One Tract Mind

[2tall]

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Any advice on how to approach the application process when you're already set on one and only one program?

 

[RaistlinMajere]

Any advice on how to approach the application process when you're already set on one and only one program?

Possibly but why is you're heart set on only one program?

 

[billypilgrim37]

A one tract mind is as bad as a bowel regiment.

The T's, they burn!

If you're a worse candidate on paper than their residents are, do an away to bolster your chances. If you are a better candidate on paper than their residents are, stay as far away from them as possible until interview day.

And find some Rogerian psychotherapist to help you figure out why you're already so dead set 😀

 

[Rpre19]

Hey 2 Tall,

I would say take a look at programs that have something similar to offer. What characteristics about the program has you set on it?
Is it a top tier program?
Is it their research track/credentials?
Is it the clinical experience or faculty?
The location?

Believe me I understand being focused on a particular program. I felt that way about a certain program. I was sure I wanted a particular top notch program in the heart of NYC. Got there on interview day--wanted to leave 5 minutes in & ranked 'em low. I'm very happy where I never thought I'd go. So ok, you may be thinking 'no way, not me' but you might as well see some choices. you've got nothing to lose by checking a few out. Then you can at least tell them you made an informed decision & ranked them #1 come time the match opens up 🙂
GOOD LUCK!

 

[2tall]

Possibly but why is you're heart set on only one program?

[email protected] you'd deny me any information of my intentions are insincere? Ha! Hope I see you on the interview trail Rai. 😎

To answer R's ?s
Don't get me started on the tiers!
Don't think I want to do research.
The faculty would be a strong pull, not overwhelming.
My primary reasons are location and family.

I don't think I'd have a problem getting into the program, but I guess you can never be sure. Even if I don't have overabundant love for the program @ the interview day, I'm a pretty easygoing guy. I could make residency work. People stay in loveless marriages all the time.

 

[futuredo32]

I'm in the same boat as 2tall for the same reason. How would one know if they looked better/worse on paper than the current residents of the program (for a dually accredited program)? It may be a moot point for me because I have yet to successfully schedule a rotation at the program, but just in case🙂.

 

[billypilgrim37]

I'm in the same boat as 2tall for the same reason. How would one know if they looked better/worse on paper than the current residents of the program (for a dually accredited program)? It may be a moot point for me because I have yet to successfully schedule a rotation at the program, but just in case🙂.

The easiest proxy is probably a list of their residents' medical schools. That's pretty much the only way programs signal how competitive their program is beyond pure word of mouth. Of course, not all the best residents come from the best medical schools by any means, but many of the most "competitive" ones tend to, if only for entirely self-fulfilling prophesy sorts of reasons.

 

[futuredo32]

The easiest proxy is probably a list of their residents' medical schools. That's pretty much the only way programs signal how competitive their program is beyond pure word of mouth. Of course, not all the best residents come from the best medical schools by any means, but many of the most "competitive" ones tend to, if only for entirely self-fulfilling prophesy sorts of reasons.

Thanks, Billypilgrim.🙂

 

[billypilgrim37]

Thanks, Billypilgrim.🙂

And I think another way to find a little bit of information about the quality of a program (and this is speaking with HUGE GENERALIZATIONS).

a) programs that have maybe 1-2 kids a year from a "top" med school, but then a lot of kids from places that maybe aren't as fancy. chances are, that program pulls a lot of really good people from less name schools, and you'd wind up with a lot of quality folks around you. the kids from the fancy schools could have gone to better name programs, so if they didn't, they know something that might be worth knowing yourself. especially if these programs aren't in a hugely desirable city.

b) programs that keep a lot of their own. some people just don't like to move for family reasons, but, on average, most students can go to "better" programs than their home programs (as opposed to say, ortho, where a kid from harvard might be happy just matching). if they decide to stay, that might mean there's a lot to like at their home program.

These are just vague tendencies, and things I noticed about some programs. But given how little information you really have to evaluate various programs, every little bit can help.

 

[whopper]

Call up the program's coordinator or director & tell them you're hell bent on getting into that 1 program & that you're willing to prove it by doing anything they offer you such as an elective, Sub-I or shadowing a resident or attending.

That IMHO has given the people who wanted to get into my old program the message that they really wanted to be there.

Just saying they're the #1 doesn't prove it. I'd say about 33% of the applicants said we were the number #1, and we knew there was something up with that (lying? Maybe we were their #1, but saw another program later on they liked better) because some of them we ranked high and they got into other programs. The way the Match works, it favors the applicants choice over the program's choice, so if we truly were their #1 they would've come to us.

 

[futuredo32]

Call up the program's coordinator or director & tell them you're hell bent on getting into that 1 program & that you're willing to prove it by doing anything they offer you such as an elective, Sub-I or shadowing a resident or attending.

That IMHO has given the people who wanted to get into my old program the message that they really wanted to be there.

Just saying they're the #1 doesn't prove it. I'd say about 33% of the applicants said we were the number #1, and we knew there was something up with that (lying? Maybe we were their #1, but saw another program later on they liked better) because some of them we ranked high and they got into other programs. The way the Match works, it favors the applicants choice over the program's choice, so if we truly were their #1 they would've come to us.

Are you saying that programs are more likely to rank an applicant higher if they truly believe that applicants are going to rank the program#1?

 

[Faebinder]

Are you saying that programs are more likely to rank an applicant higher if they truly believe that applicants are going to rank the program#1?

Who wants to rank someone that doesnt want to come to them? It influences the rank but is not the final say.

 

[RaistlinMajere]

[email protected] you'd deny me any information of my intentions are insincere? Ha! Hope I see you on the interview trail Rai. 😎

To answer R's ?s
Don't get me started on the tiers!
Don't think I want to do research.
The faculty would be a strong pull, not overwhelming.
My primary reasons are location and family.

I don't think I'd have a problem getting into the program, but I guess you can never be sure. Even if I don't have overabundant love for the program @ the interview day, I'm a pretty easygoing guy. I could make residency work. People stay in loveless marriages all the time.

Well, I probably won't see you if you only apply to one program. 😉

Since your main reason is location and family, I'm going to assume that your top program is the only one nearby. If that's the case, then you really just have two options: 1) apply to one program and prepare to do a research year or something in your desired location if you don't match there, or 2) decide that you could be happy away from family. What programs are nearby? Are there any that are a 1-2 hour flight?

It's a tough spot to be in. I hope it works out for you.

 

[2tall]

Not "wife and kids" family, rather "social support (U need me I need U), miss being away, there's opportunity to journey away for fellowship" family...

Honestly, I don't think I'd have a problem matching at this program, though I guess one can never really know until y'open the envelope.

Yes, there are other nearby programs that are on paper less appealing to me.

Just wish I could have more fun during the interview season! Guess I should just get over it. Bright side - it'll be an inexpensive application process. Thank God for that.