Question about rank list

[El Dooderino]

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For people who have matched in the past, how far down your rank list did you go? Is it uncommon to go past your top 5, even if your list is made of competitive programs?

 

[seamonkey]

for me, I got my #4 spot. My top ten were all very competitive, and two of those top 3 were advanced positions where there were only 1 or 2 spots at top programs. That being said, just rank according to what you really really want. I was fully willing to accept anything i ranked. Not getting my #1-3 ultimately worked out for the best, serendipitously. I had several friends, though, who probably got their 5-7 spot. but they matched, and will be board certified anesthesiologists.

 

[MrBurns10]

This is anecdotal, of course, but of the 11 people I know who applied to anesthesiology last year 8 got their first choice and 3 got their 2nd. Not bad, eh?

 

[El Dooderino]

This is anecdotal, of course, but of the 11 people I know who applied to anesthesiology last year 8 got their first choice and 3 got their 2nd. Not bad, eh?

Well that's good to hear!

 

[midazme]

i got my first choice. i only ranked 5 programs, with a wide margin of preference between #2 and 3 and a slim margin between #1 and 2. didn't rank programs i wasn't interested in and figured i'd scramble into an intern year if i didn't match anywhere.

 

[NOLA RISING]

Lets say my rank list looks like the following:

1. Advanced- Prelim choice 1, Prelim choice 2

2. Advanced2- Prelim choice 1, Prelim choice 2

3. Categorical

If i match into an advanced position for my first choice, but dont match into either of the prelim spots, does that mean I lose the advanced spot? Or, do i match the advanced spot and then just scramble for prelims?

Also, while I was really happy about the Anesth interviews I got, and I feel im a competitive applicant, I only got invited to two prelim spots. Do you think more are still coming?

Thanks

 

[R-35]

You're locked in your advance position and have to scramble for a prelim or TY position.

 

[ambiturner]

I and the other people I've met on the trail also have noticed a disappointing number of prelim/TY interviews. Don't really know why, but it is what it is.

I know this has been asked before since it probably differs from program to program I'll ask again - is it easier to match categorical or advanced? My guess would be advanced simply because most people would prefer to avoid the hassle of moving twice and would likely rank the categorical program first. At my home program they submit the same list for both categorical and advanced so I guess whichever fills less quickly is the easier to get.

 

[pjl]

I have heard historically 80-85% first choice, 95% top 4. Additionally, that is about how those I know have done, but I have no factual basis for those percentages. Reminds me of a quote "94% of statistics are made up just before presentation."

For me the categorical was easier, it all depends of the program. A crappy PGY1 year scared a lot off.

 

[IlDestriero]

Of the 6 people going into anesthesiology from my class, many years ago, all got their top 3. At least that's what they said.😉

 

[countingdays]

You can't really figure out your odds or calculate where you will match. Err on the side of too many interviews and ranking too many programs.
I suspect that match data is significantly slanted by people matching into their medical school's residency program. A lot of people rank their home program top five and match there. It probably makes the statistics inaccurate for those not ranking their home program in the top 5.
Who cares anyway? Many have said, correctly, that wherever you match is now your #1.

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

I and the other people I've met on the trail also have noticed a disappointing number of prelim/TY interviews. Don't really know why, but it is what it is.

I know this has been asked before since it probably differs from program to program I'll ask again - is it easier to match categorical or advanced? My guess would be advanced simply because most people would prefer to avoid the hassle of moving twice and would likely rank the categorical program first. At my home program they submit the same list for both categorical and advanced so I guess whichever fills less quickly is the easier to get.

I only went on a couple prelim/TY interviews last year, but one thing I noticed is that they were mostly full of optho/rads/radonc applicants. I think they're just more competitive overall.

Don't know about categorical vs advanced. I felt like most people wanted categorical for the reasons you listed, but I also met people who wanted to stick around their home city for intern year for family/sig other reasons, also. I wouldn't try to "play the game," I'd just rank higher whichever version you like better.

 

[chrisv]

At my home program they submit the same list for both categorical and advanced so I guess whichever fills less quickly is the easier to get.

Can someone please clarify on this comment. I have always wondered about this. When you apply to a program, do you apply just to Program XYZ's categorical or advanced or both? And then when the programs rank people, do they submit a separate list for categorical and advance positions? I just find all this to be so confusing, I don't even know if my questions make sense.

 

[Idiopathic]

you apply for a program

they interview you for the program

you rank subsets of that program for your match list.

so, you will not get an interview for an advanced spot ONLY, unless thats all they have, obviously.

 

[chrisv]

what do you mean by "rank subsets of that program for your match list." If a program has Advanced and Categorical programs, then do you rank them separately? So if I want to go to U of J, then I can rank it as 1) Categorical anesth U of J 2) Advance anesth U of J 3) Categorical anest U of m ????
thanks!

you apply for a program

they interview you for the program

you rank subsets of that program for your match list.

so, you will not get an interview for an advanced spot ONLY, unless thats all they have, obviously.

 

[pgy13]

what do you mean by "rank subsets of that program for your match list." If a program has Advanced and Categorical programs, then do you rank them separately? So if I want to go to U of J, then I can rank it as 1) Categorical anesth U of J 2) Advance anesth U of J 3) Categorical anest U of m ????
thanks!

Yes.

The NRMP website has an explanation of this somewhere on line.

 

[Icefrog]

The statistics are on the NRMP website, I think in the Charting Outcomes document or something similar.

It's approximately 50-60% match to their top choice, ~75% match in their top two, ~85% match in their top 3. Those are ballpark figures... I'm too lazy to find the actual pdf with the numbers.

 

[Scotty_G]

When is a good time to go for a second look? (in Jan or Feb?) Is it smart to go for a second look at my top place or just email the pd telling them they are my number 1? I know it wont do much but I want to increase my chances as much as I can. Lastly should I send stationary to all of the program I have interviewed at? Thanks...