How do programs decide their matchlists?

[Cerberus]

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I'm curious if anyone has any inside knowledge of how programs decide their rank lists. Is it a committee that decides where applicants rank on their list or is it primarily the Residency/Assoc residency director who have decide? I manage this varies from place to place, but it would be nice to have an example or two of how the process works.

 

[lucky_deadman]

It varies somewhat from program to program.

For the most part people who interviewed meet to discuss (rank) the interview component of your application. Each area is weighted differently for each program, but each area is given a score. Your composite score decides your place on their rank list.

Then at the end of the season, most programs meet one final time and go through the rank list again. There is room to improve or drop a few places based on who is or is not in your corner.

Of course a DNR (Do Not Rank) could come at any time. (don't piss people off on the interview trail as it is a small community still yet)

 

[deleted65604]

I'm sure it varies from program to program.

Ours generally started with a certain weight being given to each applicant based on scores, grades, and interviews.

The residency secretary would put this into a power-point presentation. A slide consisted of a giant picture of you, with pertinent information underneath (scores, grades, ER grades, where they're from, etc.)

At that point, the residents sat around and had a blast making fun of people and moving people up or down on the rank-list for good, or not so good reasons (There were a lot of, "HEY! She's hot, put her up like 20 spots!" groans from the girls in the room- "No, seriously, she was really...personable the night before.) People would get put up for getting along during the pre-or post-interview interaction with the other residents. People would get DNR'd for stupid behaviour (I recall one guy who made a borderline racist comment that led to his demise). "They would really fun to drink beer with" or "They would totally fit in here" was a common comment. There were some people who were DNR'd for out of control behavior, or excessive drinking on the other hand.

There were always two camps in our meetings.

First, the people who like good grades and high scores, and would be willing to go for hard-working nerds, who were nice people.

Second, the people who seem to make it their goal of getting friends/lovers/bar-mates, with equally low board scores and grades, but who were "cool".

In general, it is a very random process, with a lot of people who plummet 30 or 40 spots just because nobody remembers them well, or they have a bad hair-cut. The residency director was there with us and got our feed-back and wrote notes on people.

After we were done playing god with people's futures (it really is a power trip), the attendings would all meet and go over our rank list and change it as they saw fit. In the end, I'm not sure how many people that got put at the top of the list stayed there, but I think the bottom of the list, and the DNR's put in place by the residents are pretty much adhered to.

 

[leorl]

As a resident I don't have too much input into selections, but I give opinions. We have a scoring system. There are some people who are instant No's who give everyone involved an unfavorable vibe. There's those who everyone likes and they get a top score. Then you take each with a top score and start ranking. Simplistically, that's how it works.

 

[Apollyon]

One year, our program went down the list with us of each applicant; it was going to be the first time we would get a resident from the med school, so that was the most momentous occasion. We got to vote on who we wanted most. The listing went by scoring, too, and we were not privy to that. A few people did get dropped from the list (2 or 3), though, for being or saying something dumb or extreme. There was only one candidate that guys really whooped over (a former Miss Alaska - and, no, she wasn't Inuit/Yupik).

 

[MDrugger]

Every program is different in how much they let the residents have a role.
i feel we are really lucky to get to fight for the people we (as residents) want to move either up or down on the list. if you rotate here, do a good job, be intelligent and likeable it will serve you well and we will advocate for you.
But to start and if you didn't rotate with us
Grades - board scores - research/special interests - letters -- interview day
that's where you fall in the grand sceme of things and can move up or down

 

[oxytocin]

Every program is different in how much they let the residents have a role.
i feel we are really lucky to get to fight for the people we (as residents) want to move either up or down on the list. if you rotate here, do a good job, be intelligent and likeable it will serve you well and we will advocate for you.
But to start and if you didn't rotate with us
Grades - board scores - research/special interests - letters -- interview day
that's where you fall in the grand sceme of things and can move up or down

Can you PM me what program you're in?

 

[RandomAttending]

I'm curious if anyone has any inside knowledge of how programs decide their rank lists. Is it a committee that decides where applicants rank on their list or is it primarily the Residency/Assoc residency director who have decide? I manage this varies from place to place, but it would be nice to have an example or two of how the process works.

This varies from program to program. Everyone who interviews typically has input but, ultimately it is the PD and assoc. PD who make final decisions. Most programs have some sort of rating or ranking system as they go. But there is usually always the "show everyone's picture on the wall" meeting as described by others where people can shift slightly. The "hot or not debate" doesn't exist where I am but there are some behind the scenes comments that keep the meeting interesting since it is typically painfully LONG.

 

[malariarus]

i always thought they judged us by our little song and dance!

 

[malariarus]

Or how good is their "Pec Dance?"
PD: Here's your jeans. Put it on and let us know when you're ready.
Interviewee: Ok. (5 mins later..) I'm ready!
Light sturn off...strobes come on...techno music starts....
PD: Ok, now all all interviewees together! We must analyze your cohesiveness for our program.

PD: Okay! Done. You're in.