Rotated, but didn't get an interview - now what?

If you say what the program was, you may find that other people are in the same boat. Some programs have a ton of rotators and don't interview many of them. Otherwise, talk to the coordinator. They usually are more responsive than program directors. Email may be better, they get tired of calls I'm sure at this point.

Just to clarify, I have not spoken to the actual PD outside of my rotation. I assumed that most PD coordinators handle the initial screen - apply whatever filters or cut off, send that pool to the actual PD, who then reads through and basically fine tailors the list some more to get the first wave of invitations out and fill the interview days as needed.

I e-mailed the PD coordinator/secretary person twice in December, one being the "hey I haven't heard back yet about an interview invite" and another generic "hey are there any openings yet?" about a 2 weeks in December...I knew it was kind of futile at that point since all of their interviews were in January and any possible shifts or openings wouldn't have occurred yet.

I guess my next move would be to e-mail or call at this point and just check in again. Does anyone see as this a good move? Basically I don't want to be pushy or break some sort of unspoken rule but I want the program to keep in mind if something comes up.

As long as you're respectful in your email, I can't see it being a problem.

Word. Well I guess I'll fire off an e-mail to the PD coordinator and keep my fingers crossed
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If you rotated and didn't get an interview, the chances of you matching there from a pity interview are about 0%. It would be a waste of your time to keep pursuing a program that is not interested in you. Obviously this sucks, but it would really suck to have you plop down more money to go and interview at a place that doesn't think you are a good fit.

I've got a little bit of a different take on this. After rotating at four different places, I feel like some programs create a system where their hands are tied by the rubric that they created. From my experience with this process thus far, if you rotated and didn't get an interview you're probably wait-listed because your score on their rubric/scoring sheet didn't make the cut-off...for whatever reason. I wouldn't continue to hassle them but I don't think it would hurt to email them just to say you're still interested. It might move you up closer to the top in the potential applicant pool. Especially if you can email them with some kind of an update that may get you some more "points" (ie AOA, research, letter from Chair, etc).

Again thanks for the advice. This is a broad sweeping generalization, but from what I saw, most programs have a decent amount of former rotators (from my skewed view, probably 50% or more) and from my previous classmates that are now interns and PGY-2s, most have matched at a places they rotated. So I feel it's a great asset to have that interview at this program and hence why I'm so anxious about securing that interview (if possible).

Oh yeah, so I e-mailed them and I got back a "Nothing yet, thanks" from the program coordinator ...fingers crossed still
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Not to discourage you, but former rotators that match with a program get an interview in the first wave. In the program's eyes, you are obviously not a good fit. I would place your efforts into doing well on your other interviews. Good luck.

I wouldn't listen to this at all. There are many reasons why you wouldn't get an interview, one of them possibly being that you aren't a good fit. But they wouldn't waste an interview on you at this point if they weren't taking you seriously. There are many potential applicants they could choose from. If you don't get one, hey you gave it your best shot. But if for some reason you do end up getting one there is no reason to believe they aren't taking you seriously.

...and remember, there are always haters out there trying to make you think you're worse then you actually are.

I don't want to discourage you either, but from someone who's been on the program side of things (admittedly from the periphery), it is a very conscious decision not to interview a rotator. It's not like we forget who rotated with us and accidentally leave them out of the pile. Not saying it hasn't ever happened, but it should be considered "case reportably" rare.

Now that you have brought your name and situation to the attention of the coordinator, I think you have done your due diligence to ensure that you weren't mistakenly excluded. Programs take interviews very seriously and I am sure someone has considered your situation carefully at this point.

I would invest your efforts in doing well on your other interviews, and hope for the best.

Good luck.

OskiMD, I'm not trying to be a hater. I am directly involved in decisions like these at our program and am trying to give good honest advice. I also echo the comments of tiger03. Every interview granted is a very conscious decision, just as every non interview of a rotating student is given a great deal of thought.

I've heard with some programs it's just about the numbers regardless of whether you rotated or not. Perhaps he just missed the cut from that standpoint. I wouldn't worry too much about it anymore than you have. If they offer an interview you take it but you have done everything you should

I don't understand why they would let you rotate if you didn't have the numbers. It seems pointless.

The only way I see this working in your favor is if the program in question has tons of rotating students and the PD or selection committee didn't get to know you (or anyone else) very well in your month. In this case they can legitimately apply a cutoff like you would a nonrotating applicant. Then perhaps your persistence will pay off if you get the chance to wow them in the interview.

Otherwise, if you're well known at the program and they wouldn't bend on their cut off... a 15 minute interview isnt going to change their mind about you and your scores arn't helping either.

Finally, its hard to tell someone straight up, "hey we don't like you, we don't want you to come here." They might be trying to save you (and them) the trouble and expense.

There's nothing wrong with calling the program coordinator, and asking them to look into it for you. Sometimes interviews do get misplaced.. can't hurt.

IF they say they weren't interested.. I wouldn't be too offended. They just didn't think you were a good fit. I honestly would NOT get pissed about that at all. If you rotated, and they are not giving you an interview for a reason, they are doing you a favor. Why you ask? Because, they're 1. not giving you false hope, and 2. they are freeing up an interview spot for you to fill up with an interview. I would be very thankful for this. I'm sure you had a few interviews on the same day..now you can take advantage.

Don't be discouraged..try.. and if they're not into you.. there are other fish in the sea
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They could have not liked you because some resident was not having a good day, and got a bad impression of you.. that's just generally how it goes.

Good luck
iliiz.

I am now a pgy-5..I did an away rotation in medical school and I didnt even apply to the place that I rotated....I knew there was no chemistry and would be willing to bet even if I applied they wouldnt have interveiewed me.....

I think you have done everything you can...you emailed them 3 times....they have read your name and have decided no interview for you.....

This happens....how people are picked for interviews makes no sense....when I applied I got interviews at some really big places and rejevted from some smaller places...didnt make sense...just like you have to be realistic with yourself...the programs have to be efficient with who they can interview....

I would live and learn and not look despirate...you arent going to match at this place any way....if you were a total rockstar the residents would have begged the PD to give you an interview....its like a date...I am sure you are not a bad guy...but the chemisty isnt there...and trying to ask a girl out 9 times just makes you look like a stalker....

Thanks for all the input in advice everyone.

This program of yours that you rotated at seems to me pretty f-in stupid. I mean, I go to a rather large northeast school that takes lots of rotators. And we don't necessarily interview every one of our applicants, simply because it would mean we'd have 100+ interviewees and would prob be wasting a lot of candidates times if the residents/attendings didn't really like them. And undoubtedly we have score cutoffs (though i'm not sure what they are).

But the part that gets me is why they let you rotate there in the first place, if you didn't meet their score cutoffs to begin with.

I think BoneBlaster has it right.
Also, the reason students with bad paper files are accepted for sub-Is is simple: there isn't enough available information to properly screen students at the time the rotation schedules are being set up. I've been told that many, if not most, programs don't even bother screening.
Face it--a good rotation can tip the scales in your favor, but it is crazy to expect it to offset a terrible record at your home institution. If you don't have the paper file to back up your stellar sub-I performance, then you should expect to be disappointed, unfortunately.