what to do if you have 2 programs you like?

[ucla41]

---

Members don't see this ad.

so heres my situation...i interviewed at 14 programs but 2 really stand out for me...i am having a hard time deciding my top choice...i did an away at program A but am favoring program B a little more...i want to send an email out to both programs stating my interest but think its bush league to tell a program you will rank them very high without stating they are #1 bc then they will know you are not ranking them first so whats the point...

at the same time i dont think that one should send letters to 2 places stating that they are their top choice...based on what i've heard, program directors talk to each other and often find out which applicants have stated their intentions to rank which programs #1...how much this happens i dont know...

theres a huge gap between my top 2 choices and the rest..i feel like i have a stronger chance of matching into the program where i did an away...at the same time i'm worried that if i dont let them know that i want to go there then i may not be ranked highly (im just an average applicant) and may end up falling all the way down my rank list if program B isn't feeling me..

dont know if anyone else feels this way...

-confused 4th yr

 

[Bertelman]

It's very simple. Rank them in the order you would like to match.

I have great doubts that any letter you send would have a significant bearing on their ROL, unless it included ribald photos.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

It's very simple. Rank them in the order you would like to match.

I have great doubts that any letter you send would have a significant bearing on their ROL, unless it included ribald photos.

agree, or flip a coin

 

[cchoukal]

agree completely. If you just have to write something, tell both programs something benign like 'youd be really happy to train there.' It's like dating 2 girls. Just be sufficiently enthusiastic while remaining vague and non-committal. like with girls, so it is with programs that we often overestimate our importance or the impact our words and actions have on their choices.

 

[bigdan]

Another vote to RANK HIGHEST WHERE YOU WANT TO GO MOST. If you're worried about what to say, don't say anything. Program "A" already saw you and might infer your interest in their program vis-a-vis your rotation there.

Were I in your shoes:
1. Program B (that you like more)
2. Program A

dc