I'm in SoCal and have only applied to 4 TRI's. Not 100% sure if I'll keep it at that # or not... kinda depends on whether I get some interviews in the wings or not! 😉 I've heard TRI's are not too competetive (after all, we're extra bodies to support the rest of the residents doing the FP/IM programs)... Well, good to know that Sept. is when things really get rolling. I submitted my apps about 1.5 weeks ago and 2 of the 4 have downloaded it, 2 of the programs haven't even downloaded my app yet, so at least they haven't snubbed me yet! 🙂
By the way, I'm applying ACGME PM&R and submitted the same PS with about 4-5 sentences at the end to make it mean something to my TRI prgrams... after all, the TRI's know (by definition) that we're not going to be there for more than a year, so they're probably more interested in what our end goals are, not for just the next year. (MY OPINION AND WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THESE FORUMS...take it for what it's worth.)