Thank You from a PD

[pman95]

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Has anybody received either an email, letter, phone call, etc... from a PD of a residency program that you have interviewed at? I am just wondering if only certain programs do this, and those that do...does everyone get one or just the applicants they feel will make a good match there? Thanks in advance for the response. 😀

 

[FoughtFyr]

Originally posted by pman95
Has anybody received either an email, letter, phone call, etc... from a PD of a residency program that you have interviewed at? I am just wondering if only certain programs do this, and those that do...does everyone get one or just the applicants they feel will make a good match there? Thanks in advance for the response. 😀

I've gotten three "PD letters" (after eight interviews), and I have no idea what any of them mean!

Interestingly, Indiana U. made a point to tell the applicants that we would not hear from them at all after the interview, but that we were free to contact them. They stated a feeling that communication from PDs can "exert undue influence" on an applicant's rank order. They "cited" research to this effect - I am unsure if this was peer reviewed or merely their "internal" work...

- H

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I really appreciated PDs that did this. Three of the ones I interviewed with said they wouldn't contact me and I shouldn't feel obligated to send thank you notes etc to them. I ended up ranking them 1,2, and 4.

 

[aliraja]

I just got home from break and found a couple of letters from PDs at programs I interviewed with last month too so you're not alone. That being said, I don't have a clue what they mean either.

They're both good programs that I'd love to go to so I'm more than happy to have gotten them but I guess conventional wisdom still applies - assume that they mean nothing and secretly hope that they mean everything.

Anyone that went through this last year have any insight?

 

[DrQuinn]

So you guys aren't going to give out the programs that sent ya stuff?!?!?? Aw, no fun!

I interviewed at 10 or so programs, (ranked 9), and got... 4-6 post interview contacts (one phone call), mostly letters. Some had handwriting on it from the PD, some generic thank you letters (confirmed here on SDN), and some sent to only people they liked (confirmed here on SDN).

Don't let htem influence your ROL... your ROL is not of where you think you are wanted but where you want to go!!!!!!!!!!!

Q, DO

 

[NinerNiner999]

How many people DON'T get letters from PD's? So far, I'm 0 for 9 and feeling a little inadequate. Does this mean I don't rank highly at some of them, or should I not read too much into it?

 

[DrQuinn]

Dont' read much into it. I think I got one letter AFTER the ROL was due (odd). Since I am a DO, I was allowed to sign outside the match. That may explain why I got more feedback than others (not sayign I got a lot).

Also, you may just not be interviewing at places that give post-interview feedback. I know many of the midwestern places do.

Q, dO

 

[southerndoc]

On a reverse note, how many thank you letters do you send to programs? Do you send them to every person with whom you interview, or just the program director?

 

[tabasco]

Hey Niner,

I only got one letter after 10 interviews - I was quite surprised to get that one, since I didn't think I did that great on that particular interview. It's true, however, that I wrote no thank you letters to any program. None.

So I didn't get anything from any of the other ones, even though some of them said they liked me a lot - for whatever that's worth.

I very much believe that it has much more to do with the program politics than it has to do with your application.

 

[DrQuinn]

Originally posted by Geek Medic
On a reverse note, how many thank you letters do you send to programs? Do you send them to every person with whom you interview, or just the program director?

At the beginning of my interview season I began to write them to all that interviewed (I also thanked the residency coordinator via email because they are often overworked and underappreciated... especially our RC!). After a few interviews that got REALLY old.

So instead i emailed the PD and sometimes the asst. PD.

I ended up matching at a Program where I got to speak with the PD 1 on 1 with a second look... But our program was odd as we didn't meet the NRMP deadlines for ERAS so everything was kinda screwy...

Q, DO

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't trust anyone. It doesn't matter if they send you a card, an email, a letter or a phone call (those are very awkward by the way.) It all means nothing! Its a big game. The PDs treat it that way and you should too. Tell everyone you love them. Let them all tell you they love you, then rank in the order you want to go to them. That's it. That's how you win. I think I sent out thank you cards to everyone who interviewed me unless they told me not to. I don't think it mattered much. The RC email is always a good idea though.

 

[DrQuinn]

I think its especially important to atleast appreciate the RC. I specifically ask my RC to see if anyone has been rude to her over the phone or via email... if you're going to be rude to your possible future RC, it may show lack of respect for your colleagues as well.

Desp- What rotation are you on where you can surf SDN at noon? I'm on anesthesia (i.e. cake) so that explains me...

Q, DO

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Ortho baby.....its just floor scut all day, then the fun starts when people get off work and head out on their motorcycles!

 

[DrQuinn]

Originally posted by Desperado
Ortho baby.....its just floor scut all day, then the fun starts when people get off work and head out on their motorcycles!

Ah, nice. We have three cake rotations our intern year... OB, Optho/Anesthesia, and Ortho... we call it our O-Town. I got O-town three months in a row... mmm nice.

Q, DO

 

[ckent]

Here is a slide that I have from an NRMP Presentation:

"Dear Applicant:

We have thoroughly enjoyed your visit with us and it is clear that you will excel wherever you choose to go.

You represent the kind of candidate that has traditionally done well in our program and we hope to have the opportunity to work with you in the coming year.

Yours sincerely,
Program Director
* Did the applicant who received this letter match to this program?
* No - and this is taken from a real letter.
* Be wary of such comments or letters. They are not binding. Do not put too much weight on them when preparing your rank order list."

 

[kungfufishing]

I do agree with the above, of course, but I would also point out that if the PD takes the time to write you a nice email or letter, he at least knows which one you are and hasnt put you on the "hell no!" list. having said that Ill be ranking everybody.