Ranking very few programs

[newenglandgal07]

Do any of you know people who ranked very few programs (because they would rather reapply than end up at a program they didn't want) and actually not match?
I am only ranking 5 maybe 4 programs in IM (3 of them very competitive, top tier programs) and I just wonder what people end up doing if they don't match? I don't know if I would have the energy or drive to do this all over again!

 

[dynx]

Do any of you know people who ranked very few programs (because they would rather reapply than end up at a program they didn't want) and actually not match?
I am only ranking 5 maybe 4 programs in IM (3 of them very competitive, top tier programs) and I just wonder what people end up doing if they don't match? I don't know if I would have the energy or drive to do this all over again!

Then rank more programs. I think that the standard advice is to rank any program that you would rather be at than scramble. You sound like you really don't want to scramble, which seems wise. So why not rank more?

 

[EaglesPA]

Do any of you know people who ranked very few programs (because they would rather reapply than end up at a program they didn't want) and actually not match?
I am only ranking 5 maybe 4 programs in IM (3 of them very competitive, top tier programs) and I just wonder what people end up doing if they don't match? I don't know if I would have the energy or drive to do this all over again!

If 3 of the 4 programs you would be ranking are very competitive, top tier programs, then I will bet that most of the programs you interviewed at (and are thinking about not ranking) will be "better" than any of the programs that will have open Categorical positions during the Scramble. You have to ask yourself why you are thinking about not ranking the programs - 1. did you hate it there, 2. is it in a city you definitely don't want to be there etc.?
3. or is it just that you don't like them as much as your top 4/5. If your reason is more like #3, I would rank them to be on the safe side.
In the end you'll likely match within your top 4, but you never know.....
I'm ranking all 10 programs I interviewed at although I'm pretty sure I'll match within my top 3.

 

[mig26x]

Im ranking all 7 programs that I interviewed at, I think those 7 are better than the 90% of the program available at the scramble!!!

 

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Do any of you know people who ranked very few programs (because they would rather reapply than end up at a program they didn't want) and actually not match?
I am only ranking 5 maybe 4 programs in IM (3 of them very competitive, top tier programs) and I just wonder what people end up doing if they don't match? I don't know if I would have the energy or drive to do this all over again!

Ross Univ...recommends ranking up to 15 programs to its students to maximize matching.

US grads have nothing to worry about.

 

[turkleton]

Ross Univ...recommends ranking up to 15 programs to its students to maximize matching.

US grads have nothing to worry about.

What the hell kind of advice is that? It barely even makes any sense.

As the another thread showed, there is about a 80-87% chance of matching in one of your top 3 choices in medicine so there is obviously a risk of you not matching if you only rank 3. Do what the others said- rank more unless you really want to scramble or wait another year.

 

[marshmallows]

Ross Univ...recommends ranking up to 15 programs to its students to maximize matching.

US grads have nothing to worry about.

that makes no sense.. losts of people dont even interview at that many programs.. just rank more than 3 if you ahve them or just rank the ones you would want to be at rather than scramble

 

[EaglesPA]

that makes no sense.. losts of people dont even interview at that many programs.. just rank more than 3 if you ahve them or just rank the ones you would want to be at rather than scramble

Well, Ross University is one of the Carribean med schools and IMGs have to interview at many more programs since the decks are stacked against them in the process.

 

[werewethere]

Well, Ross University is one of the Carribean med schools and IMGs have to interview at many more programs since the decks are stacked against them in the process.

However, as indicated in another post, once you get past the interview screening process, IMG/FMG candidates have similar top 3 match rates overall to AMGs.

 

[gardilimo]

if you do not match (Lets say you only rank 3 programs), are you committed to scramble or can you just say screw it?

 

[jennie 21]

The question you need to ask yourself is, would you rather end up at a program that is not in your top 4-5 or would you rather scramble/go thru the whole process again next year, in the worst-case scenario that you don't match in your top 4-5 (which you most likely will).

 

[Dr. ZZ]

interview offers:
IM- 13
FP- 8

Interviews attended:
IM-10; 5 university programs / 5 community programs
FP- 0

Ranking:
IM-10
FP- 0

So, i think you should rank every place you interviewed at...Im sure you wont get a better position thru the scramble...very rarely do you get good spots thru the scramble....

 

[deleted109597]

if you do not match (Lets say you only rank 3 programs), are you committed to scramble or can you just say screw it?

Nobody is holding a gun to your head. You can go work at Burger King if you want.
You likely won't get a residency spot if you don't scramble though. There are usually very few spots after the scramble, and it will be another year before you can match. Sometimes PGY-1 spots open up though.