Power of the Phone Call

[Bitterman]

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A faculty member at the #1 institution on your rank list offers to make a "phone call" for you. Sounds pretty good right?

I'm wondering how much value this really has. We can all speculate, but I'm interested for input from people who've worked on admission committees. PDs, attendings, maybe even residents--how much influence does such a phone call have on the way you rank applicants?

 

[lockness21]

As someone at a top tier IM program, it really has none. That is not to say it won't hurt to have the call made anyway or it may not work at a middle tier place. The intern selection process is committee based. They only want 3 things - grades, boards, and research (or something to suggest you'd be an academic clinician). Everything else is fluff and part of the charade called "Applying to Residency!"

 

[Top Gun]

It would depend on how much clout the faculty member in question has. If s/he is tight with the PD of that particular program,, or generates a significant amount of revenue for the hospital, the PD may consider whatever input comes from that particular attending.