Should you update programs directly via email?

[NontradCA]

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Hi, thank you I’m advance. I wanted advice as to whether one should update individual programs via email when their application is complete (ie, all letters in, all steps in) or just let them figure it out via eras.

Asking for my aunt’s godson’s dog’s friend.

 

[futuredo32]

must be a smart dog🙂 I dunno.

 

[TexasPhysician]

They already know.

 

[psychattending]

It is clear to us. Don't email us. Those who do pop up on our radar screen and for just the wrong reason.

 

[yanks26dmb]

It is clear to us. Don't email us. Those who do pop up on our radar screen and for just the wrong reason.

How do you feel about letters of interest?

 

[Roxas]

How do you feel about letters of interest?

I'm still wondering this as well. There are several programs I've heard nothing from that I want to let know that I have ties to the area or genuine interest but I don't want to draw negative attention

 

[NontradCA]

It is clear to us. Don't email us. Those who do pop up on our radar screen and for just the wrong reason.

Whoops I had worded that wrong. I meant when you have updated additional items after programs received your initial eras app.

 

[yanks26dmb]

I'm still wondering this as well. There are several programs I've heard nothing from that I want to let know that I have ties to the area or genuine interest but I don't want to draw negative attention

I've gotten one interview from a LOI at a reach and radio silence from two others.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I'm still wondering this as well. There are several programs I've heard nothing from that I want to let know that I have ties to the area or genuine interest but I don't want to draw negative attention

If you have ties and/or genuine interest, it is quite OK to send a brief, polite, PERSONAL email saying so.

BUT if it's obvious that you're shotgunning these to every program on your list--e.g. *our program's name pasted in in a different font, forgetting to change the name of the city, pasting in big chunks of verbiage that we recognize from our own website, etc., then we will either just sigh and delete it, or bring it up at our next meeting and laugh at you, then delete it.

*Yes...seen it all.

 

[LABrondo]

If you have ties and/or genuine interest, it is quite OK to send a brief, polite, PERSONAL email saying so.

BUT if it's obvious that you're shotgunning these to every program on your list--e.g. *our program's name pasted in in a different font, forgetting to change the name of the city, pasting in big chunks of verbiage that we recognize from our own website, etc., then we will either just sigh and delete it, or bring it up at our next meeting and laugh at you, then delete it.

*Yes...seen it all.

When would you say to do so?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[psychattending]

Agree with the other attendings. If you have a genuine interest in a program, then sending them a personal email where it is clear what your interest is and why, could help you get an interview there (won't really help with ranking). Sending mass boilerplate emails to a program, will just get you dropped into the rejection pile. Also sending personal emails to lots of programs telling them why you love them all will also likely be problematic when you get to the interview and get you unranked (We don't like gamers/liars).

 

[24blue8]

Also sending personal emails to lots of programs telling them why you love them all will also likely be problematic when you get to the interview and get you unranked (We don't like gamers/liars).

How do you guys know that they are sending emails to lots of programs?

 

[psychattending]

When you show up to the interview with little knowledge about what we do and show little interest in our program, then I know your claims of being highly interested in me was all hot air. You get down graded not because you show no interest in me but because you were lying/gaming the system.

Th other way is if the email is just a boiler plate type of email.

 

[yanks26dmb]

When you show up to the interview with little knowledge about what we do and show little interest in our program, then I know your claims of being highly interested in me was all hot air. You get down graded not because you show no interest in me but because you were lying/gaming the system.

Don't most people read up on a program and know what they offer prior to the interview anyways? What kind of person would send a letter of interest then fail to learn about the program before the interview? 😵

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Don't most people read up on a program and know what they offer prior to the interview anyways? What kind of person would send a letter of interest then fail to learn about the program before the interview? 😵

1) a person who thinks they're "better" than that particular program.
2) a person who is so anxious that they take any interview, regardless of cost or actual prospects.
3) a person who is likely also sloppy and careless in their approach to education, and god forbid, patient care.

 

[caxoo]

When you show up to the interview with little knowledge about what we do and show little interest in our program, then I know your claims of being highly interested in me was all hot air. You get down graded not because you show no interest in me but because you were lying/gaming the system.

Th other way is if the email is just a boiler plate type of email.

I think yall underestimate the neuroticism of most med students, who'd be willing to shotgun many thoughtful, personally written emails to scores of schools, and do diligent research for each one, just to increase their chances. It's built in their DNA, they can't help it or know why they do it half the time