Match question

[jayjay1978]

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Hey guys,

So here is a question I have:

Your matchlist for IM is as follows:

1. mgh
2. bwh
3. hopkins
4. upenn
5. columbia
6. etc. etc.

so with these, you know that columbia will take you.

would you get hurt if you list columbia 5th? as in, would you not match to columbia even if they list you towards the very top because you did not list them in top 3 etc?

the problem is even if they list you pretty high and you don't list them as high, you may end up getting shafted and not get in the columbia program because of your own matchlist. is this true?

it would suck to have columbia list you real high and then you end up going to some place that you listed at #10, just because you did not list columbia that high?

silly question I guess, but what do you think?

 

[jashanley]

I'm sorry but do people not look at the match website and the info put out by the NRMP? They explain it very clearly there.
The match algorithm is designed to favor the applicant. If you rank your programs as such. A spot will be held for you at Columbia, if they rank you high enough to match there. A program fills as it moves down their rank list.
Their number one will match with them if the number 1 ranks them first. If say Columbia were second on their number one applicant's list, a spot is kept open for that person. If he matches at his number one, then his spot opens for the #2 and so on. It favors you to rank your favorite programs first. You would be stupid to rank a safe bet first if you didn't want that program to be first. Please go check out the NRMP website. Here is the link for those students too lazy or too dumb to find it on their own (http://www.nrmp.org).
People need to be reminded to do a search on your topic before you post a new thread. It gets annoying the 50th time you read a match algorithm question or a top 10 list of programs question.

 

[jayjay1978]

Hey there,

You are right, sorry about the trouble. What you have explained was my understanding also until I heard from a couple of people the opposite--which got confusing. I should have read the website first.

thanks,