Program rank list

I don't think this is published anywhere. The best way to find out is to ask the faculty or residents during the interview visit.

Okay, this is first-rate second-hand input. One of the program directors I interviewed with stated that the "average" program usually doesn't dip on the rank list below 3x the number of seats in the program (e.g. if the program has 3 seats, they usually don't go below #9 on the list). The other thing he said is that it is rare for a program to match someone below the top 3rd of the program's rank list. This is one PD's statement mind you.

I don't know if these 2 scenarios always jive, and I don't know what he meant by "average" program. Some inside scoop from a resident privy to such info would certainly be helpful with this question.

When I was applying two years ago I used to think about this a lot...however it shouldn't really matter.

Some programs are larger and will need to go down their list higher. Some programs tend to rank rotators they like highly which allows them to usually match some of their top choices. Some places rank the "best" candidates high despite uncertainty about reciprocated interest.

Most programs guard this information pretty tightly. In the end it shouldn't sway your decisions because you should rank according to where YOU WANT to go. I felt like too many people swayed their rank list to prevent themselves from not matching within their top few choices. If X program is not your favorite but your best shot at getting in you will only screw your chances for getting in at a better place if you rank place X high just to soothe your ego.