Interview Trail Questions

[loveumms]

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So, I am wondering how many people have had PD tell them that they are a strong candidate and they want them at their program (hinting around the fact that they are going to rank the candidate high). I know this is a load of crap and don’t understand why PDs say such things. I have had two tell me and each time it sort of turns me off b/c I am fairly sure they are saying it to all the applicants they are seeing that day but, I want to know how common it really is and if anyone believes it.

Also, I am torn as to whether or not I should be writing letters to the programs I am really interested in after I have finished all my interviews. Some people have said its almost necessity to write a letter saying I am interested in your program for the following reasons and plan on ranking it high while others have said it’s a big NO NO. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[burntcrispy]

You can't really trust anything the program's PD tells you about ranking you highly. This is true of pretty much any specialty. The program wants to match thier spots with the minimum number of applicants. For example, if a program has 8 spots, they would like to go down to number 8 on thier rank list, not number 80. So, they will usually tell many applicants that they will be ranked highly.

Also, in late Jan or early Feb you will start getting lots of letters from all of the programs telling you that they were very impressed with you and that they hope you rank them highly (implying that you're high on their list). I had a friend who got one of these letters from a place where he had cancelled his interview thus confirming that they blanket these letters to almost everyone.

As far as the letters, I wrote thank you notes to all of the programs and told my number 1 and 2 choices that I wanted to go to their program. I got my first choice but don't know if that made any difference.

The best thing to do is go on your interviews and rank the programs how you liked them and not on where you think you'll be accepted. Everything will work out in the end.

Good luck with the interviews.

 

[ketafol]

Although a nice touch at Cleveland Clinic was the exit interview. The PD would talk to you privately again and state what they thought about your interview, application, scores, personal statement, etc. He would then tell you if you would be ranked, not where, but if. It was nice to finally get some feedback. I was told by all the residents that he is a real straight shooter, so take him at his word.

 

[supahfresh]

I wrote thank you letters, but in hindsight I'm not sure if they did anything for me. It may be just polite to write a thank you note to each of your interviewers. writing about how you plan to rank them may not mean that much. same as for what they tell you. just be on guard and know that you cant completely believe everything the PD's tell you. Ive heard too many stories of people geting screwed. now, that being said, if you are getting happy vibes from the PD's, then look on the bright side....at least you are not getting the cold shoulder.

So, I am wondering how many people have had PD tell them that they are a strong candidate and they want them at their program (hinting around the fact that they are going to rank the candidate high). I know this is a load of crap and don’t understand why PDs say such things. I have had two tell me and each time it sort of turns me off b/c I am fairly sure they are saying it to all the applicants they are seeing that day but, I want to know how common it really is and if anyone believes it.

Also, I am torn as to whether or not I should be writing letters to the programs I am really interested in after I have finished all my interviews. Some people have said its almost necessity to write a letter saying I am interested in your program for the following reasons and plan on ranking it high while others have said it’s a big NO NO. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[loveumms]

Thanks for all your replies - this whole process is so crazy! I really can't wait for match day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!