residency interviews impact on ranking

[throwaway1000000]

interviewing for IM, went to programs where I have had few really good interviews with PDs followed by average interviews with faculty members. Any people with experience in this process that know how this process works?
Are the faculty interviews (non PD, APD) mainly informational? Do they play a role in the rank list? Is it variable for each program?

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[Tenk]

Varies. Most programs will have some sort of ranking system and interviews will bump you up or down some (or off completely if you screw up) kind of like med school. One thing that’s different is that the match ranking list only has one login and that is usually held by the PD. This means that ultimately whoever logs in and submits the rank list can change it however the hell they want and no one will ever know but them.

To answer your question though: yes, those interviews matter and any faculty can have a significant impact on your application.

 

[throwaway1000000]

Varies. Most programs will have some sort of ranking system and interviews will bump you up or down some (or off completely if you screw up) kind of like med school. One thing that’s different is that the match ranking list only has one login and that is usually held by the PD. This means that ultimately whoever logs in and submits the rank list can change it however the hell they want and no one will ever know but them.

To answer your question though: yes, those interviews matter and any faculty can have a significant impact on your application.

Well had a faculty interviewer who I didn't click that well with. But during the PD interview he said I had an excellent application and seemed like he really wanted me there. Hopefully he has a bigger role but will wait and see.

 

[Dr.Bruh]

I know In EM the interview is huge. My buddy is an EM resident and they get 1/3 say in the match process at their program and their contribution is mostly based off of the interview dinner or audition if the person rotated there.

 

[aafisahar]

for IM, I didn't think interviewing mattered for ranking. I didn't match at programs where the PD "loved my application" and I clicked with every interviewer. With >500 applicants, everyone is going to fall within 1 standard deviation from each other. It's a crapshoot at that time and I think your initial application matters way more (eg school, rank, step scores, LORs, research).

 

[studentdocftw]

I imagine the smaller the class, the more important the interview. In IM, for most academic centers with classes of 40+, I find it hard to believe it makes a huge difference unless you bomb it or knock it out of the park. The interview plays a role in moving you up or down, but the biggest determinant of where you'll end up ranked is predetermined by whatever their algorithm is. My experience so far is that the interview is more or less a screening process that weeds out the socially awkward and/or people that have no clue about their application. Otherwise, it's been very conversational and more than half the time has been allotted for me to ask questions.

 

[Epilepsy365]

If you receive an II within the first week of IIs sent out or have access to 90% of interview dates, you know that you're in an elite spot with that program. Personally, my interviews in Neurology are so chill that I doubt they really make a difference. The bump up or bump down is negligible. The only ones that get hurt are socially inept people who comprise of 5-8% of total applicants.

Honestly, I think the interview is for you in order to determine your rank list, based on your preferences and vibe.

 

[GoSpursGo]

It really varies between each program.

Furthermore, trying to divine meaning from 30 minute interactions with strangers who may or may not have a significant voice in determining your rank order is a time-honored pastime for interviewees that is invariably fruitless. Just rank the programs in the order of your preference and accept that there's nothing you can do but wait for match day.

 

[NickNaylor]

Every program is going to do things differently so there's no way to generalize how the process works. Obviously an extraordinarily good or bad interaction with anyone at the program will have an impact, but how a particular program uses that information is impossible to say without speaking with the program's staff.

At my institution's program, for example, all interviews are given equal weight, irrespective of who they're done with - from the PD all the way down to the chief residents. We use a relatively rigid rubric to "score" interviews, and the interviews form a large, but ultimately single, part of an applicant's overall application score. Applicants are then ranked by score with very little fudging outside of that.

Some programs may use a relatively quantitative process like the above. Others may have their rank lists decided solely by the PD. Others may use a hybrid approach. There's no way to say for sure.