playing the game

[hot4teacha]

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In regards to the upcoming match, I just wanted to know from current residents who matched at their #1 or 2 spot on their respective rank lists, what type of interactions helped to secure your spot (not that you can really know for sure)? Was it thank you letters, involved emails and phone calls, 2nd looks? Thanks.

 

[luvOB]

great thread...also, did these programs express mutual interest? for example did the program directors contact you in any way? thanks!

 

[drmom2007]

How many people are doing second visits? If you are really interested in a programs is a second visit a must?

 

[bruinkid]

some schools make it a point to say that second looks do not affect their ranking of you...so i think it depends on the program.

 

[bellalou]

This is the part that confuses me too. I would like to think that the beauty of the match is that you go somewhere that you love and that loves you too. It is weird to think that how high I rank someplace influences how high they rank me and vice versa. Some programs are very clear about not contacting them after the interview and appear to really believe in the sanctity of the match.

Input from residents that matched the last couple of years would be much appreciated.
Thanks!🙂

 

[sunnygyn]

on that same note, i'm wondering what kind of contact people have heard from programs (ie. letters or phone calls). i got a few letters but i'm trying to figure out if they are generic or not (hopkins, vandy, pitt, unc).
as for second looks, i really can't afford to take any, nor can i get away from school any more, so hopefully places are honest when they say second looks are for our benefit only . . .

 

[sunnygyn]

on that same note, i'm wondering what kind of contact people have heard from programs (ie. letters or phone calls). i got a few letters but i'm trying to figure out if they are generic or not (hopkins, vandy, pitt, unc).
as for second looks, i really can't afford to take any, nor can i get away from school any more, so hopefully places are honest when they say second looks are for our benefit only . . .

 

[tiredmom]

on that same note, i'm wondering what kind of contact people have heard from programs (ie. letters or phone calls). i got a few letters but i'm trying to figure out if they are generic or not (hopkins, vandy, pitt, unc).
as for second looks, i really can't afford to take any, nor can i get away from school any more, so hopefully places are honest when they say second looks are for our benefit only . . .

Sunnygyn-
I also received letters from Vandy and UNC (didn't apply to Hopkins or Pitt). I'm not reading anything into it. It was kind of nice that UNC said flat out you can't take a 2nd look - I like unequivocable! I also got a couple of handwritten thank you notes from program directors, those felt a little more personal than the typed ones from Vandy and UNC that I received, but they are also from smaller programs so they have less applicants to send them to. I had one program say "if you want to come here, you have to let us know, either with a 2nd look or by email/telephone, or preferably both". All the others have said a 2nd look was only for the applicant's benefit. I have to believe they would mean it, otherwise they are giving people extra points for not taking them at their word, which just seems wrong!

 

[bellalou]

I also received notes from UNC and Pittsburgh. I didn't think that they meant very much. I have recieved personal emails and calls from a few other programs. I don't know what to make of it at all, to be honest.

Any thoughts from recent grads out there????

 

[Alician]

I think it is hard to know. I got letters from a few programs and my impression was that these were generic. I got phone calls from one chair and one program director and my thought was that these were more personal. I ended up matching at one of those programs. I don't however think it necessarily means you won't match at a program because you didn't hear from them. Be careful changing your rank list based on who you hear from. Remember to rank in the order you would like to match. The worst thing that happens if you rank schools that don't want you is that your ego is a little bruised and you don't match at your number one, but you don't have to tell anyone that.

 

[Drlove9701]

As far as 2nd looks go, I think it's absolutely for the applicant's benefit only. Yeah you show interest in that particular program but beyond that it doesn't help much from the program's point of view. Also, it is difficult to integrate the person into a busy day (and there are no other kinds in ob/gyn). In my opinion more of a pain in the ass than it's worth. Personally, I did no second looks, but by the end of my interviews I was quite clear as far as my number 1 and the order of my top 5. I got letters/e-mails from most programs, most of them were generic. I e-mailed my #2 and #3 programs and let them know that I was ranking them "highly." I'm sure that had absolutely NO effect on how they ranked me, but it made me feel more in control or the situation. I also e-mailed a my #1 choice and flatly told them they were my #1. That probably had little effect on how they ranked me. BTW, I matched at my #1 choice but that probably had more to do with the fact that I placed them at the top of my list rather than any communications I had with them or (had I done one) a 2nd look.