foremost positive aspect of the program. That is because chairs may step down and move somewhere else. The PD may step down too. I don't know what the average tenures of a department chair or PD are. But my impression is that at some institutions, relatively increased turnover in the department chair and PD positions are possible.

Anyways, to answer the original question regarding ranking of programs, my method was similar to stormjen's method. There was more method than madness when choosing where I would interview. Ranking programs in the end is basically on gut feeling and program philosophy. What I'm finding difficult is who is #2-4 and in what order. I think second visits are a good way to sort some of this out. They really give you a perspective you don't see when you go on interview visits because you really have the opportunity to spend ample time with residents during the second visit.

 

[Mrbojangles]

it's hard to know how much to consider your first read of the PDs. i know that they will influence your residency, but is a sub-optimal PD enough to really dip a program in your rankings? just curious. happy holidays/break from interviews, guys.

I was thinking about that myself. The best scenario would be to have a PD who's dynamic, really smart, on top of everything in the program, interested in carrer goals of their residents, and genuinely interested in hearing resident's concerns and feedback. When it comes down to resident education committee meetings PD are the resident's strongest advocates right?

I was also thinking about the same thing for Department Chairs. They play less of an important role in resident education and it seems like alot of programs do just fine with what seems to be minimal involvement by the chair in resident education. But it is a little disturbing.

 

[Mrbojangles]

😳 Hehe...glad I'm not the only one. My list of criteria ended up being about 35 things long...I used a 1-5 scoring scale for each. Sounds crazy, but actually, the way the totals turned out pretty much validates the gut feelings I already had about each program! Interesting! Of course, some criteria are more important to me than others, but instead of driving myself crazy trying to assign weights, I just eyeballed the list and adjusted it accordingly. Of course, I still have a couple of interviews, so everything will probably go to hell all over again.

I am also doing the Match Day visualization. Even if a program looks great on paper, if you imagine yourself feeling "Eh" when you open the envelope, then it's probably not the right program.

I initially made a list including 34 criteria but as I started filling the numbers in for several places I couldn't give objective scores to several important criteria and my list was looking artificial. I'm going to have to revise my list and make some e-mails to get some important stats to fill in some of the missing blanks.

I think I have a reasonable idea of how I will most likely rank my programs just going by gut and the information I have stored in my head now (will have to go back to my old notes). It's just that I'm having alot of difficulty ranking three of the first five programs I interviewed at: Yale, UCSD, BU. Hopefully when I add things up on my revised list I may get some answers. Or I may just chuck it if it doesn't work .

 

[jeff2005]

I didn't take any notes or create a list of criteria. I'm just going with how happy I would feel to match there. Using that, the list goes something like this:

Iowa 😍
MUSC
MGH
Alabama
Jefferson
WashU
Yale
Utah