I will be interviewing at my #1 choice in a few weeks. Its a solid middle of the road University program not in a large city. I'm a USIMG and want to ask for opinions on the best way to let it be known they are far and away my #1. Should I just be blunt about it with all my interviewers etc.
Interviewing at your #1
- Thread starter jackets5
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Take my advice with a grain of salt, but I don't think you should fawn all over them. It's the same as in dating, when someone wants you too much, you figure something's wrong with them, and you lose attraction. At the very least you assume this person can't do better, which is why they're all up on your jock. Not very appealing.
You can tell them they're your #1 in an email before the match.
You can tell them they're your #1 in an email before the match.
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Even in the email, if you do decide to send one, just say Top 3.
I however would not send an email
I understand what your saying. However, I'm a USIMG with average scores 222/233. They know this and at a solid mid level university program is likely as good as I can hope for.
If I was an AMG I'd 100% agree since pretty much all programs outside of the top10-15 would be in play to some degree
If I was an AMG I'd 100% agree since pretty much all programs outside of the top10-15 would be in play to some degree
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Obviously I understand why they're your #1, but the point is your throwing yourself at them won't make you more appealing, it'll likely make you look needy and desperate, and ultimately, less appealing.
I think if you know for a fact after already seeing some places that this is your top program then you should tell them. I told my top program during the interview that essentially they were my #1. I don't think being coy will help your chances. I'd just be upfront and honest telling them that you are very impressed with the program and would love to attend. It definitely won't hurt and in my opinion isn't needy or desperate. These programs are interviewing tons of people and they like seeing students who are truly interested.
I totally disagree. Programs don't sit around thinking their interviewees would want to do better or go to a different place. Their job is to recruit good people and they want residents who want to be there. It all depends on how you come off when it's done but it isn't needy, especially for an IMG. Even for an AMG I think a program likes to hear that people want to go there.
And why would a program think that just because a person wants to come there (hell that's why their interviewing) that there must be something wrong with that applicant since he/she could do better? They have the application. Most interviewers have done this for years. They can tell when something doesn't seem to fit. And there are lots of reasons why some people want to go to a certain place. Heck I've seen lists of people on these forums, turning down interviews at places I thought were amazing, etc... everyone is different.
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Disagree. If you say top 3, it means #3 to programs (ie not number 1). While I don't know if it's meaningful to send these emails to places, you want to be honest with your number 1 and convey to them that if they rank you to match, they will get you, or I don't know what the point is. But I certainly would keep my cards close to the vet until you complete the interview. Be enthusiastic, but don't come off as having already made up your mind before you've actually seen the program and met the people there.
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Programs want people who want to be there. If you know that a program is #1 and have good reasons that you can articulate, then there is nothing wrong with telling the PD as much on your interview day, and reiterating it by email a few weeks before rank lists are due. Telling a program that they are in your top 3 is meaningless, if not frankly counterproductive.
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Agreed places want people who want there
If you can provide a reason why and a good one, I think its better to be honest up front.
Of course everyone wants to be at the Top 10 places, but if this isn't there but still a solid university in a less desirable location or less desirable program I think being up front and honest throughout the whole interview and of course afterwards will go further than keeping it a "secret"
If you can provide a reason why and a good one, I think its better to be honest up front.
Of course everyone wants to be at the Top 10 places, but if this isn't there but still a solid university in a less desirable location or less desirable program I think being up front and honest throughout the whole interview and of course afterwards will go further than keeping it a "secret"
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Hypothetically, if you say to a program they are your #1, you rank them 4th, they rank you 1st and you match. Would they ever find out you didn't put them as numero uno?
Sounds like a dumb question, but that thought came to mind, and was kinda curious...lol
Sounds like a dumb question, but that thought came to mind, and was kinda curious...lol
no, they only find out you did not rank them first if you end up not matching there despite being ranked to match by them.
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I don't think they would.
For the OP - you should at least wait until after the interview to decide if they're you're #1. What if you don't like it? If everything is great, then wait until interview season is done/almost done, and send them an e-mail saying they are your #1 (and don't hedge, saying "you're in my top 3" if they're your #1).
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Agreed. To announce it at the interview is akin to telling a date you want to marry them before the end of the first date. Smacks or desperation or flightiness.
