Interviewing for PGY-2 positions - How to manage offer(s)?

[hallam]

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So... I think I am going to get an offer from my second choice program about a week before my scheduled interview with my first choice program.

It's a wonderful problem to have, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

How would you handle this situation?
😕

 

[Doc Samson]

Congratulations on your offer and your interviews.

Does your 2nd choice want an answer before you'll see your 1st choice? If they're willing to wait, then go see your 1st choice - it may or may not hold it's rank as your best option once you've actually laid eyes on it. If it remains your 1st choice, then let them know that you have another offer pending and if they're interested in you, you'll need to move fairly swiftly.

If your 2nd choice isn't williing to wait around, then you have to decide whether to take the sure thing or not. No advice I can offer there.

 

[cleareyedguy]

I feel strongly that a program *ought* to give you at least a week to mull over their offer prior to some sort of demand that you make a choice. If you explain that you have narrowed it down to 2 places, and that you feel you owe it to yourself to at least visit the other place, I think they'd be hard pressed to justify not giving you that chance.

If that does happen, I'd be straight forward with the second place (checkit out--and maybe you won't like it as much) and say you have to make a decision right away. They may feel a little pressured, but programs are like people; they'll be more likely to like you if they know there's competition for your services (just don't be an idiot about it).

 

[HCE]

So... I think I am going to get an offer from my second choice program about a week before my scheduled interview with my first choice program.

It's a wonderful problem to have, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

How would you handle this situation?
😕

Hallam:

Congrats on the interviews and potential "wonderful problem". I was wondering how things worked out for you...keep us updated.

 

[hallam]

Thanks, all. I appreciate it!

I will ask for a week to consider the offer and let them know that I want to attend the last interview I have scheduled. I can always use the excuse that the last program I'm scheduled to interview at is located is very close to my fiancee's family and I need to consider that for her sake. (Which is true! We are planning to have a baby next year, and being close to family would be a really big deal.)

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again.

 

[hallam]

I wanted to let you all know how things turned out...

I did indeed get an offer from my 2nd choice program at the beginning of last week, just a few days after my interview with my 1st choice program.

I took your advice and asked for a few days to talk with my fiance about it. In the meantime, I contacted my 1st choice and let them know that I had another offer, but preferred them.

My 1st choice program contacted me right away and let me know that they planned to rank me (they don't pre-match apparently). After getting a reassuring phone call with the 1st choice program director, I turned down my 2nd choice program and submitted my match list with only the 1st choice program on it.

Of course, I realize this is a tiny bit of a risk, but I feel really comfortable that they will stand by their word. So, it looks like everything has turned out perfectly!

Thanks again for all your help through this process. I really didn't know where to begin, and you guys saved me! 👍

 

[Sneezing]

There is no easy way to say this...

Fool

This isn't a tiny risk. This is a huge risk! You have no guarantee other than flowery words that you have a good chance of matching at your number one. They can still rank you last or not at all.

There is probably a reason why you liked that program more than the other. Other people have the same feelings, therefore there is more interest, more interest means more competitition, more competition means there are probably bettered candidates than you vying for that program. Why would the program 'guarantee' you a spot when they have other stronger candidates also worth ranking?

I'm hoping this works out for you but don't be suprised if it doesn't. I've known a person who was in your shows once and got burned...

 

[GmailQueen]

Yeah, I agree with Sneezing. A program saying that they're going to rank you isn't promising at all. They could be ranking 100 people for 10 spots, and you could be #100. I think most programs rank most candidates that they interview. All it means is that they'd rather have you than a random person in the scramble.

Are you sure they didn't say anything else that was more promising? I hope you didn't burn your bridges with #2 and can still rank them and hope to match there.

 

[Doc Samson]

Unfortuantely, I'd have to agree with the two responses above - I'd even go so far as to recommend calling back #2 and seeing if the prematch offer is still on the table. I can't think of any reason why a program wouldn't offer a PGY-2 slot outside of the match.

 

[235750]

I'm curious what made your #2 choice so bad that you're willing to risk The Scramble. Is it on the other side of the country? Did you already buy a house near choice #1? I'm sure there must be a good reason, and I'm dying to know why!

Did your choice #1 give a reason why they didn't offer you a prematch? You telling them about the other offer you had should of persuaded them