Second look?

Rank lists need to be finalized by Feb 21 but the NRMP suggests you finish it by Feb 14th since the program gets very overloaded the last couple of days

ive been to places to two places that prefer students come back for a second look... stating that if they are really interested in the program, they come back for a day or two. most residents who matched at those places did just that... even if they also did a rotation, but neither were necessary. personally, i think this is dogsh!t... and just one more expensive hoop for us to jump through. though i guess it is effective for screening out the most dedicated applicants.

ive heard you should go back if a) you ABSOLUTELY want to go there and will be disappointed with anyplace else or b) you think it will affect how YOU rank the program.

ive also heard that some places rank applicants just after they leave, so a second look wont always help you secure a spot. and some places state that doing a second look wont affect an applicants rank (ie U of Michigan)... so doing so would be strictly for the applicant to feel out the program.

How do programs fill out a rank list after every interview day when there may be two interview days yet to come? They would have to redo the whole list after every interview day. If that is how they do it, it would seem that it would be to an applicant's advantage to interview on the last day so they are remembered.

i know some schools assign scores to applicants...which would make listing applicants easy across dates. im not sure the logistics of the process, but the point was that some programs do not favor people who do second looks.

not sure about having an advantage by scheduling later in the season... if it did help, it would be very small. surely not enough to be a factor in scheduling... since we dont have much choice anyway.

I think you guys are making the programs rank list of applicants into something that is too complicated and concrete. Most programs I am sure have one person enter the rank list into the computer, probably the chairman or program director, or both together. Most departments are monarchies and I am sure that if you went back after an interview for a few days and made a good impression, the 1-3 people in charge of the list may bump you up a few spots on their list. Conversely a bad impression may knock you down a few spots also.

From what I have seen, most departments have 2-4 faculty running the show and 10-15 guys who are working their way up. I doubt that all 20 attendings would have to sit and rerank the list every time. Anyway, thats how I see things and my opinion is a second look is 40% to help, 40% worthless and 20% negative, overall a winning proposition. That said i wouldn't waste my money, unless I asked the program first if this would help and the program in question was in my top 2-3 choices.