Medical Spanish  Ι   Eats  Ι  About Us   Ι   Links  Ι  Contact Us  

Chapter 10-Rank List

The Match Algorithm

Come the deadline in February, everyone including applicants and programs must submit their rank order list.  It doesn’t take very long for the computer to work through matching everyone up, but we must wait till March to learn about our fates.  I preface the explanation of the match algorithm by saying that applicants SHOULD RANK THEIR PROGRAMS IN ORDER OF DESIRABILITY, not by their chances of getting in.  Put another way, don’t rank a program higher because you feel they are more likely to accept you, rank them higher if you really want to go there more.  Also, the more programs you rank, the less likely you will go unmatched, however, don’t rank a program you consider unacceptable because the match contract requires you go for at least one year.  The algorithm works by going down your rank list first, and making a tentative match, until all of the applicants ranks are exhausted, and then all tentative matches become final.  When going down your list, the algorithm will make a tentative match to your 1st choice if either there is an unfilled spot at the program; or you are more attractive to the program (based on their rank) than an applicant already tentatively matched.  In the second case, applicants tentatively matched to the program who are less preferred by the program (lower on the program’s rank list) will be removed to make room for your tentative match (see below for what happens for them next).  If you don’t form a tentative match with your first choice, the algorithm will then move down your list.  If you are tentatively matched with a program, you may be removed if someone who is higher on the program’s rank list is unmatched, and then you become the applicant ranked lowest on the program’s list.  In this case, the algorithm will remove you from that tentative match, move down your list to the next program you ranked, and so on, in attempt to form another tentative match (in either an unfilled program you ranked, or in a program you rank, where you are ranked higher than another applicant tentatively matched to them).  Get it, and the algorithm continues until all the choices submitted by the applicants have been exhausted, making all tentative matches final.

As you can see, it kind of works in your favor, in the sense that ranking long-shot programs ahead of programs you are more likely to get into, but are less desirable, will not increase your chance of being unmatched after all is said and done.

Setting your Rank Order List (ROL)

This is a pain in the butt.  Somehow you have to determine the place you want to end up for the next, in some cases, 7 years of your life (Neurosurgery.)  It is very difficult to predict who really wants you in their program.  If a program either during or through contact after the interview tells you that you are their number 1 pick be leery.  For two reasons, number one this is illegal.  A program can express a high level of interest in applicants to recruit them into their program.  It is also acceptable for applicants to say that they will prefer one program over others.  But they can't tell you, they rank you number 1.  Secondly, they may tell a lot of  other applicants they are their number 1 pick too, in order to have the applicants rank them higher on their list (sneaky, sneaky). The reason behind this is that programs want to get the best applicants possible, but somehow between themselves it is said that they get bragging rights if they fill their program by not going very low on their rank list.  This is the motivation of the sneakiness for many programs. Therefore if you are told your are their number one, you may still be a great candidate, but the way one program director put it to me I think best sums it up.  “We receive hundreds of applications for only 5 spots.  We interview 90, rank 50 and in all honesty would be happy with any of our top 40 picks.”  Therefore, if you are among the top 40 you can consider that a compliment, however, you probably won’t match in the program.  That same program director told me that in subsequent years they have gone up as high as 14 on their rank list to fill their 5 spots.  So if someone told you that you are ranked to match, they may mean that you are in this top 14 group in a program that in subsequent years has matched that high, but as you can see if they get lucky and fill their 5 spots in less than 14, or less than even 10, your out.  The best way to create your ROL is to rank programs based on how badly you want to go there.  If it is a long shot you won’t really be penalized, because the match works in your favor.  The key I will say above prestige or anything else is happiness.  Do not go to a place only because of prestige, not thinking about the possibility of being happy.  Furthermore, you may go to a great place, but perform sub-standard because you are not focused due to a lack of happiness, and end up not in the best situation after residency (especially if you are considering fellowship or additional residencies afterward.)  That being said, if you are choosing among programs that you will be happy in, then you should consider prestige because no matter what people say, coming from a more prestigious program is a factor when applying for additional training or jobs afterwards.  I could write a book about only this topic, and one will still be up till the last hour updating their ROL.  Just try not to make drastic changes to your top 3 programs on the last day, as this is often a mistake.  Also, rank all of the programs you interview in unless you truly feel you will be unhappy as it is often said, it is always better and easier to switch into a more favorable program the subsequent year if you matched in one than if you don’t match (although all is not lost if you don’t match, especially for some specialties with many programs who have spots unfilled by match day, there is a chance to gain a decent spot during the scramble)

DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION!

DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION!

DON’T MISS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION!

It’s in, now keep your fingers crossed

Once your ROL is in and certified, and the deadline for submissions has past, there is nothing that you can do till Match week.  Most US applicants match, so at this point just keep your fingers crossed and relax, as it will be a stressful time.  I would also recommend trying to complete all of you requirements, and tie up loose strings now, as it is very easy to get lazy after the match in your fourth year.  Keep those fingers crossed.

www.studentsofmedicine.com