As a general rule with the match, just remember this. Every program at which you interview has an interest in making sure you rank them #1, even if you are not high on their list. One reason is to make sure that they don't fall below you on their rank list. The second reason is that it is good PR for them if a future generation of pathologists forms a favorable opinion of them. The applicant should remember to keep this in mind when evaluating communications from programs and to look out for themselves (because that is what the programs are doing). Also, if a program doesn't understand this concept then they are clueless and unlikely to consistently do well in the match (if the above story about the email is true then that is a good example) and you probably don't want to match there anyway.
Its like fraternity/sorority rush in college. During rush you sell your house for many reasons (including those above) and that makes sure you wind up with the best pledge class. When you consistently get the best pledge class, you consistently have the best actives. When you consistently have the best actives, you consistently have alumni that are really successful after they graduate. When you have successful alumni, better quality freshman want to pledge with your house. You create a beneficial cycle. The match is no different- just replace interns with pledges, residents with actives, and pathologists in practice with alumni. The cycle works in reverse too. If a program doesn't understand this then I feel sorry for them.
