*****Official General Surgery Interview Invite/Rejection Thread 2011-2012*****

[Svidrillion]

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Has anybody gotten post interview emails/calls...just wanted to figure out if these things mean anything--perhaps we could collectively decipher PD-speak

This brings up an interesting question: how should the PD's call affect you? Say it does mean that they love you and want to rank you number one, will that have any effect on your rank list? And if so, why would it affect your rank list? What's the upside (besides a good stroking of the ego?)

 

[generalsurgeon0]

I think it may not significantly change where I'd rank the program, but it certainly changes the number of interviews I would go to/cancel in January. especially if it was a very positive response.

Also, at the end of the period, you do get to tell which program u will rank #1. I have heard this plays an important role for many schools (ie they'll bump u up if they liked you)--they never want to go down their match list. I guess id want to tell a program that did indeed like you they are numero uno--why would i waste that on a program that has me on the bottom of their list.

 

[OhioSurgery]

I think it may not significantly change where I'd rank the program, but it certainly changes the number of interviews I would go to/cancel in January. especially if it was a very positive response.

Also, at the end of the period, you do get to tell which program u will rank #1. I have heard this plays an important role for many schools (ie they'll bump u up if they liked you)--they never want to go down their match list. I guess id want to tell a program that did indeed like you they are numero uno--why would i waste that on a program that has me on the bottom of their list.

What do you mean you get to tell the program that you are ranking number one?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I think it may not significantly change where I'd rank the program, but it certainly changes the number of interviews I would go to/cancel in January. especially if it was a very positive response.

I would DEFINITELY NOT let this type of contact change the number of interviews you go on. Search these boards and you will see threads every year where someone gets told they are ranked to match, top of the list, etc, and end up falling past that program on their rank list.

 

[Svidrillion]

Also, at the end of the period, you do get to tell which program u will rank #1. I have heard this plays an important role for many schools (ie they'll bump u up if they liked you)--they never want to go down their match list. I guess id want to tell a program that did indeed like you they are numero uno--why would i waste that on a program that has me on the bottom of their list.

I don't know that this is true (maybe it is, but if so I'd like to see it in writing).

In any event, it still doesn't make sense to me. You should be trying to match at the program you want to go to most. Maybe that program won't rank you number one, but you might still match there, unless you blow it all by bumping your actual #4 to #1 because they winked at you.

And I think the number of interviews you go on in January should be based on if you think you might like those programs (and like them better than the ones you've interviewed at already). And on money.

 

[navymd]

All of this is myth and misperceptions. It does not matter! If they liked you, they will rank you high, if you like them rank them high. It does not matter if someone calls or does not call. We do not call anyone and we do not care where we match on our list. Our program, like the vast majority of programs only rank people we are happy to match, having an unmatched position is better than getting someone we just do not fit with.
Phone calls and saying who is at the top of the lists just creates a more stressful environment for the applicants. As I tell med students, your success at matching into surgery is done in August not January, if you applied to the correct programs based on your application, you will match, period.

 

[LucidSplash]

I don't think it hurts to let your number one know that's where they stand. I think most programs ignore this though because so many people lie. However, I do think it can possibly help if your home program calls your number one and says "we make one phone call for each applicant. They asked us to call you and say you are their number one." Some, though certainly not all, programs do care about trying to get people who really want to be there and they may move you around on their rank list if they have reason to believe you have ranked them number one. I think this is especially true if you are outside the regional area of the program and they get most of their applicants from their own region.

I think these things because I know from personal experience that such a phone call was instrumental in my matching at my #1.