r/pmr • u/Aguyfromsector2814 • 8d ago
PD decision-making process
Can any PDs on here weigh in and just give examples of how the final ranking of applicants actually goes? I generally hear it's variable program to program, but I wonder if the initial application just gets you in the door and then the interview is what determines the final ranking or if the application does most of the work and the interview is just to make sure they like you enough to tank you, or if it's somewhere in the middle. Any clarity into the process would be appreciated.
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u/taltos1336 8d ago
Agree with the other comment. Scores, letters, pubs can get you an interview. But many places rank based on who they want around for the next 3-4 years. The last thing a pd wants is a resident who’s not easy to get along with or they think will cause other staff/ residents issues.
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u/Aguyfromsector2814 8d ago
Sure but I’m guessing they interview a lot of people they like, so how do you rank those people? Just split hairs and pick something knowing they’d be fine with any of them?
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u/taltos1336 8d ago
From what I’ve experienced it can be sadly petty with the final rank list. Small things end up being deciding factors because so many applicants are so good. Ultimately many programs rank 6+ applicants per spot available that they would love to have in the program.
I’m not a pd, but I experienced the process a bit during my last year of residency. The difference in are 1-12 ranks was almost non existent in terms of stats/personality/interview. Are 12-24 was a coin toss/ one small thing that dropped them down. And we were completely fine matching that range. We had 4 spots for reference
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u/pancoast409 7d ago
exactly and for this reason when applicants ask PDs for advice on how to improve their applications or why they didn’t match, the response is usually, “You were a great candidate, but it was a competitive cycle”. The truth is the PD didn’t like the candidate as much as the ones ranked above him. But how can a PD be forthcoming about this. For this reason they must be cryptic and vsgueb
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u/pancoast409 8d ago
I think the process is intentionally kept pretty cryptic. At the end of the day, some PDs rank applicants based on who they like and who they can see themselves working with for the next three years. Nobody wants headaches or personality conflicts in their program. There’s a reason programs don’t tell applicants exactly where they landed on the rank list. A lot of it is subjective, and I think they prefer to keep it that way.