how to reply

[lakersbaby]

---

Members do not see this ad.

so after a couple interviews, I have gotten emails saying to really consider this program as a top choice. I am unsure on how to reply. How do you tell these places you are considering them very highly without actually saying "i will rank you #1"? I feel like even saying you are considering them as a "top choice" it may seem to them that you won't rank them #1 and they might let you slide down their list?

 

[FuzzyBK]

I don't know the program, but I'm confident they don't care where you rank them when they make their rank list.

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

so after a couple interviews, I have gotten emails saying to really consider this program as a top choice. I am unsure on how to reply. How do you tell these places you are considering them very highly without actually saying "i will rank you #1"? I feel like even saying you are considering them as a "top choice" it may seem to them that you won't rank them #1 and they might let you slide down their list?

Email them back saying they should really consider you as one of their top applicants

I just told my #1 program that they were my #1 and told everybody else that I really loved their program and would be thrilled to match there, because it was true. Beyond that, there's nothing you can do. Just make your rank list in the order you liked the schools, and let the chips fall as they may. No sense in trying to game the system.

The chair at my home institution said that occasionally they will get a student sending them a "I'll rank you #1" email, the program ranks them to match, and the student doesn't match there. Busted. Even if you're not in it for the integrity, those PDs/chairs are the same people who will be reviewing your application for fellowship or job opportunities, so it behooves you to burn as few bridges as possible.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Idiopathic]

It doesnt benefit a program to alter their rank order, since they dont improve their odds of getting any particular candidate by moving their list around. For example, if they rank you highly and then "miss out" on you, they dont hurt their chances at getting the next person on their list (for instance, if they had ranked them higher than you). Thats why they need to rank people in the order with which they would prefer to have them, and you need to do the same. The system cannot be "gamed" (unless you are outside the match)

 

[cchoukal]

It doesnt benefit a program to alter their rank order, since they dont improve their odds of getting any particular candidate by moving their list around. For example, if they rank you highly and then "miss out" on you, they dont hurt their chances at getting the next person on their list (for instance, if they had ranked them higher than you). Thats why they need to rank people in the order with which they would prefer to have them, and you need to do the same. The system cannot be "gamed" (unless you are outside the match)

+1.

To believe that a program would alter their rank list based on an email you send them indicating their place on your rank list isn't realistic.

 

[lakersbaby]

thanks for the info

 

[C.P.]

Writing back may not change their list, but writing back to reconfirm your interest does remind them about you, and if you made a good impression, keeps you fresh in their mind when the time comes to making a rank list. Just consider it another opportunity to communicate with them.
If the email came from the program director, call them back and tell them over the phone. It may be a formality they send to everyone, but it can serve as an invitation to talk with them again, which is almost like a mini, second interview.
I told my top three programs that I "were ranking them at the top of my list."
When I finalized my list, I emailed my #1 and actually told them that they were number 1.
Can it bite you if you tell everyone that they're number one?
Absolutely. If they don't fill, for whatever reason, and they ranked you, then they know you burned them. Not filling is an embarrassing situation for a program director to explain, especially at a top program.
Happened to me. The three programs I told were "at the top of my list". . . the one I ranked third took it to mean they were literally the top of my list. It was a new program director who was trying to really shape the personality of the incoming class, and didn't rank enough people in the end. It was a rookie mistake that came from not being in the system before to realize how many to ultimately rank.
They didn't fill. . . I had to explain it to him (he's a friend of a friend, so he felt kinda burned).

Not something to generally worry about though.

 

[countingdays]

Writing back may not change their list, but writing back to reconfirm your interest does remind them about you, and if you made a good impression, keeps you fresh in their mind when the time comes to making a rank list. Just consider it another opportunity to communicate with them.
If the email came from the program director, call them back and tell them over the phone. It may be a formality they send to everyone, but it can serve as an invitation to talk with them again, which is almost like a mini, second interview.
I told my top three programs that I "were ranking them at the top of my list."
When I finalized my list, I emailed my #1 and actually told them that they were number 1.
Can it bite you if you tell everyone that they're number one?
Absolutely. If they don't fill, for whatever reason, and they ranked you, then they know you burned them. Not filling is an embarrassing situation for a program director to explain, especially at a top program.
Happened to me. The three programs I told were "at the top of my list". . . the one I ranked third took it to mean they were literally the top of my list. It was a new program director who was trying to really shape the personality of the incoming class, and didn't rank enough people in the end. It was a rookie mistake that came from not being in the system before to realize how many to ultimately rank.
They didn't fill. . . I had to explain it to him (he's a friend of a friend, so he felt kinda burned).

Not something to generally worry about though.

Actually, if anyone they ranked lower than you matches with them, they'll know you lied. But **** them. They lie to you too. You don't owe them anything. The odds of them affecting your future fellowship or job are slim to none. You don't need letters of rec from places you didn't train, and no one is going to call programs where you interviewed but didn't match. There are plenty of other places to apply for jobs or fellowship. There are few situations where it will hurt you to tell everyone they're your number one. If it's the only program in your home town or something, you have to be more careful.
That doesn't apply to friends of friends though. You do owe them some honesty I'd say.
It'd be nice if people were honest and ethical, but being honest and ethical gets you no where in the match when your fellow applicants will be telling everyone they're their first choice.

 

[cchoukal]

Writing back may not change their list, but writing back to reconfirm your interest does remind them about you, and if you made a good impression, keeps you fresh in their mind when the time comes to making a rank list. Just consider it another opportunity to communicate with them.
If the email came from the program director, call them back and tell them over the phone. It may be a formality they send to everyone, but it can serve as an invitation to talk with them again, which is almost like a mini, second interview.
.

CP makes a really good point. You're managing your brand, and they've just given you an opportunity to put your brand in their face again.

 

[NOLA RISING]

If you do decide to tell a program that they are your number 1, is it worth sending a written note?