This is experimental. If it seems a bad idea, we can ditch it. My idea is to try to gauge what programs are spontaneously contacting applicants prior to the match, when, and roughly how many they are contacting. If this seems inconsistent with the spirit of the match, then one might argue also that Chairman an PDs sharing notes about applicants who have expressed interest in their programs is similar. Clearly, this happens. Identification of such “pre-match expression of interest” may be tricky if you have been in continual contact with a program, if they are replying to your email, and/or if they are engaging in the usual post-interview thank you email ritual after a relatively late interview. Thus, use your judgment. To help keep tally, when/if you hear from a program unexpectedly, add it to the list, and add 1 to the total number in parentheses. Inclusion of a key phrase may help identify mass (and therefore relatively meaningless) emails. I’ll start.

University of Wisconsin (email from Dempsey) “your application will receive very careful consideration here” 1/9/09 (1)
UCLA (email from Martin) “you (and your record of achievement) stood out in the best way” 1/20/09 (1)

Looks like Stem Cell is the only one getting love these days.

Probably others are exercising greater prudence in keeping cards closer to their chest! Maybe another failed experiment for the books? ...though still a few more weeks for some final exchanges. Happy ranking everyone

Well....some programs have been sending out “we liked you too” letters but I put little or no importance in those. I’m sure we’re all getting them. A little more important would be if any phone calls or invites for second looks have been floating around.

I know of a few who have had such calls and other private communications.

I hope those of us not receiving these calls and private communications match somewhere....I hope!

I think this thread is great but people may shy away slightly for fear of losing anonymity with their responses. However, it would be very helpful if people would include less specific details while still giving an idea of what kind of communication is occurring from the programs to the applicants because I have not received much.
I have never heard of the “we liked you too” letters so don’t discount that as something that is sent out to everyone (unless I am the only one not receiving these letters)

those who say, don’t know. those who know, don’t say

meow

2009app - 27 January 2009 05:00 PM

I think this thread is great but people may shy away slightly for fear of losing anonymity with their responses. However, it would be very helpful if people would include less specific details while still giving an idea of what kind of communication is occurring from the programs to the applicants because I have not received much.
I have never heard of the “we liked you too” letters so don’t discount that as something that is sent out to everyone (unless I am the only one not receiving these letters)

I guess my anonymity is already wearing thin. Here’s my experience in case it helps anyone assess any of their own interactions with these or other programs…

“Thank you for interviewing” (or equivalent, in response to thank you email)
University of Wisconsin
Brigham
Mayo
Johns Hopkins
OHSU
Pittsburgh

“We liked you (too)” (or equivalent, in response to thank you email):
Stanford
Iowa
Minnesota
Vermont
UVA (quite delayed)
Rochester
Wash U

No response to thank you email:
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Northwestern
Case Western
Syracuse
UCLA (at least initially)

Spontaneous communication of interest:
University of Wisconsin (email from chair, 1/9/09)
UCLA (email from chair, 1/20/09; call from chief resident 1/28/09)

One program wrote me a “we liked you too” letter in response my thank you note. Maybe three or four others wrote a “thank you for interviewing.” There were a couple of programs where every email I sent bounced back, so I hope they don’t think I’m being rude.  One “thanks, but no thanks” regarding a second look (or at least, that’s my interpretation).  Otherwise silence.

Then again, I got a couple of very long, detailed and personalized interest letters last time around, and then didn’t match.  So either I’m in serious trouble this year, or else everyone’s playing their cards extra close now that the NRMP is involved.

Also, 21 interviews???!!!  That’s a lot of time away from rotations.  Not the mention the cost.  (I have to be honest, though--it seems like the only people who went to less than 15 interviews this year were people who got invited to less than 15.  But still, 21 is a lot.)

That’s very disconcerting, definitely makes you question how much comfort you can find in these personalized interest letters. Also, I don’t think I got quite that robust of a response from my programs compared to Stem Cell, and most of them did not return the love. Someone hold me....=(

Maybe this is out of ignorance, but I wouldn’t worry about not being courted by programs.  One consistent piece of advice that I keep hearing is, “Don’t listen even if a program tells you that you have a guaranteed spot in their program.” If you cannot have faith in a statement like that, why worry about responses (or lack thereof) to “Thank You” e-mails?  As a rule, when I send a thank you note for a gift, I do not expect a reply.  I would be curious to know the following: of residents who matched at their top 3 programs, how many were contacted explicitly by that program prior to submitting their rank list.  The bottom line is that extra worrying at this point will not accomplish anything.  We’ll all get the reassurance we are looking for on the 19th.

I would imagine that you are more likely to receive a response to your “Thank you” if it is sent via email as opposed to a hand written note. It is just much easier to hit reply.

Not sure how much this has to do with it, but I certainly mailed my thank you letters and haven’t received a lot of feedback or responses. Not too worried about it though.

I do know of a few people who have chosen to do fewer than 15 despite being invited to more than that. I’ve done 14 and canceled 4. And I agree, 21 definitely sound like a lot. I met a female applicant early on the trail who was talking about doing 30(+)...not sure how that changed over time though.

That’s true! Most of my thank you notes were sent via snail mail. We’ll see as time draws near....

As an aside, I heard about this female applicant as well....30+ interviews? That sounds insane....literally!

I think Omnineuro is absolutely correct about this one. I have sent all my letters as thank you letters and did not expect, nor did I recieve, any communication after that. However, it is much easier to hit reply and send a generic “we enjoyed you e-mail” if it was sitting in your inbox.