What does staying in contact with programs really mean?

[kattyboomboom]

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After you interview and are subsequently encouraged to stay in contact, what exactly does that entail?...
"Hi, How are you emails?" to the PD every month?
Friendly emails to residents?

What experiences do most people have with this sort of thing? How do you maintain contact without overdoing it?

 

[Ariee]

I know seriously, huh? What is that all about?! I struggle with the same thing after my first IV last week.

I haven't communicated with the program yet, b/c they waid to communicate and let them know (let them know what exactly?- shrug). I'm planning on sending an email reflecting on my experience with the IV and staying honest in a conducive way...

So far my impression of the whole residency IV trail is that it's a slimy buisness...

 

[bluealiendoctor]

Every Match season the same questions are asked, the same worries are addressed. I can certainly say that my experience from last year taught me that all you can do is have your interview and to be completely honest with yourself as to how you rank a program. You absolutely must rank 1st the program that you would like to match at most. Unfortunately, you cannot pay attention to anything a program tells you about how much they like you. I was wined and dined, invited to an 'exclusive' dinner that only included certain applicants..which interestingly enough was the same amount of slots they had..told by senior residents that whoever gets invited to this dinner is a shoe-in....etc. The program didn't even rank me in the end. I was lucky to have the foresight and rank another program that I liked more but didn't give me the warm fuzzies like this place did. Just remember, unless you have obvious faults that would concern anyone, programs will make you think you're at the top of their list just as applicants do to them.

 

[Frugal Traveler]

Just remember, unless you have obvious faults that would concern anyone, programs will make you think you're at the top of their list just as applicants do to them.

👍 Agree... the match is designed to rank the programs you want to go.

Both applicants and programs try to manipulate each other, so the best thing to be is honest.