12-03-2010, 04:48 PM
It is important to consider different factors while ranking (if you are going for the match!). I made the mistake of ranking certain programs high last year, which did not have a history of taking too many IMG's and programs that had more preference for AMG's. I ended up not matching (I turned down prematch offers last year). I think I could still have matched if only I was careful about my ROL. Here is what I think based on my experiences and talking to people I know who matched:
IMHO, ranking needs to be well thought out based not just on your preference but on the response from the program after interviews (although this is hard to judge since they might send the same thank you letter to all interviewees!), your own evaluation of your interview performance (if you think you screwed up then safe to say that they might not rank you or may rank you lower), program match statistics, chances of IMG's matching in that program (I think one of the most important factor and can be judged by looking at number of IMG's in the program, medical schools of current AMG's i.e. if it has AMG's from like the top schools then it would be a clear indication that their program is hot among AMG's and so IMG's might almost always get ranked lower if ranked at all), and many other such factors.
These things will be crucial when it comes to your ROL. As an IMG we cannot just rely on number of interviews alone although that increases our chances of matching. We may really want to match into a top program that also is attractive to AMG's but usually they almost always get ranked higher than IMG's. This is also one factor to be considered while ranking.
I think almost all must know people with high scores and lot of interviews but end up not matching and people with 1 interview but matching. If you dig deep in most cases it would be ROL problem. If a program ranks you within the top 5, for example, and they have 10 spots then you will match with them for sure no matter where you rank them. But it is impossible to know or actually trust when a program tells you that they will rank you high (just like we tell them but may not rank them number 1). This is why I think a number of factors have to be considered before you submit the ROL.
People with great interviews at top programs might not get ranked highly and they might not have ranked the more IMG friendly programs higher in their ROL and so eventually ended up losing both! I think it might not just necessarily be their "bad" interview skills but could be their ROL too.
Good luck to all of you but hope you do not have to go all the way to the match!♥♥♥♥
IMHO, ranking needs to be well thought out based not just on your preference but on the response from the program after interviews (although this is hard to judge since they might send the same thank you letter to all interviewees!), your own evaluation of your interview performance (if you think you screwed up then safe to say that they might not rank you or may rank you lower), program match statistics, chances of IMG's matching in that program (I think one of the most important factor and can be judged by looking at number of IMG's in the program, medical schools of current AMG's i.e. if it has AMG's from like the top schools then it would be a clear indication that their program is hot among AMG's and so IMG's might almost always get ranked lower if ranked at all), and many other such factors.
These things will be crucial when it comes to your ROL. As an IMG we cannot just rely on number of interviews alone although that increases our chances of matching. We may really want to match into a top program that also is attractive to AMG's but usually they almost always get ranked higher than IMG's. This is also one factor to be considered while ranking.
I think almost all must know people with high scores and lot of interviews but end up not matching and people with 1 interview but matching. If you dig deep in most cases it would be ROL problem. If a program ranks you within the top 5, for example, and they have 10 spots then you will match with them for sure no matter where you rank them. But it is impossible to know or actually trust when a program tells you that they will rank you high (just like we tell them but may not rank them number 1). This is why I think a number of factors have to be considered before you submit the ROL.
People with great interviews at top programs might not get ranked highly and they might not have ranked the more IMG friendly programs higher in their ROL and so eventually ended up losing both! I think it might not just necessarily be their "bad" interview skills but could be their ROL too.
Good luck to all of you but hope you do not have to go all the way to the match!♥♥♥♥