Verbal committment before the match

[SIMRAN111]

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Recently an osteopathic EM program called me up after an interview and assured me that I have a guaranteed spot in thier program. They then asked me as to how I will rank them and asked me to let them know before the match.

Sure i want the spot but I dont know the ranking. Someone advised me you should tell all the programs you will rank them #1... I mean is it ok to do before the match provided if you do not match to that spot....

 

[Faebinder]

Recently an osteopathic EM program called me up after an interview and assured me that I have a guaranteed spot in thier program. They then asked me as to how I will rank them and asked me to let them know before the match.

Sure i want the spot but I dont know the ranking. Someone advised me you should tell all the programs you will rank them #1... I mean is it ok to do before the match provided if you do not match to that spot....

Why resist the flow? Tell them they are number 1. It's not like they are asking you to come sign the contract and thus neither you nor them are held by any true agreement.. words dont count (i learned that many times from many stories). If they got eight spots and you were the best number 9 and they spoke with #1 and he didnt get back to them and now they called you and 10 days later #1 called and said he wants the program then they will rank you #9....... No contract = All is fair.

Reassess your rank list before the deadline obviously. Rank in order of places you want to go to.. not in order of who is most likely to select you.

 

[deleted87716]

Personally, I'd tell them what they want to hear...that they're #1. You're allowed to change your mind. 😉

If the match doesn't go like they thought it would, so what? They're not supposed to be playing games like that, anyway.

As Faebinder said, rank the programs in the order you like them, not in the order you think they're going to rank you. The match algorithm favors applicants, which is the reason the program is trying to get everyone they like to rank them #1.

 

[andros]

If you think it's appropriate, tell them you will rank them #1, but for me I'll only be saying that to the program that I will be ranking #1... all the others, if they ask, will be told I'll be ranking them "highly" or "very highly".

I'm not a fan of the whole match "game". I think it's different for me, though, because I am from Canada applying to a surgical sub-specialty where everyone knows everyone else. Getting a reputation as a liar wouldn't be good for me, plus I'm not sure I would be comfortable telling everyone they are my #1.

 

[somedumbDO]

be careful,

the do EM programs are a tight knit group and if you said that to 6-10 plus programs it might back fire on you. I would be more general and say top 3 or something