Interviewer

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No.

Maybe at one particular program the strongest applicant gets the PD, but that is totally untrue for most programs. Some programs do a total random assignment for interviews, some programs (those who actually read personal statements) may pair you with people who match your style, or share a commonality. This makes the interview more pleasant, avoiding awkward encounters.

In the end, there are just too many interview days with too many applicants in internal medicine for the programs to care that much. Random assignment is easy enough, and, if the program you are applying to as any resemblance of decency, every interviewer is established, competent, and well-respected by other members of the admission team.

Dont worry if you dont get the program director or not. Dont feel good about yourself if you get assigned to the PD.
 
I totally second this based only on my own experience. I went to two interviews where the PD interviewed all the applicants very briefly but actually had not read my application at all. Knew exactly nothing whatsoever about me except my first name. Perhaps he read everybody else's files, but I find that dubious. It seriously does seem to be luck of the draw.
 
i disagree...it definatley is better to iv with the PD. The PD usaully get first dibbs on which applicants to interview and I beleive the PD say matters the most so if he likes you, your chyances are better. Im not saying taht other interviewers dfont matter but if you get the PD its a good sign. SOme of my interviewers I got people that didnt really matter like a private doc and some I got the PD
 
I interviewed at a university program where the PD was on vacation and one of the associate PDs said hello to the applicants and left. I was interviewed by the chairman and one faculty member. I wish I had the opportunity to meet the PD or at least talk to the associate PD for a few minutes.

Will those who were interviewed by the PD or associate PD be in a better position come ranking time? Ultimately PD would have the final say while finalizing the ROL, right? I liked the program a lot and wanted to go for a second look when the PD is back but they do not offer that anymore.
 
As others have said, the assignments are probably random, but I think that an interview with a PD is more important in that if it goes well it will help you more and it it doesn't it will hurt you more.

The other issue is how the program ranks its applicants. I get the sense at several places that the ranking is mainly mathematical based on scores, etc, with the interview not ranking as highly.
 
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