To rank or not to rank, that is the question

[sleepwithme]

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i am facing a point which every resident to be must face.. should i rank this place?
how many places are you ranking?
i am wondering if ranking 5-6 is not enough?
any comments appreciated

 

[keysersoze]

This is a more competitive year than last, for what it's worth.

Bottom line, if you want to optimize your chances of matching, is that you should rank as many places as you possibly can...*IF* you can honestly say that you be happy to go to each place on your list.

Do not rank a place that you would be miserable going to. There's always a chance you could wind up there.

 

[rugtrousers]

The question for me is, "Would I rather go to x or scramble?" It seems to me that there are not going to be that many spots in the scramble, and those spots aren't going to be in places I want to be. I think I'm going to end up ranking all the places I interviewed (n=9), because I would rather go to my 9th choice than not match.

 

[Crash cart]

Don't rank if you don't want to go there. It's that simple. check out the NRMP's website. they go through this and give examples. They say, among other things, that the number 1 reason a candidate does not match is because they didn't rank enough places. That being said, if you don't want to go somewhere, don't rank it. Take your chances in the scramble if you don't match over going somewhere you are bitter about from before you even get there.

 

[K8E]

If you go to the NRMP website, they have data on the impact that your rank list length has on match success. For US seniors matching last year in all specialties, the average length of ROL for those who matched was 8.25, while the average length of ROL for those who went unmatched was 5.29. Now, factor in that anesthesiology is much more competitive than most specialties, and then remember that applications nationwide in anesthesia are up substantially from last year. Then I think the answer to your question is a clear no, unless of course a couple of your 5-6 programs are safety schools for which you are gloriously overqualified.

 

[sleepwithme]

If you go to the NRMP website, they have data on the impact that your rank list length has on match success. For US seniors matching last year in all specialties, the average length of ROL for those who matched was 8.25, while the average length of ROL for those who went unmatched was 5.29. Now, factor in that anesthesiology is much more competitive than most specialties, and then remember that applications nationwide in anesthesia are up substantially from last year. Then I think the answer to your question is a clear no, unless of course a couple of your 5-6 programs are safety schools for which you are gloriously overqualified.

I really appreciate all of the input.
in the end, i will probably rank 2 more safety nets. god i would hate to live in the midwest, but at least i wont scramble!?

 

[pillowhead]

Don't rank if you don't want to go there. It's that simple. check out the NRMP's website. they go through this and give examples. They say, among other things, that the number 1 reason a candidate does not match is because they didn't rank enough places. That being said, if you don't want to go somewhere, don't rank it. Take your chances in the scramble if you don't match over going somewhere you are bitter about from before you even get there.

What if you only want to go to one program though? (for family reasons--any other program would mean living apart from spouse for at least two years) Even if you're a strong candidate, ranking only one program seems scary. Is it possible that if I only ranked one program, I would end up at that program, but if O ranked three programs, I could end up at program 3 because they want me more? But if I had just put the one, I'd would have ended up at that instead? Does that make any sense? Thanks--dreading this whole process next year.

 

[brisk80]

What if you only want to go to one program though? (for family reasons--any other program would mean living apart from spouse for at least two years) Even if you're a strong candidate, ranking only one program seems scary. Is it possible that if I only ranked one program, I would end up at that program, but if O ranked three programs, I could end up at program 3 because they want me more? But if I had just put the one, I'd would have ended up at that instead? Does that make any sense? Thanks--dreading this whole process next year.

The match process works with the applicant in mind. The computer will continue to place you in your highest ranking until all the slots are filled for that particular program and then it goes on to your next ranking. Program #1 could have you ranked 40th and program #2 could have you ranked 1st, but if program #1 has to go to its 40th choice to fill then you would still get your first ranked program.

 

[rugtrousers]

Is it possible that if I only ranked one program, I would end up at that program, but if I ranked three programs, I could end up at program 3 because they want me more?

No. This is not possible. No, no, no. (Read above post.) Rank all the programs you could stand going to. Rank them in the order YOU want them. Don't try to outwit/outsmart/outlast (or whatever that Survivor thing is) the algorithm.

Embrace the algorithm.

 

[pillowhead]

Embrace the algorithm.

Thanks rugtrousers and brisk80.