Letter of intent

[anesthesia1234]

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Hi all,

I am a MS4 and I have narrowed my top choice to two very different anesthesia programs. I am leaning towards one but I want to do a second look before making a commitment to number 1. Unfortunately, I can't go until Feb 18, two days before rank lists are due.

Can anyone comment if this is too late to make an effective letter of intent to a program? Are their rank lists done and filed by that point? My home PD has been a great advocate and I think will help make a call on my behalf, but I just worry that I need to act now if I want a program to know that they are my number 1.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Noegrus]

Yep, rank lists are pretty much locked and loaded for the programs I know of. I doubt if you'd be able to change much now, let alone on the 18th. No one waits till the last moment. If you like it then you should put a ring on it...or...more professionally speaking, ask your home PD to give 'em a ring. Why so many second looks? Its 4 years. Not like you are marrying the program or something. Go for it.

 

[Gashog]

Not like you are marrying the program or something..

Thank god!!!!

 

[Philosiraptor]

Hi all,

I am a MS4 and I have narrowed my top choice to two very different anesthesia programs. I am leaning towards one but I want to do a second look before making a commitment to number 1. Unfortunately, I can't go until Feb 18, two days before rank lists are due.

Can anyone comment if this is too late to make an effective letter of intent to a program? Are their rank lists done and filed by that point? My home PD has been a great advocate and I think will help make a call on my behalf, but I just worry that I need to act now if I want a program to know that they are my number 1.

Thanks in advance for any input!

It amuses me when people call post-interview contact a "letter of intent". I guess it doesn't matter what you call it, but rank the programs according to where you want to be. Likely you were ranked the moment you walked out of the interview, and not much will change that. Post-interview contact is mainly BS, psychologically it makes you feel wanted/better but the programs have probably already determined where you will be placed on their list. A well placed phone call could bump you up, according to some.

There are programs which even explicitly tell you that they don't believe in post-interview contact and that nothing you say or do will improve your rank list position: they think the match should be left alone.

Good luck!

 

[Gern Blansten]

I don't believe such a thing as a letter of intent exists. Perhaps you meant to say, you wish to send them a "promise ring."