Not cool

[chicamedica]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Yesterday, I got a voice mail from one of my interviewers calling "to discuss [my] rank list". I thought this was an illegal request. He wants me to call back (and even gave me his pager #). I dont want to respond because I'm not planning on revealing my rank list to this program (or any other program for that matter), yet I dont want them to think that I didn't respond for the reason that i dont like their program (cause I do).

What the heck should I do? 😱

 

[timtye78]

I would call them back, and if questioned to the point I felt uncomfortable, I would simply say that I am interested in your program (hence the app/interview, duh) but candidly state that I am unable to tell them exactly what number I ranked.

Now, if it is true, you may feel like adding something like "Although I cannot tell you exactly what number I ranked you;it is high on my list" This should be good enough. Also, by telling them that you ranked them 1 or 7 or 14 doesn't make any difference on whether or not they will fill.

Remember, even if they promise to rank you high, they are not bound by anything and you may never hear/match with them ever again. So there is no reason to offer needless information like this to them.
Hope this helps.

 

[no oxygen]

Yesterday, I got a voice mail from one of my interviewers calling "to discuss [my] rank list". I thought this was an illegal request. He wants me to call back (and even gave me his pager #). I dont want to respond because I'm not planning on revealing my rank list to this program (or any other program for that matter), yet I dont want them to think that I didn't respond for the reason that i dont like their program (cause I do, it's just not my #1).

What the heck should I do? 😱

Chica,

I'd call him back and see what happens. If he adheres to the rules, he won't ask where you've ranked his program. In fact, he may only want to talk about where they've ranked you. Yeah, his choice of words on the voice mail is strange, but, more than likely, he won't ask you to devulge your rank list. And if he does...hedge. 😉

 

[iron]

some guidelines from the NRMP website- pasted below. If you are unsure you can look on NRMP website for further information.

It's not illegal for him to call you. It prob means they are ranking you highly if they're going to the trouble to call you. But their ranking of you should not be a quid pro quo arrangement.



Match Communications

Applicants and program directors may express a high degree of interest in each other and try to influence decisions in their favor, but must not make statements implying a commitment. Although the Match Participation Agreement does not prohibit either an applicant or program director from volunteering how one plans to rank the other, it is a violation to request such information. Program directors and applicants frequently engage in the practice of sending letters following the applicant's interview with the program. Those letters often contain statements that can be misinterpreted by either party. Match participants must understand that such letters are not binding and have no standing when final rank order lists are submitted.

Examples of Violations

NOTE: The examples of match violations noted below are not intended to be all- inclusive. Any additional questions or clarifications about Match violations should be directed to the NRMP.

Agreements Made by Match Participants Before the Match

A program accepts and signs an agreement with a senior student in a U.S. allopathic medical school before Match Day.
An applicant requests a contract before the announcement of Match results
An applicant commits to a concurrent year training position outside the NRMP Match and does not withdraw from the NRMP Match. (This includes an applicant who matches to a concurrent year PGY-1 position in another match that precedes the NRMP Match.)
A program director "guarantees" an applicant that he/she will rank the applicant within the program's quota, but only if the applicant will rank the program first on his/her rank order list.
An applicant "guarantees" a program director that he/she will rank the program first on their rank order list, but only if the program director will rank the applicant within the program's quota.

 

[adleyinga]

Chica,

I'd call him back and see what happens. If he adheres to the rules, he won't ask where you've ranked his program. In fact, he may only want to talk about where they've ranked you. Yeah, his choice of words on the voice mail is strange, but, more than likely, he won't ask you to devulge your rank list. And if he does...hedge. 😉

If you are a DO or IMG (no idea here- haven't followed your many posts) then he/she may want to offer a postion outside the match.

If not then just may be calling to tell you the program ranked you high

 

[chicamedica]

If you are a DO or IMG (no idea here- haven't followed your many posts) then he/she may want to offer a postion outside the match.

If not then just may be calling to tell you the program ranked you high

i'm not, and in the message he actually said he wanted to discuss MY rank list.

 

[chicamedica]

thanks guys for the great advice. I think i'll say something along the lines of what timtye and noO2 suggested. I appreciate it a lot.

 

[ThinkFast007]

i'm not, and in the message he actually said he wanted to discuss MY rank list.

dude if he's calling to discuss YOUR list, that's kind of um ILLEGAL.

if he's got the balls to ask you this, you should ask the same q back.

 

[MedicinePowder]

dude if he's calling to discuss YOUR list, that's kind of um ILLEGAL.

if he's got the balls to ask you this, you should ask the same q back.

my gut tells me the interviewer isn't calling to hear how they are going to be ranked but to express their favorable ranking of her.

 

[ThinkFast007]

my gut tells me the interviewer isn't calling to hear how they are going to be ranked but to express their favorable ranking of her.

yup this is hte most likely. but the way chica wrote her OP thats how it sounded like

 

[MAC Man]

These calls happen more than anyone would care to admit. Often they are just calling to say that they will rank you highly as opposed to writing you the generic letter. I'd call back and just tell them how much I like the program. Don't show anyone your hand just yet.

This process is such a game, and it seems as though programs get away with a lot of empty promises and head games. If they want to get into specifics of the rank list, tell them you haven't decided anything yet and then come put a post here telling us which program it was. Don't be their pawn.

 

[chicamedica]

Thing is. . .I already got a call from the PD at this program, a few weeks ago, where he already told me I was being ranked highly. He sent me an email too saying they're still interested in me, a few days ago, to which I replied that i'd be happy to match there. This 2nd call came like a day after I sent the email. It sounds like they want to know where I'm ranking them, cause they are a good program in an unfavorable location, so I'd imagine they fight for every decent applicant they can get. A review on scutwork says this program is the most misleading in terms of calls/emails, so i am proceeding very cautiously.

Thanks for the helpful posts.

 

[Mman]

You could always just tell them that you really liked their program and are currently working on your rank list but it is not yet finished.

 

[B-Bone]

i can already tell this is Mayo rochester. they have been calling all the applicants from my school and doing the same thing.

 

[fuzzy_wuzzy]

sounds like mayo. when i canceled my interview there the secretary emailed me and then had one of the residents who graduated from my med school (although i never met him) email me to get me to reconsider.
Not to say that it isn't an amazing place to go (if you can handle rochester) but they are kinda aggressive w/ there recruiting. dont let them intimidate you, it is your rank list
good luck

 

[fukuisan]

Oh man, when Mayo called me I thought the PD was a telemarketer and almost hung up. Then when he told me his name and where he was calling from, I got all discombobulated and was unable to communicate for the rest of the conversation. He asked me about my rank list and I mumbled a few random things that made zero sense. Then he paused and said, "...OK... well, nice talking to you again..." Embarassing. I definitely won't be ranked highly there.

 

[chicamedica]

sounds like mayo. when i canceled my interview there the secretary interviewed me and then had one of the residents who graduated from my med school (although i never met him) email me to get me to reconsider.
Not to say that it isn't an amazing place to go (if you can handle rochester) but they are kinda aggressive w/ there recruiting. dont let them intimidate you, it is your rank list
good luck

yep u guys guessed it. You're right it IS an amazing place with everything I could possibly want in a program, other than the location, and it is gonna be pretty high on my list cause i could deal with Rochester if I had to. I just think it's uncool for them to be calling and asking these things.

Like the NRMP says, I am allowed to tell them if i want to, but they cant ask me. They should just rank us according to our application and performance on the interview, like other programs do. Rank lists are confidential info, imo.

 

[zippy2u]

Thinking outside the box, maybe it's this guy's roundabout way of asking you for a date, ya never know with these cerebral males... Regards, ---Zip

 

[chicamedica]

Thinking outside the box, maybe it's this guy's roundabout way of asking you for a date, ya never know with these cerebral males... Regards, ---Zip

um, that's a whole lot of dates being solicited from there then. . . 🙄

 

[me454555]

Why not just tell them you're ranking them high. From what I know about the match algarithm (sp?) it doesn't really matter if they rank you #1 b/c unless you rank them high, you'll match @ some other program that ranked you high as well. It seems like its every programs job to sell themselves and convince you that they are all the greatest so we should be doing the same. Tell them you're going to rank them high and that you really liked it there. Be cordial and get them to rank you as high as possible. It never hurts to have another program that likes you.

 

[toughlife]

When I got a call like that, I gave a Zippy-style answer. I said "how big of a bonus are we talking about"?

 

[cchoukal]

Last year when I was going through the match, I got a letter from one program that said, "we're planning to rank you in such a place that, in years past, has always matched with us." It was vague and shifty enough that I think it would make a good response to the PD's request. If he asks you where you plan to rank them, just say, "I plan to rank you at such a number that, in years past among applicants like myself, we'd stand a good chance of pairing up."