New to board.. Ranking questions about PM&R

[slimshady]

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Hi everyone.. I am new to the board and was had some questions about programs... I applied to mostly the north east (no NYC though) and a couple places out west... so here is the list of interviews I got (only 6 🙁 )
I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the programs and how they would rank them.

1) University of Pittsburgh (I am def. ranking this #1)
2,3) EITHER.. University of Rochester OR University of Utah (any suggestions?)
4) East Carolina University
5) Tufts in Boston (Wasn't too impressed and not sure if I am gonna rank them at all)
6) SUNY upstate (I don't think I will rank them...)


Any comments are helpful.. THANKS!

 

[Llenroc]

As I wrote on another thread, Pittsburgh really has their stuff together. It's a top notch program that's - objectively - better than most in the US News top 10 ranking. I would rank them #1, if it weren't for the location of Pittsburgh which I'm not crazy about. But if Pittsburgh isn't a negative for you, then definitely go with that.

5) Tufts in Boston (Wasn't too impressed and not sure if I am gonna rank them at all)
6) SUNY upstate (I don't think I will rank them...)

Yeah I'm not sure if you have the luxury of doing that. Rank them all, IMO, even if you don't want to go there. My reasoning for this is that they are PGY-2 positions, and in PM&R stuff opens up all the time. People switch residencies constantly. It's better to be in a position of strength (a resident or potential resident at a PM&R program) than some chump who only has Internship in his hands.

 

[agdoc04]

If you rank a program you absolutely don't want to go to and then match there, you are signed to a contract even if it is a pgy 2 spot, correct? The program would have to agree to release you.

 

[olafa]

It is definately bad form to rank a program and then in the end not have any intention to start.
Reasons not to do this....
1. Rank the programs were you could see yourself spending three or four years. Be honest with yourself and the programs.
2. PMR is a small field and short changing a program a resident is a big deal, it affect everyone and is a huge pain in the butt if this happens.
3. You would be very arrogant to think that PD doesn't have other friends who are also PD in other programs.
4. In addition its a bad way to start your career.

Good luck with the up coming match process.🙂

 

[slimshady]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the info....

In addition, I just got another interview at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh which has been bought by UPMC.... so would this be considered doing a residency at UPMC? (University of Pitt?) .... and since I am from the Pittsburgh area, should I rank this one above Utah, Rochester, etc, even though the rotation isn't at the University??

 

[ampaphb]

It is definately bad form to rank a program and then in the end not have any intention to start.
Reasons not to do this....
1. Rank the programs were you could see yourself spending three or four years. Be honest with yourself and the programs.
2. PMR is a small field and short changing a program a resident is a big deal, it affect everyone and is a huge pain in the butt if this happens.
3. You would be very arrogant to think that PD doesn't have other friends who are also PD in other programs.
4. In addition its a bad way to start your career.

Good luck with the up coming match process.🙂

On the other hand, the average program ranks 6-7 applicants per position - there is no reason to think (although I admittedly don't have the data at my fingertips) that the average applicant doesn't go down an equal number of positions on his or her ROL - so it is also arrogant to rank only 3-4 programs, and may not serve you well, if you end up going unmatched and have to scramble.

 

[Karaoke]

This is the mental process I went through
at ranking time three years ago:

When deciding whether or not to rank
Program X, ask yourself if you didn't match
and had to scramble, and Program X had
an open spot, would you try for it? If yes,
then you might as well rank it now. If no,
then you're basically saying you'd rather
spend a year pumping gas at your hometown
Quikimart than join that program. In which
case definitely don't rank Program X.

Ranking a program you wouldn't even want
to scramble into doesn't help anyone: not
you, not the program, and not the poor
applicant who really wanted that spot but
got bumped by you.

 

[tubocurare]

Hello all ive done only 11 interviews and will not rank 4 of the programs. is it arrogant or unsafe to only rank 7 programs? ive heard 10 gaurentees a spot but what about 7. thanx

 

[Sivastraba]

You are the only one who can determine how many programs to rank. IMHO if u really want PM&R then it shouldn't matter where u end up training.

Are u a strong candidate? Boards/Step > 215, and GPA > 3.3. If that's the case, then u could afford to try the scramble if u don't get the places that u ranked. Otherwise, I would rank em all if ur package is weak.

I interviewed at > 10 programs of PM&R and I ranked them all. however, I still ended having to scramble. I am glad that I got a spot. My #'s weren't strong. U can't be cocky for this kind of specialty, specially since there aren't that many spots per program, and the application # is growing on a yearly basis.

 

[Finally M3]

Hello all ive done only 11 interviews and will not rank 4 of the programs. is it arrogant or unsafe to only rank 7 programs? ive heard 10 gaurentees a spot but what about 7. thanx

I would only rank places you can forsee yourself being happy for three years. I only ranked 6 or 7 spots.