PD's calling and writing you???

[lu2003]

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All right, so we started the interview thread, how about the post-interview contact from PD's? I'm not sure what to make of them (although I do know that it's in their best interest to tell applicants they like 'em even though they tell everyone that). What does everyone think? Is it really that much of a game?

 

[tangents]

clearly if they didn't like you, they wouldn't bother to call or write...i think it is a good sign.

 

[memserize]

How many applicants out there have had contact from a PD? And if so, what was it it like?

All right, so we started the interview thread, how about the post-interview contact from PD's? I'm not sure what to make of them (although I do know that it's in their best interest to tell applicants they like 'em even though they tell everyone that). What does everyone think? Is it really that much of a game?

 

[Boofus4L]

i've been contacted via phone, email, or snail mail by a number of PDs, a couple of chairmen, and in some cases by faculty or residents. the communications have ranged from casual, how-are-you-doing type of conversations to more aggressive attempts to find out what my thought process is right now. on one hand, it is flattering and makes me feel like i'll get in somewhere. on the other hand, it's a little stressful since i tend to get nervous on the phone... 😳

 

[PsychMD2B]

i've been contacted via phone, email, or snail mail by a number of PDs, a couple of chairmen, and in some cases by faculty or residents. the communications have ranged from casual, how-are-you-doing type of conversations to more aggressive attempts to find out what my thought process is right now. on one hand, it is flattering and makes me feel like i'll get in somewhere. on the other hand, it's a little stressful since i tend to get nervous on the phone... 😳

My wife who is matching in Peds (and a better clinical candidate IMO) thinks this whole thing is crazy. In peds they rarely ever do this apparently.

I've gotten calls from residency directors and ended up talking with the res director at my school about it. Basically, it depends on the program director. Some want to game the match a bit, others simply are trying to offer encouragement. I think people in your own school can give you a sense of how honest those particular individuals are. The fact is (esp for US med grads) Psych is a sellers market and programs need to spend more time recruiting than other residencies. The usual advice I have gotten is to contact your number 1 that they are 1 and other top choicses that you ranked them very highly.

I personally have been honest with programs as to where they stand. That may burn me in the end but I'm not a good liar and hope that programs will still rank me if they are near the top of my list.

Good luck.