Some people advise applicants to rank only a few programs.
Applicants who follow that advice often find themselves
participating in the Scramble because they didn't match to any
program. It is better to rank more rather than fewer programs.
Some applicants limit the number of programs they rank because a
program director has told them that they will be highly ranked by
that program. You may look very good to the program director when
he says that to you; however, tomorrow there may be two
applicants who may look even better, and now you have shifted
down the program's list. Some program directors may imply to all
of their interviewees that they will rank them highly in order to
have the best chance of securing all the candidates they really
want (after all, if ever applicant ranks the program highly, they
are sure to get their highest ranked applicants). Ranking based
on which programs you think will rank you most highly is
dangerous. Your best strategy is to rank all programs where you
think you could be happy, and weigh the promises of the program
directors as only one factor in your ranking decisions.
A second common misunderstanding among applicants is that it
somehow wastes their number one ranking to assign it to a program
where they feel they have minimal chances of matching. This is
not how the NRMP matching software works. For example, assume a
candidate ranks a prestigious program as their first choice.
Next, assume that that program ranked the applicant as well, but
near the bottom of the program's list. In that event, the program
would likely fill its positions before the NRMP software got that
low on the list, so in effect, the applicant's second choice
would become their first ranking, in the eyes of the matching
software, at least! Now, consider a second example. Because the
applicant felt zero chance of matching, he or she decided not to
rank the prestigious program at all or ranked it lower on the
list. This effectively eliminates any chance of the applicant to
be matched to the program, even if the program ranked THEM, the
matching software would very likely match the applicant to a
program higher on the applicant's ROL before it ever got to the
prestigious program. Because neither you nor the program can ever
know what is listed on each other's ROLs, the wisest tactic is to
rank the programs in the true order of your preferences. The only
instance in which you should not list a program at all is the one
in which you interviewed there and would prefer to go unmatched
rather than have to become a resident there.
Some myths also abound about ranking and getting into programs
where you have not interviewed. If you have not been interviewed,
you will not be ranked. The only data that actually runs in the
matching process is the sets of rank ordered lists from
applicants and from programs. Program directors carefully examine
their lists and know every person on the list. Without having
interviewed there, you won't be on the ROL of that program and
therefore even ranking it number one on your own ROL won't make
it possible for you to match at that program. So focus your
energy on ranking the programs where you interviewed and where
you felt good about the people. In summary, we advise you to:
- Rank programs in the order of their desirability, not based
on the probability of your acceptance. Enter the programs on
the rank list in the exact order that you genuinely prefer one
program over another. The purpose of participating in the Match
is to attain your most desired program, not necessarily to
ensure a match with your first-ranked selection. It is a
mistake to rank a program lower simply because you believe your
chances of getting into that program are less. In so doing, you
lower your chances of getting into a program that you really
want.
- Include all acceptable programs in your rank order list;
but do not rank any unacceptable programs. The NRMP contract
states that you must report to any program where you match;
thus, by listing a given program, you are acknowledging that
you will accept it if it offers you a position. The programs at
the bottom of your list should be backups that are acceptable
to you in case none of your more desired programs accept
you.
