Stressing about the MATCH!!

[Pegasus]

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Is anyone else feeling this?

I love 6 of my 15 programs. I have even called and emailed a few of them...and they all respond with how great of an applicant I am, but then say how there are 'no promises in the match'. What does that mean?

I REALLY want to match into one of these, and would be willing to do a second visit this late in the game...should I? Does everyone get this response? I did get a very positive response from a program that is not on the top of my list, which makes me feel that if I was at the top of one of the other programs, I would know.......

 

[gimmedog]

I think it means just that. Rank them in the order you liked them. If you think you need to express more interest, and have the time/funds/interest go visit. The chances are great that we'll match in our top 3, so having 6 that you love is even better. You can't go wrong now.

I can;t wait to find out. I don't think I'll be able to make it another 6 weeks. Ugh! I finally finished the interviews, but my list is still wide open. Got some thinking to do...

 

[anonymousEM]

I was shocked on match day after my responses to emails to my top three had been similar to what you wrote above. I think "You'll be a good resident wherever you end up" was along the lines of what I got and I was sure that I wouldn't match there...but surprise surprise for me on match day. Some PDs don't blow a lot of smoke and some tell everyone that they're their favorite or will be ranked very highly. Go with your gut and where you feel you'll fit in. The match favors you and what you want, so don't try to guess where programs are ranking you. Then enjoy these next several months.

 

[*Wing of Zock*]

I feel your pain. . .It seems like the closer feb 25th gets the more uncertain I am about ranking. Everybody says to rank what your hearts desire is but last week I talked to a PD who told me to "go with the program that's most interested in me"😕

I've read waaaay to much into that. . .

Oh well. . .we'll know soon enough. Glad to know I'm not the only one with sleepless nights.

 

[rustybruce]

It's OK to express a higher level of interest in a program in the hopes that they would rank you higher.

In contrast, feedback from PD's makes you feel better, but that would never be a reason to rank a place higher. Go with where you want to go, and if they didn't rank you high enough then you'll get the other place anyway.

We need to get over the fear of dropping to our "number 5" choice. It's still the same hospital whether you rank it number 1 or 5. Why take away your chance of going where YOU want to go.