Submit Tues v. Thurs-Fri Question - What would u do?

[hsans23]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Stupid question.

I am 99% sure based on comments from my clerkship director that I will finish the year the top student in Internal Medicine clerkship - IM is what I am applying. There is an award which is awarded to the student who finishes top in each clerkship and this will be officially told to me on Thurs-Fri of this week. I am ready to submit tomorrow but wonder how important/helpful listing "highest score in internal medicine clerkship" on my IM application will be. What would u do - submit without that award listed or wait a few days later and submit. I tend to feel like a few days makes little-no difference but also wonder how big of a deal said award is. Thanks to all for the help!!!

 

[MrBurns10]

I would absolutely wait until the end of the week. I think the chances of the award having a positive impact are far, far greater than the chances of submitting 3 days later making a negative difference. I hope you get it!

 

[tfom08]

Stupid question.

I am 99% sure based on comments from my clerkship director that I will finish the year the top student in Internal Medicine clerkship - IM is what I am applying. There is an award which is awarded to the student who finishes top in each clerkship and this will be officially told to me on Thurs-Fri of this week. I am ready to submit tomorrow but wonder how important/helpful listing "highest score in internal medicine clerkship" on my IM application will be. What would u do - submit without that award listed or wait a few days later and submit. I tend to feel like a few days makes little-no difference but also wonder how big of a deal said award is. Thanks to all for the help!!!

You might not be comfortable doing this, but if you really think it's 99% because of comments the CD made and you are worried about the 2-3 extra days, why not mention the situation to the CD. Just say that you were really hoping to apply ASAP but would like to have that on your CV if you indeed will be winning the award and just get clarification so you can list it even before it is officially presented to you.

I don't see any downside except possibly a) makes you look a little neurotic and b) would be very awkward if you aren't getting the award. Since you are basically positive you are getting it, you probably won't be in for an awkward moment and who cares if he thinks you are neurotic, everyone is a little neurotic at this stage of applications.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are being silly.

Applying on Sept 1 vs Sept 15 vs Oct 1 vs Oct 15th is really not going to matter for AMG's in the slightest, and not for many IMG's either. You are worried about nothing. Wait for the award, there is NO risk.

People seem focused on applying Sept 1 like I'm going to stop accepting / looking at apps after that. This is crazy. Many programs won't even bother downloading apps for a few weeks. Very comeptitive programs may wait until MSPE's are released on Nov 1st.

Have a beer. relax. Wait for the award.

 

[ResidentMD]

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are being silly.

Applying on Sept 1 vs Sept 15 vs Oct 1 vs Oct 15th is really not going to matter for AMG's in the slightest, and not for many IMG's either. You are worried about nothing. Wait for the award, there is NO risk.

People seem focused on applying Sept 1 like I'm going to stop accepting / looking at apps after that. This is crazy. Many programs won't even bother downloading apps for a few weeks. Very comeptitive programs may wait until MSPE's are released on Nov 1st.

Have a beer. relax. Wait for the award.

And then call us for the champagne 😉...congrats, and all the best.

 

[Winged Scapula]

don't take this the wrong way, but you are being silly.

Applying on sept 1 vs sept 15 vs oct 1 vs oct 15th is really not going to matter for amg's in the slightest, and not for many img's either. You are worried about nothing. Wait for the award, there is no risk.

People seem focused on applying sept 1 like i'm going to stop accepting / looking at apps after that. This is crazy. Many programs won't even bother downloading apps for a few weeks. Very comeptitive programs may wait until mspe's are released on nov 1st.

Have a beer. Relax. Wait for the award.

qft.

This should be stickied so it can be referred to every year.

 

[virilep]

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are being silly.

Applying on Sept 1 vs Sept 15 vs Oct 1 vs Oct 15th is really not going to matter for AMG's in the slightest, and not for many IMG's either. You are worried about nothing. Wait for the award, there is NO risk.

People seem focused on applying Sept 1 like I'm going to stop accepting / looking at apps after that. This is crazy. Many programs won't even bother downloading apps for a few weeks. Very comeptitive programs may wait until MSPE's are released on Nov 1st.

Have a beer. relax. Wait for the award.

This is where I want a "like" button on SDN.

 

[turquoiseblue]

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are being silly.

Applying on Sept 1 vs Sept 15 vs Oct 1 vs Oct 15th is really not going to matter for AMG's in the slightest, and not for many IMG's either. You are worried about nothing. Wait for the award, there is NO risk.

People seem focused on applying Sept 1 like I'm going to stop accepting / looking at apps after that. This is crazy. Many programs won't even bother downloading apps for a few weeks. Very comeptitive programs may wait until MSPE's are released on Nov 1st.

Have a beer. relax. Wait for the award.

Not to differ from your point, as you are a program director...A program director with a capital "A", meaning just one of you, and there may be a few more of you around, but I've gotten emails in the past from programs stating that they have already filled their interview slots, even before the deadline date. I had so many emails like that also stating that they've had overwhelming numbers of applications and that they couldn't get to mine before theirs that I am convinced that they take people on a first come first served basis-- Unless that is some excuse they tell everyone that they don't want to interview. I've even tried to submit on Sept 5 or so, and I get that response. What do you think of that? I just want to see what they say when I submit Sept 1. Now if they say that again--something must be wrong.

 

[mcl]

Not to differ from your point, as you are a program director...A program director with a capital "A", meaning just one of you, and there may be a few more of you around, but I've gotten emails in the past from programs stating that they have already filled their interview slots, even before the deadline date. I had so many emails like that also stating that they've had overwhelming numbers of applications and that they couldn't get to mine before theirs that I am convinced that they take people on a first come first served basis-- Unless that is some excuse they tell everyone that they don't want to interview. I've even tried to submit on Sept 5 or so, and I get that response. What do you think of that? I just want to see what they say when I submit Sept 1. Now if they say that again--something must be wrong.

It's generally what programs tell everybody. It's nicer than saying "you weren't as competitive as 75 other applicants for our program that we did invite to interview."

 

[turquoiseblue]

It's generally what programs tell everybody. It's nicer than saying "you weren't as competitive as 75 other applicants for our program that we did invite to interview."

I appreciate them wanting to be nice; and of course it is the thought that counts; however, I would much rather them say the real truth, because then it looks like obvious fluff that makes me mad anyways for it being fluff to begin with. It makes it look like you didn't apply in time and they shouldn't give that impression if that wasn't the case. False impressions skew people's thinking and they then don't know what to improve upon if they're not told the direct reasons. e.g look at me going to the ends of the earth to be on time this time when i didn't have to. It's almost like falsification of facts which is a no no in medicine anyways, so they need to be factual about it. If it's a fact, im not going to be offended. "you didn't meet our criteria" is okay with me. even 'you weren't competitive enough' is ok too--i'd prefer exactly why i didn't get in so i can do better next time. I don't think anyone would cry over it. If it is condescention, that is another story.

 

[mcl]

I appreciate them wanting to be nice; and of course it is the thought that counts; however, I would much rather them say the real truth, because then it looks like obvious fluff that makes me mad anyways for it being fluff to begin with. It makes it look like you didn't apply in time and they shouldn't give that impression if that wasn't the case. False impressions skew people's thinking and they then don't know what to improve upon if they're not told the direct reasons. e.g look at me going to the ends of the earth to be on time this time when i didn't have to. It's almost like falsification of facts which is a no no in medicine anyways, so they need to be factual about it. If it's a fact, im not going to be offended. "you didn't meet our criteria" is okay with me. even 'you weren't competitive enough' is ok too--i'd prefer exactly why i didn't get in so i can do better next time. I don't think anyone would cry over it. If it is condescention, that is another story.

Believe me, I understand your frustration and I congratulate you on your maturity in graciously accepting that you might not be offered an interview if a program felt you weren't as competitive as other applicants. In reality, too few people share that perpective. I've found that being too direct and specific in regret notifications only opens up a can of worms for programs as applicants call or email to argue their case as to why they believe they should have been offered an interview. There are already several "won't you please reconsider" emails--there's no way programs could handle the volume of "tell me exactly why I wasn't seen as being as competitive as 75 other people" emails and responses. Reviewing applications is a complex, subjective process. In the end, hard decisions are made and some very worthy applicants don't receive an invitation--and programs miss out on meeting applicants who would have made terrific residents.

No one has "falsified information" since what they say in the regret notice is true: there are far more applicants who meet the minimum criteria than there are spaces to interview, and often by the time the program reaches the decision not to interview you, their interview slots are full. This first-come first-served idea is a construct reached by trying to readread too much between the lines. I have never seen any program indicate that there's a race to see who can apply first with the prize being a guaranteed interview.

The benefit of having applied this early is that you are done. The CAF isn't hanging over your head anymore, and you can be satisfied that you have accomplished this goal. When you start getting interview invitations to the programs you're most interested in you'll be able to shrug off any regret emails as inconsequential.