Ranking Question

[BrianUM]

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Hey everyone,

So I had a question that I was wondering about.

If you rank, say, 10 programs and your # 1 choice is an advanced program and you have only a small number of prelim interviews and your # 2 choice is a categorical program, will you automatically match into your # 1 even if you fail to match for a prelim when you could have matched into your # 2 without having to scramble for a prelim

just curious

if so, it would prob make sense to rank advanced programs lower if your short on prelim interviews

good luck to everyone!

 

[Adalimumab]

That is true!
You may end up matching to an advanced program without getting a prelim spot.
There is not such a function in matching algorithm like " if I get a prelim spot then this is my first choice, otherwise go to the next one".

 

[Paroxysm]

Since ranking and interviewing are linked, I'd like to ask your opinion about taking interviews.

So I'm getting interviews, which is awesome. But I don't want to fill up with less desirable ones and then come October, I'd have to send my clone via chartered private jets to go to more desirable interviews that I may be invited to later on.

But then at the same time, I don't want to piss off any of the residencies by holding out on their invites as I'm waiting for more desirable invites. And I most certainly don't want to be the idiot who didn't go to the ones I have now in the hopes of getting something better and then have the better ones never materialize.

How long (5 days?, 2-3 weeks?) is too long to wait before the agreeing/declining an invite?

And how many neuro interviews can one realistically do in the interview season?

 

[marqaha]

How do you feel about canceling scheduled interviews once you get invitations from "more desirable" programs? You can do that.

 

[Paroxysm]

How do you feel about canceling scheduled interviews once you get invitations from "more desirable" programs? You can do that.

I honestly wasn't aware that canceling was an option -- or a good option. One program director told me that since neurology is a small field, if you start canceling interviews, word spreads. I would hate for my interview offers to dry up because I earned a bad rep for canceling.

But, if anyone has done that in the past and all parties involved were okay with it, then that's useful information to know.

 

[GopherBrain]

You are perfectly welcome to cancel interviews. Just do it well in advance so they can fill the day with someone else. It's last-minute cancellations that irritate people.

 

[Paroxysm]

You are perfectly welcome to cancel interviews. Just do it well in advance so they can fill the day with someone else. It's last-minute cancellations that irritate people.

Thanks that's very helpful. What about programs that pay for your hotel? You're kind of locked into those, no?

One site I accepted interview for gave out my hotel & personalized interview itinerary within 2 hours of me accepting! Talk about efficiency.

 

[BrianUM]

i know man, this whole process is pretty surreal

 

[zoomba]

When you book a hotel you typically can cancel up until the same day without losing any money. I don't think the hotel makes it binding. I think sufficient time for the program to get another person in your place is the key issue as each program is trying to complete all of their interviews by using a certain number of interview dates or a certain time frame. I'm guessing 2 weeks heads up would be sufficient?

Thanks that's very helpful. What about programs that pay for your hotel? You're kind of locked into those, no?

One site I accepted interview for gave out my hotel & personalized interview itinerary within 2 hours of me accepting! Talk about efficiency.

 

[PhakeDoc]

Don't forget about weather cancellations. I got snowed out of one place not once, but twice, and unfortunately, could never make it up there.

All I have to say is...thank friggin' goodness I never have to go through this process ever again! 😱

 

[Paroxysm]

Don't forget about weather cancellations. I got snowed out of one place not once, but twice, and unfortunately, could never make it up there.

All I have to say is...thank friggin' goodness I never have to go through this process ever again! 😱

Lord have mercy. I think I've been suppressing thoughts about weather cancellations, but now I'm really starting to worry because I scheduled 3 interviews in 3 cities in 3 days. All the times work out really well and I got lucky with cheap airfare -- good timing due to flying from east to west. If it happened to you twice... I better pray. Hard.

What did your programs say when you called about the weather cancellation?

Did you call the coordinator? (Hopefully they give out emergency contact info for unexpected situations.)

BTW, which region / month was this?

 

[NeurologyICU]

Don't forget about weather cancellations. I got snowed out of one place not once, but twice, and unfortunately, could never make it up there.

All I have to say is...thank friggin' goodness I never have to go through this process ever again! 😱

That's a good point which I had not thought about. Thanks PhakeDoc, any other things we need to think about before scheduling interviews?

 

[caelum7]

i would try to schedule one of your safety programs as your first interview, it helps to work out the kinks in your interview responses and travel/preparation habits. For example, I showed up at my first interview in early october in my ill-fitting suit that had not been worn since med school interviews, and it made me visibly self-conscious enough that i donated it to goodwill as soon as i got home.

also i tried to respond quickly to interview offers, they fill up very fast. i put other safety programs towards the end of the season so i could cancel in advance if i was getting a lot of good interview offers.

i didn't get snowed out of any interviews, but most of those situations i heard of had happy endings where they were able to reschedule without any apparent hard feelings.

and if you interview in CO or UT, bring skis. some of those days were the highlight of my interview season last year, and spending a day on the slopes with residents and attendings gave me a good feel for the programs.

 

[Paroxysm]

Thanks for the tips.
Was the skiing included in the interview day or pre-interview activity?

i would try to schedule one of your safety programs as your first interview, it helps to work out the kinks in your interview responses and travel/preparation habits. For example, I showed up at my first interview in early october in my ill-fitting suit that had not been worn since med school interviews, and it made me visibly self-conscious enough that i donated it to goodwill as soon as i got home.

also i tried to respond quickly to interview offers, they fill up very fast. i put other safety programs towards the end of the season so i could cancel in advance if i was getting a lot of good interview offers.

i didn't get snowed out of any interviews, but most of those situations i heard of had happy endings where they were able to reschedule without any apparent hard feelings.

and if you interview in CO or UT, bring skis. some of those days were the highlight of my interview season last year, and spending a day on the slopes with residents and attendings gave me a good feel for the programs.