Sending out thank you email?

[5twilight5]

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Is it a match violation sending an email to a program saying that they are your number one choice?

Do you think that is frowned upon? I know there were a couple of interviews where the interviewers said they couldnt let you know if they liked you or not and will not be sending any love notes because of the NMRP...does that apply to applicants sending out emails to their top programs?!

THANKS😕

 

[pgy13]

It's not a match violation unless the program promises you something in return for telling them they're you're number one, i.e. a guaranteed match. But don't necessarily expect that telling them will change you're prospects.

 

[5twilight5]

thanks so much...not expecting them to move me up or down on the rank list but thought that they should know🙂

 

[inmyslumber]

I enjoyed receiving emails from the applicants I interviewed. Try to do it in a timely manner so that the interviewer still remembers you!

No need to tell the program you are their #1 choice, it is hard to believe that you are not saying that to every program.

 

[DScully]

No need to tell the program you are their #1 choice, it is hard to believe that you are not saying that to every program.

Really...? 😕

I was told that such letters won't make a big difference, which I am fully aware...However, I do intend to send a letter to my #1 choice and one letter only. Not that I expect anything in return, but just thought that they should know.

True, no one knows if any applicant sends out more than one letter saying that they are all their #1 choice, but if I sort of assume that if I get such letter, I'd give the person the benefit of doubt and believe that's the only letter he/she sends out. Guess I am too naive...?

 

[Gern Blansten]

The only people who lie more than the students are the program directors🙂

 

[DScully]

The only people who lie more than the students are the program directors🙂

hm...interesting...😉

not sure if this is the right analogy, but if I meet a girl who I think shall be my wife, I am going to purpose. How she responds is her business. Whether she thinks I am a player is not something I have control over.

The fact that she does not listen to my proposal shouldn't have any effect on how truthful I am to myself and my feelings. If she somehow feels I am not sincere, then it is her loss.

 

[Camel]

No one is going to believe you, anyway, if you say #1 choice. Sorry.

I agree that this is likely true, but that fact bothers me. I only told my number 1 that they were number 1. I said something else to the others.

I was under the impression that it is of some benefit to a program to have their class made up of people that ranked the program number 1. On the other hand, I am not completely sure about any way to prove to a program that you ranked them that way (or for them to find out, unless you say you ranked them 1, they actually rank you 1, and you don't match there).

I almost want to print out my certified ROL and send it, but that can always be recertified so it doesn't mean much 🙂

 

[Camel]

Too many applicants tell more than one school that they are their number one choice. The applicant has nothing to lose by doing this.

Maybe the PDs have a forum somewhere that they use to compare notes.

PD1: "Hey, that DreamMachine was quite the pr0nstar, eh? Said he wants to come here!"

PD2: "Well he hasn't told us, so he must have some integrity... now we want him more!"

PD1: "Well forget you, he likes us!"

Etc. etc...

 

[Gern Blansten]

The only people who lie more than the students are the program directors🙂

I say this partly tongue in cheek. Most are honest, but there are enough on both sides that aren't so that each side would be naive to count on honesty in all cases.

 

[5twilight5]

I say this partly tongue in cheek. Most are honest, but there are enough on both sides that aren't so that each side would be naive to count on honesty in all cases.

Thanks for the advice... I did send an email to the PD of my number 1 and only them...I know it won't make a difference, more to ease my mind that I've done everything I can...ball is in their court now

 

[Camel]

I'm sure you'll be happy on match day.

Thanks 🙂 I hope I have the privilege of working with you someday!

Best of luck to the applicants. 7 weeks to go! ICU AI will keep me tired and too busy to think about it, thankfully.

 

[inmyslumber]

True, no one knows if any applicant sends out more than one letter saying that they are all their #1 choice, but if I sort of assume that if I get such letter, I'd give the person the benefit of doubt and believe that's the only letter he/she sends out. Guess I am too naive...?

DScully,

You seem like a genuine person, as far as I can tell from the post. I hope you do get your #1 choice, regardless of whether you told them they were #1 or not!

P.S. I had a similar "naive" mindset when I was a 4th year med student. It isn't a bad thing at all.

 

[DScully]

DScully,

You seem like a genuine person, as far as I can tell from the post. I hope you do get your #1 choice, regardless of whether you told them they were #1 or not!

P.S. I had a similar "naive" mindset when I was a 4th year med student. It isn't a bad thing at all.

Thank you for the comment! I do hope that I will get my #1 choice! 🙂

I guess I'd rather be honest and true to my own feelings in this process (or at least as honest as I can possibly be to myself). The fact that programs don't believe me is not something I have any control over. People may lie but it doesn't give me the right to lie.

What if I match to my crappy option? Well, life is not fair. Who do I think I am to ask for fairness? However, this shall not prevent me from being (or at least trying to be) fair to others.

 

[Code Brown]

My 2 cents worth...

Cent 1 - On the interview trail, there are some people who stand out. These people don't need to send that email telling their #1 they want to be there, as they'll be ranked near the top. That said, these standouts probably only make up 25% (if that) of the pool. The remainder are basically tossed into a pool and just arranged without too much thought, apart from some small trivial detail. If you fall here, this is where it may help you. Programs usually go 5-10 deep per spot, so being bumped from 40 to 35 may make the difference at a place with 6 or 8 residents per year. And yes, there is something to be said about picking people who want to be there as their number one choice, as opposed to people who are indifferent or have the place be their 3 or 4 or 10 or whatever.

Cent 2 - PD's do talk to each other, especially if the programs are in the same city/state/proximity. When I was on the interview trail, at least half the PD's/Chairs of the places I interviewed at knew my home program PD and Chair and were good friends (played golf, worked together on projects, vacationed together, hung out at conferences, etc). Does this influence the match heavily? Not sure. Can it? Probably. Worst case, you can screw it up for the students who will be applying next year. Someone from the class before us told 3 surg programs they were the #1. He went to his #1. The PD from one of the #1's he didn't match at called our Dean and angrily informed him that if this happens to him again, he won't interview our students. Plus, who knows where you'll be looking for a job or fellowship at down the road.

That said, tell your #1 they're your #1, and tell the rest that you like their program and that you'll rank them highly, or that they're at the top of your list (this does not mean #1).

Good luck in a few weeks!!!

 

[peppy]

Someone from the class before us told 3 surg programs they were the #1. He went to his #1. The PD from one of the #1's he didn't match at called our Dean and angrily informed him that if this happens to him again, he won't interview our students.

Another way to look at that might be, do you really want to work for a PD who takes things so personally? Considering that the dean and the future applicants have no control over how this year's applicants act, it seems very petty to blame them if a current applicant acts this way. Having an understanding, friendly PD is worth gold, and I'd be wary of working for someone who gets that angry over the games that get played during match time.

My personal preference would be if the interviews stood on their own and neither side did post-interview correspondance. But since programs are just as guilty of misleading applicants into thinking they are sure to match, PDs should not be surprised or take it personally when applicants play games too.

(Imagine if med students boycotted all the programs where the program director told a prior applicant they'd be "ranked highly" but then the applicant didn't match there!)