ranking 2 specialties

[neutroleukopenic]

greetings all. I have a question regarding ranking 2 specialties. the NRMP recommends ranking specialties as contiguous ranks. my question: does ranking specialties interspread decrease the odds of matching in either specialty? if not what exactly is the harm? for ex. ranking in this fashion

1) Specialty A
2) Specialty B
3) Specialty B
4) Specialty A
5) Specialty B
6) Specialty B
7) Specialty B
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[Wolf02]

You increase the odds in matching at any program the higher up it is on you ROL. If you like one specialty more than the other, rank all of that specialty first. If you like them both equally, do the above.

 

[gutonc]

The NRMP recommendations assume that Specialty A is your preferred specialty and B is your backup. So the risk/harm of ranking the way you suggest is that you will match to program B2 when in reality you would rather match at A1000 than B2.

If you really have no preference between specialties then your plan works just fine. But most people don't think that way.

 

[neutroleukopenic]

thank you!