How important is it to send a "your my #1 program email" to a FM PD?

[DrDewgong]

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Trying to finish my ROL, but I'm waffling between my top two programs. My adviser told me I should send my top choice an email informing them of my decision, but I can't decide on a #1---or at least I do for a few hours, and then second guess myself. How important is it to send out one of these "love letters?" Can it really move you up on a Family Medicine PD's ROL? I'm so fickle at this point, I'm afraid of setting myself up for embarrassment if I change my mind again, but at the same time, I need all the help I can get. Any words of wisdom, Blue Dog? Anyone? Thanks in advance.

 

[deleted87716]

You don't have to tell anyone you've ranked them #1. Just let them know how much you like their program, and that you'd be thrilled to match there.

 

[brats800]

When our program gets love letters from people, it does factor in to let us know they are interested but it doesn't really change their position on our rank list. If I like Applicant A and Applicant B but Applicant B sends a note saying we are their #1, I would still rank Applicant A higher if I liked them more. The difference would be that I'd feel more comfortable come match day with the hope that if I didn't get Applicant A I'd still hopefully get Applicant B.

As a cynical side note, another reason their letter pulls little weight is that there is nothing to stop an applicant from sending a letter to multiple programs saying they are all #1 on his/her list. We have had applicants in the past tell us we were their #1 and were ranked to match on our list only to find they matched somewhere else. This could not have happened if we were indeed their #1....

 

[deleted87716]

As a cynical side note, another reason their letter pulls little weight is that there is nothing to stop an applicant from sending a letter to multiple programs saying they are all #1 on his/her list. We have had applicants in the past tell us we were their #1 and were ranked to match on our list only to find they matched somewhere else. This could not have happened if we were indeed their #1....

A lot of PDs know each other, so an applicant who tells more than one program that they're #1 could end up screwing themselves.

 

[turkeyjerky]

When our program gets love letters from people, it does factor in to let us know they are interested but it doesn't really change their position on our rank list. If I like Applicant A and Applicant B but Applicant B sends a note saying we are their #1, I would still rank Applicant A higher if I liked them more. The difference would be that I'd feel more comfortable come match day with the hope that if I didn't get Applicant A I'd still hopefully get Applicant B.

As a cynical side note, another reason their letter pulls little weight is that there is nothing to stop an applicant from sending a letter to multiple programs saying they are all #1 on his/her list. We have had applicants in the past tell us we were their #1 and were ranked to match on our list only to find they matched somewhere else. This could not have happened if we were indeed their #1....

So if you don't change the rank list, then how exactly does it factor in?

No applicant cares about your peace of mind--we're not struggling over whether to send these emails or not because we want you to feel "comfortable".

If it doesn't change what matters (your ROL), then say so.

 

[lowbudget]

It doesn't matter one iota.

Your #1 is your true #1 program, and the program's #1 candidate is their best candidate. The Match algorhithm figures out the rest (and if you're telling the truth and if they're telling the trutch, a match will occur).

If the candidates in front of you get snatched up by other programs, then that seat is your. But, just because you told a program they're your #1 doesn't automatically make you a better candidate than the person in front of you.

Everybody knows that talk is cheap until the Match List comes out anyways. Makes no difference what you say or what they say because it's all cosmetics.

 

[brats800]

So if you don't change the rank list, then how exactly does it factor in?

No applicant cares about your peace of mind--we're not struggling over whether to send these emails or not because we want you to feel "comfortable".

If it doesn't change what matters (your ROL), then say so.

if it wasn't clear: letters do not change where I rank people in the slightest.

 

[GuzzyRon]

The so-called 'love letters' matter to some program than others. While it's true that it doesn't change anything in some programs (yeah...I was told this categorically by some programs). But then I had a program coordinator tell me that they don't like to rank applicants who they never hear back from after the interview because that is a strong indication that they have no interest in the program...that they don't want to waste valuable top spots on someone who has no desire to come to their program.

 

[MedMan25]

The so-called 'love letters' matter to some program than others. While it's true that it doesn't change anything in some programs (yeah...I was told this categorically by some programs). But then I had a program coordinator tell me that they don't like to rank applicants who they never hear back from after the interview because that is a strong indication that they have no interest in the program...that they don't want to waste valuable top spots on someone who has no desire to come to their program.

I had several programs tell me the exact same thing. I'm sure telling a program they are #1 doesn't matter to every program but it definitely matters to some. I had residents at certain programs tell me straight up that the applicants who expressed "strong interest" in their program (ie, by telling them they are ranking them #1) would be more likely to get a higher spot on the rank list than those who just made vague statements like "I'd love to be a part of your program" and "I hope we can work together in the future".

 

[brats800]

The so-called 'love letters' matter to some program than others. While it's true that it doesn't change anything in some programs (yeah...I was told this categorically by some programs). But then I had a program coordinator tell me that they don't like to rank applicants who they never hear back from after the interview because that is a strong indication that they have no interest in the program...that they don't want to waste valuable top spots on someone who has no desire to come to their program.

programs that "don't want to waste valuable top spots"...i'm not sure why a program would feel that way aside from wanting to say that they matched all of their interns out of their top 10 rank list or something. in my opinion (and that of my program), if we would rather have one stellar applicant with questionable interest more than another decent applicant with expressed interest, i see no reason to not have the more impressive applicant ranked higher, even given the questionable interest in the program...if they do end up being interested in you (or not matching to their #1 program) then you could match a "better" applicant...