I'm applying to psychiatry residency this cycle, and should be a very competitive applicant.
I am worried that I will only get interviews to my signals, and have heard mixed advice about how to allocate them. I feel like basically no program is a reach for me with my stats, but it feels insane to only signal brand name academic programs. However, I feel like more accessible/target programs won't consider interviewing me unless I signal. This leaves me with 10 hyper-specific interviews (max), which is statistically not enough ranks to match.
Which brings me to a workaround I thought of: signal programs that offer CAP and categorical tracks, that way 1 signal can net 2 interviews/ranks. I have a genuine interest in CAP, and it has always been on the table for me, I just wasn't sold on applying to it now versus later after more experience (let's say I decide I don't need a fellowship at all). I have a solid CAP application in itself; most of my research and extracurriculars are CAP. Anyone reading my application would sense a strong CAP flavor to begin with.
I am worried that this strategy will net me 2 interviews at my dream program (let's say, hypothetically VCU), but when I actually interview, I will come off as wishy washy and insincere if I tell them (separately) how much I want to do CAP vs categorical, and I will fall down both rank lists.
How have you felt about applicants who applied to distinct tracks at the same program? Is there a way to handle this well (e.g. emphasize I want a spot at that program and would do anything to be there)?
I am worried that I will only get interviews to my signals, and have heard mixed advice about how to allocate them. I feel like basically no program is a reach for me with my stats, but it feels insane to only signal brand name academic programs. However, I feel like more accessible/target programs won't consider interviewing me unless I signal. This leaves me with 10 hyper-specific interviews (max), which is statistically not enough ranks to match.
Which brings me to a workaround I thought of: signal programs that offer CAP and categorical tracks, that way 1 signal can net 2 interviews/ranks. I have a genuine interest in CAP, and it has always been on the table for me, I just wasn't sold on applying to it now versus later after more experience (let's say I decide I don't need a fellowship at all). I have a solid CAP application in itself; most of my research and extracurriculars are CAP. Anyone reading my application would sense a strong CAP flavor to begin with.
I am worried that this strategy will net me 2 interviews at my dream program (let's say, hypothetically VCU), but when I actually interview, I will come off as wishy washy and insincere if I tell them (separately) how much I want to do CAP vs categorical, and I will fall down both rank lists.
How have you felt about applicants who applied to distinct tracks at the same program? Is there a way to handle this well (e.g. emphasize I want a spot at that program and would do anything to be there)?
