How many interviews is enough?

[Section31]

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So, so far, I have 20 interview invitations, and I've accepted all of them.

What's the optimal number to go on? After how many do you stop?

Btw, I am a U.S. senior with Step 1 in the 220s. No red flags that I know of, so there's not really any reason for me to go on an extreme amount of interviews.

I don't want to seem like I'm bragging (I'm not). It's just I think I may have too many, and if its unrealistic for me to go on this many, I may need to cancel some to give others a chance.

 

[PMPMD]

So, so far, I have 20 interview invitations, and I've accepted all of them.

What's the optimal number to go on? After how many do you stop?

Btw, I am a U.S. senior with Step 1 in the 220s. No red flags that I know of, so there's not really any reason for me to go on an extreme amount of interviews.

I don't want to seem like I'm bragging (I'm not). It's just I think I may have too many, and if its unrealistic for me to go on this many, I may need to cancel some to give others a chance.

First, you need to download "Charting Outcomes in the Match 2011" from the NRMP website (http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf). It has tons of data on the match for each specialty.

Go to page 21, "Probability of Matching to Preferred Specialty by Number of Contiguous Ranks" for anesthesia.

As you can see from this curve, the "optimal number" of ranks depends on what probability of matching you desire. You sound like an average US applicant, so this data may apply well to your case. At 6 ranks, the US senior has close to 90% chance of matching. Going from 6 to 8 increases the probability to about 95%, and by 11-12 you're close to 98%. But past that, there is decreasing marginal returns on each additional rank. Obviously, everyone wants a 100% chance of matching. But is it worth the extra cost/time to do that one extra interview to increase your chance from 98 to 99%? Depends on your budget (and baseline level of neurosis). Also, if you're doing prelim interviews, that will cut into your time/cash available for anesthesia interviews.

And these are just averages. This will obviously vary with geography, reputation of program, etc. Like I said, you sound like an average US senior, but there are always other variables that can raise or lower your individual chances.

Personally, I don't think you need 20 interviews. A little over half that is plenty IMO. Good luck.

 

[Cathyran]

So, so far, I have 20 interview invitations, and I've accepted all of them.

What's the optimal number to go on? After how many do you stop?

Btw, I am a U.S. senior with Step 1 in the 220s. No red flags that I know of, so there's not really any reason for me to go on an extreme amount of interviews.

I don't want to seem like I'm bragging (I'm not). It's just I think I may have too many, and if its unrealistic for me to go on this many, I may need to cancel some to give others a chance.

I have been fighting with myself over this too. I settled on 11-12. Looking at the charting outcomes doc linked above, it looks like anything over 12 is almost 100%. I'm also neurotic about this sort of thing. I get it.

 

[ATeam2012]

So, so far, I have 20 interview invitations, and I've accepted all of them.

What's the optimal number to go on? After how many do you stop?

Btw, I am a U.S. senior with Step 1 in the 220s. No red flags that I know of, so there's not really any reason for me to go on an extreme amount of interviews.

I don't want to seem like I'm bragging (I'm not). It's just I think I may have too many, and if its unrealistic for me to go on this many, I may need to cancel some to give others a chance.

In the same boat. Before this all began I told myself 12 is my limit so once I reached twelve scheduled interviews, as additional invites came along I would have to make the decision to cancel other interviews. Each of my cancellations have been month to three months in advance from the interview date. Programs appreciate that and I'm sure our counterparts do as well. Good luck with the decision.

 

[DreamLover]

Personally, I don't think you need 20 interviews. A little over half that is plenty IMO. Good luck.

I'm in agreement with this.

For what it's worth, from my own experience 5 years ago, I applied to way too many programs and received more interviews than was possible to attend .I eventually decided on 11 anesthesia interviews and 4 TY/Prelims, and that was hard enough time/money wise.

I matched at my #1 choice, which happened to be my third anesthesia interview. So in the scheme of things, I knew by the end of interview season that I had gone on too many...but it made me feel safe, so I understand.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Go on just enough so that you can have 10 programs on your rank list. Statistically, you will match somewhere with that number. You might interview at a couple you will hate, so 12-13 seems reasonable.

 

[caprisun]

I've looked at Charting Outcomes for 2011 and I've heard all about the contiguous # of ranks. Here's something to consider though. Say you have 12 ranks, there's ~100% that you will match. But that doesn't take into account if you'll match at your #1 or your #12 spot.

It's strange because most of the forums I read and people I talk to are almost ALWAYS saying that they matched at their #1-3. Does anyone ever match at their 10th spot?

 

[Arch Guillotti]

It's strange because most of the forums I read and people I talk to are almost ALWAYS saying that they matched at their #1-3. Does anyone ever match at their 10th spot?

Not on this forum😀.

Everyone also had a 40 on the MCAT.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

Exactly what he said. Arbitrarily, 12 seems like a good number. 10 to rank and 2 throwaways.

First, you need to download "Charting Outcomes in the Match 2011" from the NRMP website (http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf). It has tons of data on the match for each specialty.

Go to page 21, "Probability of Matching to Preferred Specialty by Number of Contiguous Ranks" for anesthesia.

As you can see from this curve, the "optimal number" of ranks depends on what probability of matching you desire. You sound like an average US applicant, so this data may apply well to your case. At 6 ranks, the US senior has close to 90% chance of matching. Going from 6 to 8 increases the probability to about 95%, and by 11-12 you're close to 98%. But past that, there is decreasing marginal returns on each additional rank. Obviously, everyone wants a 100% chance of matching. But is it worth the extra cost/time to do that one extra interview to increase your chance from 98 to 99%? Depends on your budget (and baseline level of neurosis). Also, if you're doing prelim interviews, that will cut into your time/cash available for anesthesia interviews.

And these are just averages. This will obviously vary with geography, reputation of program, etc. Like I said, you sound like an average US senior, but there are always other variables that can raise or lower your individual chances.

Personally, I don't think you need 20 interviews. A little over half that is plenty IMO. Good luck.

 

[DreamLover]

Everyone also had a 40 on the MCAT.

HaHa! Not me!!

 

[ASA6]

So, so far, I have 20 interview invitations, and I've accepted all of them.

What's the optimal number to go on? After how many do you stop?

Btw, I am a U.S. senior with Step 1 in the 220s. No red flags that I know of, so there's not really any reason for me to go on an extreme amount of interviews.

I don't want to seem like I'm bragging (I'm not). It's just I think I may have too many, and if its unrealistic for me to go on this many, I may need to cancel some to give others a chance.

I accepted 15 interview offers initially. I ended up going on 14. I really wish i had went on 8-10. Around interview 8 I really started to get fatigued with the whole process. I realized I was at placed I didnt even want to attend residency at. It gets really really tiring especially if you end up having 2-3 in a week (which happens especially when you mix in prelims)

 

[AnesthesiaAC]

good thread, thanks for all the advice guys.

Does anyone have any advice about this topic for couples matching? My s.o. is doing emergency medicine, and we were hoping to interview at least 10 similar programs. Do you think that is enough? Thanks again.

 

[Gern Blansten]

good thread, thanks for all the advice guys.

Does anyone have any advice about this topic for couples matching? My s.o. is doing emergency medicine, and we were hoping to interview at least 10 similar programs. Do you think that is enough? Thanks again.

Lots of variables. The couples match can really throw a monkey wrench into the mix. It is a nice thing when both are top notch candidates, but that is not the norm. Frequently, in my experience, one candidate may be very strong, while the other brings up the rear of the med school class. This means that the couple will match to the lowest common denominator in most cases (unless one program calls in a huge favor from the other at the institution).
Long story short, if you are both top notch, you will have programs falling all over themselves to get you both. Anesth and EM are both moderately competitive right now, so it could be challenging. It gets easier as the competitiveness of the specialties decreases. I would say that the 10 contiguous rank list rule does not apply necessarily in couples matches. I don't know a number to tell you that would be a safe number because so much depends on you and your S.O.'s strength as candidates.
Sorry this is not much help.

 

[AnesthesiaAC]

Lots of variables. The couples match can really throw a monkey wrench into the mix. It is a nice thing when both are top notch candidates, but that is not the norm. Frequently, in my experience, one candidate may be very strong, while the other brings up the rear of the med school class. This means that the couple will match to the lowest common denominator in most cases (unless one program calls in a huge favor from the other at the institution).
Long story short, if you are both top notch, you will have programs falling all over themselves to get you both. Anesth and EM are both moderately competitive right now, so it could be challenging. It gets easier as the competitiveness of the specialties decreases. I would say that the 10 contiguous rank list rule does not apply necessarily in couples matches. I don't know a number to tell you that would be a safe number because so much depends on you and your S.O.'s strength as candidates.
Sorry this is not much help.

This does help, thank you! We are both above average students from MD program with presumably strong letters and scores of 237/267 and 223/253. Wouldn't consider us top-notch but not towards back of class or anything. I feel comfortable with 10 similar interviews but my S.O. thinks we need more, like 15. Maybe we will meet somewhere in the middle and take that many. Thanks again for the input.

 

[Gern Blansten]

This does help, thank you! We are both above average students from MD program with presumably strong letters and scores of 237/267 and 223/253. Wouldn't consider us top-notch but not towards back of class or anything. I feel comfortable with 10 similar interviews but my S.O. thinks we need more, like 15. Maybe we will meet somewhere in the middle and take that many. Thanks again for the input.

I bet you will do fine with 10, but it would suck to look back and wonder in the event that you did not match. Your numbers seem pretty good to me, especially the step II's.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Does anyone ever match at their 10th spot?

I matched at my #11 for prelim...

 

[karizma098]

I matched at my #11 for prelim...

sorry if this is a dumb question, does that mean you just ranked that particular prelim program # 11, or did you rank 11 prelims?? ( still very unsure of how all that works )

 

[lord_jeebus]

sorry if this is a dumb question, does that mean you just ranked that particular prelim program # 11, or did you rank 11 prelims?? ( still very unsure of how all that works )

I ranked it #11.

My mistake was applying to a bunch of little community hospitals in prime locations with 2-5 available spots. My #11 was a large academic program.

 

[Code Brown]

Two other things to consider, include the size of the programs you are interviewing at, and youR return on application percentage.

If you are getting interviews at big programs (ie 20 plus spots), 10 programs will essentially give you 200 plus shots at a spot. If your list is filled with places that take 2 to 3 residents after they give out spots outside the match, you may have worse odds.

Second, if you applied to 25 programs and got 20 interviews, your list can be smaller than someone who got only 20 interviews after applying to every single program in the country.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Two other things to consider, include the size of the programs you are interviewing at, and youR return on application percentage.

If you are getting interviews at big programs (ie 20 plus spots), 10 programs will essentially give you 200 plus shots at a spot. If your list is filled with places that take 2 to 3 residents after they give out spots outside the match, you may have worse odds.

Second, if you applied to 25 programs and got 20 interviews, your list can be smaller than someone who got only 20 interviews after applying to every single program in the country.

Great things to consider. Very good advice.

 

[CodeBlu]

Not on this forum😀.

Everyone also had a 40 on the MCAT.

I had a 37... does this mean I'm going to get my 5th choice?

 

[Per4mer8]

I had a 37... does this mean I'm going to get my 5th choice?

Congrats on the 37 and acceptance into med school. I'm pretty sure you can just put your rank list in now seeing as how there is a direct correlation between MCAT and Step I/II scores🙄