Osteo Match different rules than Allo Match?

[TritonAnchor]

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Hi all, long-time lurker here.

I've received emails/letters from osteopathic residencies which have said "we plan on ranking you" to straight out telling me what rank they'll be placing me in!

I thought it was against the rules to say where a program is ranking a candidate? Perhaps this is only in the allopathic match and not the osteopathic match? Is this a red flag (or does it even MEAN anything)?

Anyone well-versed in the osteopathic match willing to help shed some light here?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tkim]

Hi all, long-time lurker here.

I've received emails/letters from osteopathic residencies which have said "we plan on ranking you" to straight out telling me what rank they'll be placing me in!

I thought it was against the rules to say where a program is ranking a candidate? Perhaps this is only in the allopathic match and not the osteopathic match? Is this a red flag (or does it even MEAN anything)?

Anyone well-versed in the osteopathic match willing to help shed some light here?

Thanks in advance.

If such rules exist for the AOA match, I've never read them. I got an email like that last year from a DO program, and it killed me to pass the DO match in favor of the MD match because the DO program was pretty nice.

In the allo side, people get those letters all the time and it means next to nothing, but in the DO side it means something. Don't know how much more, but it usually means that they do plan to rank you to match.

 

[DrMom]

It is my understanding that a program may tell an applicant how they are ranked, but they may not then ask the applicant where the program ranks with the applicant and vice versa. Basically an information-may-be-offered-but-not-requested type policy.

I've never seen what the official policy is, though, and while I agree with tkim that you can generally take DO programs at their word on the rankings, it is still information that you want to proceed with carefully.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It is my understanding that a program may tell an applicant how they are ranked, but they may not then ask the applicant where the program ranks with the applicant and vice versa. Basically an information-may-be-offered-but-not-requested type policy.

I've never seen what the official policy is, though, and while I agree with tkim that you can generally take DO programs at their word on the rankings, it is still information that you want to proceed with carefully.

From the NRMP agreement:

One of the purposes of the Matching Program is to allow both applicants and programs to make selection decisions on a uniform schedule and without undue or unwarranted pressure. Both applicants and programs may express a high degree of interest in each other and try to encourage future ranking decisions in their favor, but must not solicit statements implying a commitment. Although applicants and programs may volunteer how they plan to rank each other, it is a breach of this Agreement to request such information. In addition, only the final preferences of programs and applicants, as expressed on their final certified rank order lists, will determine the offering of positions and the placement of applicants through the Matching Program. It is a breach of this Agreement for a participant in the Matching Program to make any verbal or written contract for appointment to a concurrent year residency position prior to the Matching Program.