How much to contact programs

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Pookies

Pookies

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Now that I have a rank list how much should I contact programs. I want to tell my top picks that they are ranked highly without sounding pushy
 
Pookies said:
Now that I have a rank list how much should I contact programs. I want to tell my top picks that they are ranked highly without sounding pushy
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The dean of students at our school strongly urges NOT to tell a program, "You are my #1." He states that in his experience as a PD, these type of correspondences don't do much. He went on further, during his seminar, to say that there are many ways to express such enthusiasm.

I know that people who apply to pathology specifically tend to say "#1" quite alot so I'm at a standstill.
 
AndyMilonakis said:
The dean of students at our school strongly urges NOT to tell a program, "You are my #1." He states that in his experience as a PD, these type of correspondences don't do much. He went on further, during his seminar, to say that there are many ways to express such enthusiasm.

I know that people who apply to pathology specifically tend to say "#1" quite alot so I'm at a standstill.
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According to the attachment that Andy so kindly provided us with, it specifically advised to write another follow-up letter once you come up with your rank list. That makes a total of 2 follow-up letters to your top programs. As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with letting the program know that they will be ranked "highly" or as "one of the top choices."
 
I was advised by residents at several places on the trail to let the PD know if I planned to rank the place #1 and that they would take this into account. I waited until I was absolutely certain what my #1 would be, though, lest I get myself into a pickle. I told 2 and 3 that I will be ranking them very highly.
 
cytoborg said:
I was advised by residents at several places on the trail to let the PD know if I planned to rank the place #1 and that they would take this into account. I waited until I was absolutely certain what my #1 would be, though, lest I get myself into a pickle. I told 2 and 3 that I will be ranking them very highly.
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This is exactly what I heard from residents at most of the programs I visited (I didn't hear this advice from the residents at my #1 choice though). All this information is causing havoc in my mind. Given that these correspondences are not likely to make or break your candidacy or totally change the impression you already gave at your interview, Andy will most likely take the advice of the dean of students at my school. If this program doesn't get the message loud and clear, so be it...too bad for Andy.
 
I'm doing my second looks as my way to show my intention...if they can't figure out that spending $$$ on a plane ticket and hotel to come back to visit signals I am VERY interested, then they are not worthy of me. I'm also sending a letter to both programs after the visit, reiterating my interest.
 
Pingu said:
I'm doing my second looks as my way to show my intention...if they can't figure out that spending $$$ on a plane ticket and hotel to come back to visit signals I am VERY interested, then they are not worthy of me. I'm also sending a letter to both programs after the visit, reiterating my interest.
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I think you're doing the right things...these extra efforts should only serve to help you in the long run. If I had more money and time, I think I would do the same.

I've been pondering for a long long time about how to word things in my last set of correspondences. Fortunately, they've emailed or telephoned me first so now it's easier to respond. I think many of us will start to get messages or voicemails since Feb. 1st has now hit!

Just hang on for 3 more weeks people! 👍 Then it's sit and pray time.
 
Pre-ROL correspondence might be wasted on programs that create and even submit their lists well before the deadline. So I could spend an hour writing an essay on why I would make a good resident at a program, only for it to make no difference in the end. Not to say that I won't do it, just in case.
 
long time reader, first time poster. only decided to interview in ny so i am only ranking 4 programs...kind of nervous about the whole thing since people seem to think that you have to rank >7 programs.

for those of you that have contacted your first choice program, what have you heard back??
 
persephone said:
long time reader, first time poster. only decided to interview in ny so i am only ranking 4 programs...kind of nervous about the whole thing since people seem to think that you have to rank >7 programs.

for those of you that have contacted your first choice program, what have you heard back??
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in terms of correspondences, i've heard various things from, "thank you for your interest in our program" to "i'm glad you enjoyed visiting our program, you are clearly competitive" all the way to "we are ranking you in the top x and you will match here should you decide to train here."

i was all nervous but geared up to send The Email to my #1 program but they beat me to the punch and emailed me first. on the above spectrum, it kinda fell somewhere in the middle. it was a positive message however non-committal which is what i would expect from them (i think many programs would prefer to behave within the confines of the NRMP rules). so anyways, i wrote them back saying that i wanna go there. maybe they will respond...maybe they will not. :scared: unless they write back saying, "just kidding. you have no chance of matching here." their position on my rank list isn't gonna change.
 
Send the Chief cookies, that would help 🙂

I suggest a "second look" at any program that you really really want to go to. That shows them you are truely interested and dedicated without saying "I am ranking you #1".
 
AndyMilonakis said:
in terms of correspondences, i've heard various things from, "thank you for your interest in our program" to "i'm glad you enjoyed visiting our program, you are clearly competitive" all the way to "we are ranking you in the top x and you will match here should you decide to train here."
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Same here...correspondences have ranged from a businesslike "Thank you for your interest" to a warm "You're an excellent candidate" to an exuberant "We love you, will buy you a car, and get you a modeling contract."

From the #1, I got the warm yet necessarily non-committal, essentially "Enjoyed meeting you, you're an excellent candidate, and our committee will be meeting soon to discuss applications."
 
GreatPumpkin said:
I suggest a "second look" at any program that you really really want to go to. That shows them you are truely interested and dedicated without saying "I am ranking you #1".
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AHHHHHH! I AM TOO POOR! 😡
 
cytoborg said:
AHHHHHH! I AM TOO POOR! 😡
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If you don't stop being poh, I'm gonna start hucking rocks at ya!

Just kidding. I'm poh too. Being poh sucks.
 
Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Misery loves company.
 
I'm not doing ANY second looks because of the bein' poh situation.
 
ok...that's me, jeff, and cyto. who else is poh! don't be shy, join the club!
 
joedogma said:
Add me to the poh list. Thank god for lifetime learning credits...
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I'm way poh. Imagine taking a family of four (including two very young kids) with you to ALL interviews so that spouse can add the requisite .02 about location. It was really expensive and really stressful. Ended up we were completely deranged after six interviews, so I hope that's enough to match. I'm not even considering any second looks, seeing as my work productivity (I'm a freelancer) and therefore paychecks dropped bigtime over the past two months. :scared:
 
i emailed a program in my top 5 a few days ago, was fairly clear that they weren't my number one, and they invited me on an all-expenses paid trip for a second look! i wanted to do a second look at this place, but was too poh to go--now i can. i guess it can PAY to email programs.

makes up for the totally unenthusiastic "we are aware that you exist" email that i received in reponse to my "I LOVE YOU CAN WE GET MARRIED" type email that I sent to my #1.

andy, you asked about my ps2 game of choice--katamari damacy. it's so scarily addictive.
 
I'm poh but like to pretend I'm not poh. Loans cannot exist unless existence is acknowledged. Ah, so.
 
stormjen said:
I'm poh but like to pretend I'm not poh. Loans cannot exist unless existence is acknowledged. Ah, so.
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I'm so poh that I cannot even realize how deep of a statement this is.
 
AndyMilonakis said:
ok...that's me, jeff, and cyto. who else is poh! don't be shy, join the club!
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I'm not poh because I didn't go on any second visits last year. I can now spend that money on luxury items. For instance, if I had a girlfriend, I could buy her flowers.
 
yaah said:
I'm not poh because I didn't go on any second visits last year. I can now spend that money on luxury items. For instance, if I had a girlfriend, I could buy her flowers.
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Hey! I only went on one 2nd visit and I didn't have to pay any extra airfare or hotel. It was essentially free!

And you didn't have to go on 2nd visits anyway...all the programs around the country were showing an interest in you! so you didn't need no 2nd visits.
 
yaah said:
I'm not poh because I didn't go on any second visits last year. I can now spend that money on luxury items. For instance, if I had a girlfriend, I could buy her flowers.
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Sometimes it takes a "seed" female to stimulate interest in other females. If they see someone on your arm, they will become more interested in you. "Oh, he is dateable!" I would be willing to provide seed female service, if I lived in Ann Arbor. We could go to a couple prime spots and display ourselves prominently for all suitable females to see: e.g. hospital cafeteria.

No kidding, this stuff works. A divorced 40 year old man is more dateable than a 40 year old man who has never married, because chicks think there must be something wrong with the guy if he's still a bachelor at 40. Obviously, us chicks can be dumb.

I feel bad that all those flowers you want to give are just going to waste. Wake up, Ann Arbor! Available man!
 
yaah said:
Andy got my back now! 👍

That reminds me I have to check my email...
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she won't know it's me though...she got the email from my other email acct. she'll wonder, "who is this Jose Johnson?"
 
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