** Official 2011 MATCH MADNESS Countdown Thread ~~~ It's Spreading... **

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I was conflicted on whether to send emails to my top programs. This past weekend I had finally decided I thought the process was awkward and I wasn't going to do it. And THEN, I got an email from my number 1 choice yesterday regarding their effusive thoughts on my success at their program. At that point I just went with it and told the PD that I had already decided to rank them first.

My new conflict is how to respond to emails I have received from programs lower down on my list. Should I not respond at all? Should I respond with a thank you and a general "I am ranking you" in which it is probably clear that I'm not ranking them first? I don't know, the whole thing feels awkward. In many ways I'd agree with QofQuimica that I would prefer no contact at all from either side!
 
titoincali said:
I was conflicted on whether to send emails to my top programs. This past weekend I had finally decided I thought the process was awkward and I wasn't going to do it. And THEN, I got an email from my number 1 choice yesterday regarding their effusive thoughts on my success at their program. At that point I just went with it and told the PD that I had already decided to rank them first.

My new conflict is how to respond to emails I have received from programs lower down on my list. Should I not respond at all? Should I respond with a thank you and a general "I am ranking you" in which it is probably clear that I'm not ranking them first? I don't know, the whole thing feels awkward. In many ways I'd agree with QofQuimica that I would prefer no contact at all from either side!
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just curious, but what are you matching into that you're getting all this love and attention? All I hear is crickets...
 
rachmoninov3 said:
just curious, but what are you matching into that you're getting all this love and attention? All I hear is crickets...
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One of many joys of going into psychiatry.
 
Doctor4Life1769 said:
When PDs say, "no thank you emails," should one also assume "no update emails"?
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In general yes. Depends on what it is though. If it's "my Step 2 score came back and is 5 points higher than Step 1" it's not worth potentially upsetting them. If it's "I was 1st author on a paper just published in NEJM" then it's probably worth it.

Since most rank lists are already (or nearly) completed at this point it's probably irrelevant.
 
So based on gutonc's comment above, unless I get an email from a PD of one of my top 5 programs I shouldn't really respond back to their email?

I recently got an email from a PD whose program is relatively low on my list... Basically the email was a response to my Thank You email I wrote after my interview in the beginning of the season. Thanking me for visiting them and wishing me well in the Match. Don't even know how to read into that... Also the email mentioned how the program and the hospital is expanding...

Should I just remain silent? I don't want them to think that I am not interested at all and I am applying for a competitive specialty, but don't know what to say considering that this was a response to my thank you email and didn't necessarily say I am "ranked to match" or anything like that.

Thanks!
 
No. First of all, it sounds generic, so many people probably got the same letter. Second of all, if its taking him THIS long to respond to your initial e-mail, I'd imagine he wouldn't see any response until well after rank lists are in. No need to respond if he didn't tell you anything of value, which he didn't.
 
5 weeks...uggg

WaRnInG rAnT tO fOlLoW:

Some how I was under the delusion that after years of medical school I'd be happy to be where I'm at today. Over the last 4 years as I dilligently highlighted-out each class on the class map, looking to cross of the last elective of 4th year and be finished, I could only think how relieved I must feel. Even as recently as this summer when my husband and I were vacationing in the north part of the state and everyone was treating me like "wow, we'd love to have you practice up here" I was under the delusion that sometime I'd be a wanted part of the community.

Daily now, I am faced with the fact that the community just south of there, at a hospital I've worked at for the past 10 years, the program is currently ranking, and I may not be wanted at all...🙁

I seriously need to stop feeling like if I don't get into this one residency then I've been betrayed. I need to take a page from Def's book and be happy with wherever I end up. Maybe some more chocolate so I can work on having his gut...
 
You seem a bit stressed out. I think the trick is to keep yourself real busy so you don't have time to think about the Match. Maybe find a part-time job or another hobby to occupy time if you have a light rotation.

rachmoninov3 said:
5 weeks...uggg

WaRnInG rAnT tO fOlLoW:
Click to expand...
 
confuse said:
You seem a bit stressed out. I think the trick is to keep yourself real busy so you don't have time to think about the Match. Maybe find a part-time job or another hobby to occupy time if you have a light rotation.
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done with rotations, trying to get old advocacy/research started again, and working 24-36 hours/week.

However, I am flirting with breaking a 7 minute mile for the first time since high school...
 
Severus said:
this thread is making me (more) neurotic about contacting programs. i sent thank you letters and wrote my #1 and told them that they were on top, but other than that, i'm not into sending any further butt-kissing letters/emails. maybe i'm shooting myself in the foot, but i just don't play that game.
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I'm starting to get neurotic about that too.

My ROL is finalized, but now that I don't have that to neuroticize about, I'm freaking out that I didn't send enough of those emails myself. 🙄

Bleh. Gonna be a long couple of weeks.
 
I'm jealous of my classmates participating in the DO match only because they'll know what their future holds on Monday.

34 days to go...
 
Depakote said:
I'm starting to get neurotic about that too.

My ROL is finalized, but now that I don't have that to neuroticize about, I'm freaking out that I didn't send enough of those emails myself. 🙄

Bleh. Gonna be a long couple of weeks.
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There's no way these programs are as insecure as us applicants and need their egos stroked to justify/swtch a ranking.
 
Tick tock.

I want match day to get here because my fiancée is freaking out daily about it. I would be very happy at any of my top 7 choices, while she wants nothing other than my number one. I think I'd be content right now if she would just calm down.
 
I agree the wait definitely sucks and is really long... A quick question which is probably silly to ask so my apologies in advance...😳 I sent a "you are # 1" to my number 1 program. I also sent emails to my #2 and #3 saying that I just wanted to mention again how impressed I was with their program. Without throwing any numbers around or any of the I intend to rank you highly thing...

I know those emails to #2 and #3 have probably no influence at all any way (may be even #1 doesn't either?). However, I was thinking would it be OK if I change like the spot of my #4 to like #3? I mean would those two programs that I emailed "assume" that they are my top 3? My number one is the same, but now I am seriously thinking that I want to have my #4 as my #3. Kind of sucks that it is now too late to send an email of interest to my old #4 but better now than after the ROL deadline right?

Thanks... 🙂
 
Switch 3 and 4. Nobody will care.
 
4 weeks seems like forever. I can't focus on anything!!!
 
Prolly a stupid question, but is there any way to double check the program codes? especially since some programs have similar sounding but independent residencies. So help me God if I end up messing this up!
 
SuperHiro said:
I feel yah man. I have this awful feeling that my number one does not want me.
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oh, it's not that. I'd be very happy to go to any of my top 5 but for very different reasons. It's a question of "do I want to go to a "better" program that's in a location where I know absolutely no one" or go to the program I liked a little less where I'd be surrounded by friends and family.
 
WingedOx said:
oh, it's not that. I'd be very happy to go to any of my top 5 but for very different reasons. It's a question of "do I want to go to a "better" program that's in a location where I know absolutely no one" or go to the program I liked a little less where I'd be surrounded by friends and family.
Click to expand...

I have the same dilemma. Ugh.
 
WingedOx said:
oh, it's not that. I'd be very happy to go to any of my top 5 but for very different reasons. It's a question of "do I want to go to a "better" program that's in a location where I know absolutely no one" or go to the program I liked a little less where I'd be surrounded by friends and family.
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😳
Indeed that feeling sucks. All my friends and family are in the city I am currently in. It was an incredibly hard decision to choose better program fit vs location. If it makes you feel any better, you're certainly not alone.
 
Match Day Call Order

I will have no family or dog or girlfriend with me on Match Day. Mom and Dad insist that they hear the news first of where I matched (it'd be a phone call to both separately at work). But my siblings are trying to cut a deal with me to get a text message first before I call the parents up. If I give the siblings what they want, I'll need them to keep it quiet, but the trouble is they are both blabbermouths.

What to do...
 
Deferoxamine said:
Match Day Call Order

I will have no family or dog or girlfriend with me on Match Day. Mom and Dad insist that they hear the news first of where I matched (it'd be a phone call to both separately at work). But my siblings are trying to cut a deal with me to get a text message first before I call the parents up. If I give the siblings what they want, I'll need them to keep it quiet, but the trouble is they are both blabbermouths.

What to do...
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hmmm the time to call/text sibs versus parents, the age old question...if you do it quickly enough the sibs won't have time to blab. Besides, you have to let your millions of adoring SDN fans know first---duh!

The first person I tell will probably be the flask I plan to hide in my jacket...
Luckilly my school does not make you announce your match to the class, you get to go outside and learn your fate in private...
 
Deferoxamine said:
Match Day Call Order

I will have no family or dog or girlfriend with me on Match Day. Mom and Dad insist that they hear the news first of where I matched (it'd be a phone call to both separately at work). But my siblings are trying to cut a deal with me to get a text message first before I call the parents up. If I give the siblings what they want, I'll need them to keep it quiet, but the trouble is they are both blabbermouths.

What to do...
Click to expand...


You must not have kids... Call your parents first, especially if they helped finance your education. Everyone else can wait the 5 minutes.
 
SuperHiro said:
I feel yah man. I have this awful feeling that my number one does not want me.
Click to expand...

Not only am I scared that my #1 doesn't want me, but that it might actually make me bitter--or more so if I don't match there. I love that little hospital, I worked for it for years, all my friends are there, and being rejected by "them" would be heart breaking. I even wonder if I'd every want to show my face there again! Yeah I know, it's the program, not the actually hospital or its nursing staff. What's worse, is that since the hospital is small and rural no secret is safe. Yet somehow the docs and everyone else are so closed lipped! Yes, I know they have to be (NRMP lawyers), and professionalism and all that crap but it's just so different from nursing were everyone knows everybody's stuff. You think they could at least drop a wink and a nod?!

I'll be really disappointed if I don't match there but at the same time, I think I have moved further along the Kubler-Ross 5 stages of the match:

1. Excitement
2. Paranoia
3. Annoyance
4. There's nothing I can do so just tell me already!
5. Dealing
 
gutonc said:
Since most rank lists are already (or nearly) completed at this point it's probably irrelevant.
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and yet these programs don't tell us their rank list before we rank them... boo

/SDN needs it's on version of anonymous to go hack that information.

//not really... please don't get any ideas. 😏
 
WingedOx said:
aaaaaaaaand I just swapped my #1 and 2 programs, and my 3 and 4.

/thinking about switching 4 and 5 now.
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Come on now, lets not be rash...you know 4 was clearly superior to 5.😉
seriously though...I think we can get in "change mode" and change too much at one time. dont panic...!
I was thinking about switching 3 and 4 yesterday, decided to keep them there but then thought about switching 1 and 2 but then decided to keep them there. I think their is something to be said for the original list and how you felt after the interviews. Now, we are just overthinking it I think.?

good luck
MEM
 
MountainEM said:
Come on now, lets not be rash...you know 4 was clearly superior to 5.😉
seriously though...I think we can get in "change mode" and change too much at one time. dont panic...!
I was thinking about switching 3 and 4 yesterday, decided to keep them there but then thought about switching 1 and 2 but then decided to keep them there. I think their is something to be said for the original list and how you felt after the interviews. Now, we are just overthinking it I think.?

good luck
MEM
Click to expand...

yeah, it's all minor tinkering at this point. god... I wish I wasn't on an inpatient rotation right now... otherwise I could stay up all night analyzing all this. 😀
 
Deferoxamine said:
Match Day Call Order

I will have no family or dog or girlfriend with me on Match Day. Mom and Dad insist that they hear the news first of where I matched (it'd be a phone call to both separately at work). But my siblings are trying to cut a deal with me to get a text message first before I call the parents up. If I give the siblings what they want, I'll need them to keep it quiet, but the trouble is they are both blabbermouths.

What to do...
Click to expand...

I have a feeling the first call I make, might have to be to my therapist.
 
WingedOx said:
aaaaaaaaand I just swapped my #1 and 2 programs, and my 3 and 4.

/thinking about switching 4 and 5 now.
Click to expand...

I just switched my #1 and #2 as well. My problem is that my new #1 is a prelim spot, but I felt the best leaving the interview that day. All around it was my best interview. They also place their prelims quite well afterwards.

My new #2 is a categorical position, but at a middle-tier program in a huge metropolitan area.

I'm still kinda-sorta debating it, but I would feel more comfortable as a resident at my #1 than at my #2. I know it's blasphemy, but it's happened before (a la Blondedocteur).
 
agranulocytosis said:
I just switched my #1 and #2 as well. My problem is that my new #1 is a prelim spot, but I felt the best leaving the interview that day. All around it was my best interview. They also place their prelims quite well afterwards.

My new #2 is a categorical position, but at a middle-tier program in a huge metropolitan area.

I'm still kinda-sorta debating it, but I would feel more comfortable as a resident at my #1 than at my #2. I know it's blasphemy, but it's happened before (a la Blondedocteur).
Click to expand...

If you're still reading this and thinking about it - I think you're crazy! One in the hand is worth two in the bush... or whatever the appropriate saying is.
 
as everyone worries about the order of their # 17 versus 18 spot for the next 2.5 hours...oh the horror...riddle me this batman:

What is the point of match day anyway? Punch? Cookies? Envelops are soooo 1980 or at least 1990. Think about it. It will probably take awhile to hand out all those envelops, and while I'm waiting for mine, I'll also be waiting for my blackberry to load the NRMP site and reveal my match before the envelop even gets to my hot little hand. And I'm sure I won't be the only one either...
 
agranulocytosis said:
I'm not quite sure what you're saying here. Go with my current order or have the categorical as my #1?
Click to expand...

I, personally, would rather have a categorical than know I was in no mans land with a preliminary.

I have heard of a lot of people that repeated internships in order to get a categorical spot. I guess it depends on where you're talking... but I'd be happier with a position in a program that results in my finishing - than the hope I may get to a better program later.
 
rachmoninov3 said:
as everyone worries about the order of their # 17 versus 18 spot for the next 2.5 hours...oh the horror...riddle me this batman:

What is the point of match day anyway? Punch? Cookies? Envelops are soooo 1980 or at least 1990. Think about it. It will probably take awhile to hand out all those envelops, and while I'm waiting for mine, I'll also be waiting for my blackberry to load the NRMP site and reveal my match before the envelop even gets to my hot little hand. And I'm sure I won't be the only one either...
Click to expand...

Ahhh...the results aren't online until 1pm. Hence the envelopes.
 
2 hours to go...time to stop fiddling with my list once and for all, and head out to the bar with some friends so that I'll stop thinking about it!
 
rachmoninov3 said:
as everyone worries about the order of their # 17 versus 18 spot for the next 2.5 hours...oh the horror...riddle me this batman:

What is the point of match day anyway? Punch? Cookies? Envelops are soooo 1980 or at least 1990. Think about it. It will probably take awhile to hand out all those envelops, and while I'm waiting for mine, I'll also be waiting for my blackberry to load the NRMP site and reveal my match before the envelop even gets to my hot little hand. And I'm sure I won't be the only one either...
Click to expand...


I totally agree!!! I'm from a DO school, and we don't do the whole match day thing because half the class does the osteo and half the class does allo, and I'm very glad I don't have to suffer that agony. It's an antequated tradition that should be tossed out ASAP.

Stupid question that I'm sure is hiding somewhere in this forum, but I'm too lazy to look--we get our results in email AND on the NRMP website, right? I may not have access to a computer at the time the results are released but can check it on my iPhone, which, of course, doesn't allow access to the NRMP site...
 
Yes, the news comes by email too. 🙂
Good luck everyone!
 
psychnewbie said:
Ahhh...the results aren't online until 1pm. Hence the envelopes.
Click to expand...

my cerem😱ny is scheduled to start at 10am, which is 12p EST (God I love the rockies!) so I'm sure I'll get mine officially released---or I will be released to learn my fate at 1pm EST just like all of you.
 
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