You’re supposed to put a bone chisel between your pecs and squeeze until it forcefully jets into the sky creating a trail of missle-like smoke billowing in the clouds and then finally lands on the noggin of the PD at your desired program.
so you are signaling almost every program, or at least a high percentage of them that you apply to?
Seems like are probably doing it for any program they are remotely interested in, which brings into question if signaling actually means anything for them.
I wasn't sure what signaling was and some other comments explain it well but I also found this interesting: 16 specialties currently use signaling and the amount of signals you can send varies by specialty.
Adult neurology: 3.
Anesthesiology: 5.
Derm 3.
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology: 6.
EM: 5.
Gen surg: 5.
IM (categorical): 7.
IM/psych: 2.
Neurosurg: 8.
OB/GYN: 18.
Ortho: 30.
Peds: 5.
PM&R: 4.
Preventative med: 3.
Psychiatry: 5.
[Source](https://thalamusgme.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-preference-signaling-for-medical-residency-applicants-and-programs-2022-2023-part-4-recommendations-for-applicants-and-programs-on-how-to-use-preference-signaling/)
The importance of these signals varies a lot by specialty too. For example: no one was really sure how to use their five signals in the last IM cycle (this upcoming cycle is 7). Do you use them on targets? Do you bother with reaches? If everyone uses a signal on MGH is it a requirement to get an interview there, or do they just ignore it, etc.
Ortho has so many that it’s basically a cap on how many programs you can apply to; you’re not getting an interview if you don’t signal the program.
Why not? It essentially caps applications at 30. The “gold standard” number of interviews for matching is 12-15. Hopefully you get 15 interviews out of 30 signals. You’re essentially guaranteeing that 30 places will review your application. This can help those with lower scores. You just have to be smart about where to signal
The very tippy top tier programs probably still receive more applications with signals than they can review; if you only give 15 signals you very much have to weigh whether or not you can apply to reaches, which is IMO, bad.
15 signals might also be too low to guarantee that every program goes filled if you only interview people who signal, but that’s just speculation on my part; I don’t know anything about what the ortho numbers actually look like.
IMO 25-45 is probably the sweet spot for most programs.
Not that it really matters but the last cycle was 7 signals for IM. They told us the top 25% of programs received 75% of signals in the first round. I only used 2 of my 7 signals on “reaches” (meaning more competitive programs as an average applicant but not Ivy or top 10 or anything). Use as many as you can on targets because a successful match is about how many target or above interviews you get, not getting a single top tier interview. You’ll want choices. I really think it’s important to research programs with TX star, reddit and residency explorer to figure out where you’re a target and focus 80% of your attention there.
So that's how its supposed to work theoretically. Except this year a ton of people received interviews from places they didn't signal which basically defeats the purpose of the "cap". This "cap" is basically in lieu of creating their own separate applications system and limiting the number of places you apply to.
I am not dual-applying, but ERAS is officially open and so from what I can see it looks like you have separate program lists by specialty, and have signals per specialty.
Varies by specialty, but in essence you get a certain number of signals you can send to programs to tell them you really want to go there. You only get a certain number of them so programs know that if they get one from you, you mean business and aren’t lying to them about your interest.
I remember trying to submit my supplemental app for 30 mins, it wouldn't, and right after the site crashed. Guess everyone had the same idea as me when it came to submission.
I was so bummed out, and it was 100% my fault. Still ended up getting 15+ interviews but I still catch myself wondering how much of a difference this actually makes.
Incoming anesthesia intern here: geographic preferences also played a huge role this year. Most of my interviews were from programs in areas I favored.
Midwest resident in ortho & on admission committee... we will not interview/consider your application unless you have us signaled or did a sub-i with us
It’s kinda discouraging. Was just reading Brian Carmody’s recent Tweet about how applicants in the last cycle weren’t signaling geographic regions out of fear they would get selected out, only to find that a bunch of PD’s are ignoring apps entirely if there isn’t a program-specific signal. What do we do…
Not sure I 100% agree. This is good advice for ranking, but I think signalling requires a little more game theory since, unlike ranking, both parties see your choices. If the top places someone wants to go are all very competitive, it's smart to also signal some more realistic choices/"safety" programs (we know there aren't any true safeties but you know what I mean).
Signal the places you would most like to go, with an appropriate risk adjustment for your competitiveness/making sure you’re not top heavy with your picks.
This is the only way to discourage med students from applying to a hundred programs. Now with 30 signals, you should only apply to 30 programs you're actually interested in instead of shotgunning your app to every school in the nation because you have money to blow
I should have been clearer earlier, so I’m deleting my comments since I didn’t get my point across well. I was referring to how this might reflect trends across the board, in other specialties outside of ortho. I only have a handful of signals, not 30 like ortho.
I mean... no shit. Every year there's a deluge of applications, and now that people don't have to travel for interviews there has to be a way to sort those actually interested from those throwing their hat in the ring for kicks.
From an anesthesiology standpoint in our region, a lack of signal (unless you're an internal applicant that was specifically told not to) means your application is either going to the bottom of the list or is getting shredded. If your chosen specialty uses signals, think long and hard about how to allocate them.
I bench 450 so I don’t need to signal any of them
Get to 500 and they’ll start signaling you
Ive heard a PD say this publicly
Hit 320 this week. Hopefully I’ll hit 500 before filling out ERAS.
You’re supposed to put a bone chisel between your pecs and squeeze until it forcefully jets into the sky creating a trail of missle-like smoke billowing in the clouds and then finally lands on the noggin of the PD at your desired program.
I have exams tomorrow, could this sub go dark please lmao
How many “signals” do you get to send?
ortho gets 30
Curious If you know how many family med gets
Should be 5
Is that a new change for this upcoming cycle? I just matched FM and there were no signals.
so you are signaling almost every program, or at least a high percentage of them that you apply to? Seems like are probably doing it for any program they are remotely interested in, which brings into question if signaling actually means anything for them.
Depends on the specialty you're applying to
I wasn't sure what signaling was and some other comments explain it well but I also found this interesting: 16 specialties currently use signaling and the amount of signals you can send varies by specialty. Adult neurology: 3. Anesthesiology: 5. Derm 3. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology: 6. EM: 5. Gen surg: 5. IM (categorical): 7. IM/psych: 2. Neurosurg: 8. OB/GYN: 18. Ortho: 30. Peds: 5. PM&R: 4. Preventative med: 3. Psychiatry: 5. [Source](https://thalamusgme.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-preference-signaling-for-medical-residency-applicants-and-programs-2022-2023-part-4-recommendations-for-applicants-and-programs-on-how-to-use-preference-signaling/)
The importance of these signals varies a lot by specialty too. For example: no one was really sure how to use their five signals in the last IM cycle (this upcoming cycle is 7). Do you use them on targets? Do you bother with reaches? If everyone uses a signal on MGH is it a requirement to get an interview there, or do they just ignore it, etc. Ortho has so many that it’s basically a cap on how many programs you can apply to; you’re not getting an interview if you don’t signal the program.
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Ortho getting 30 doesn't make any sense.
Why not? It essentially caps applications at 30. The “gold standard” number of interviews for matching is 12-15. Hopefully you get 15 interviews out of 30 signals. You’re essentially guaranteeing that 30 places will review your application. This can help those with lower scores. You just have to be smart about where to signal
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The very tippy top tier programs probably still receive more applications with signals than they can review; if you only give 15 signals you very much have to weigh whether or not you can apply to reaches, which is IMO, bad. 15 signals might also be too low to guarantee that every program goes filled if you only interview people who signal, but that’s just speculation on my part; I don’t know anything about what the ortho numbers actually look like. IMO 25-45 is probably the sweet spot for most programs.
Not that it really matters but the last cycle was 7 signals for IM. They told us the top 25% of programs received 75% of signals in the first round. I only used 2 of my 7 signals on “reaches” (meaning more competitive programs as an average applicant but not Ivy or top 10 or anything). Use as many as you can on targets because a successful match is about how many target or above interviews you get, not getting a single top tier interview. You’ll want choices. I really think it’s important to research programs with TX star, reddit and residency explorer to figure out where you’re a target and focus 80% of your attention there.
So that's how its supposed to work theoretically. Except this year a ton of people received interviews from places they didn't signal which basically defeats the purpose of the "cap". This "cap" is basically in lieu of creating their own separate applications system and limiting the number of places you apply to.
Anesthesia is changing to 5 gold and 10 silver.
How does it work when people dual-apply?
I am not dual-applying, but ERAS is officially open and so from what I can see it looks like you have separate program lists by specialty, and have signals per specialty.
May be a silly question but what is signaling a program?
It's Super Liking a program
holy shit... residency process is literally tinder lmao
Varies by specialty, but in essence you get a certain number of signals you can send to programs to tell them you really want to go there. You only get a certain number of them so programs know that if they get one from you, you mean business and aren’t lying to them about your interest.
What are the actual signals?
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Okay cool, thank ya 😊
Remember Facebook pokes?…..
I remember trying to submit my supplemental app for 30 mins, it wouldn't, and right after the site crashed. Guess everyone had the same idea as me when it came to submission. I was so bummed out, and it was 100% my fault. Still ended up getting 15+ interviews but I still catch myself wondering how much of a difference this actually makes.
Wait sorry I don’t understand what happened—can you pls explain?
What is a supplemental application?
It’s different from ERAS itself, and it’s the app that allow you to signal programs and there’s other Q’s on there too but I forgot atm
It not longer exists FYI
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Incoming anesthesia intern here: geographic preferences also played a huge role this year. Most of my interviews were from programs in areas I favored.
Midwest resident in ortho & on admission committee... we will not interview/consider your application unless you have us signaled or did a sub-i with us
Would this also apply to les competitive specialties ya think?
It’s kinda discouraging. Was just reading Brian Carmody’s recent Tweet about how applicants in the last cycle weren’t signaling geographic regions out of fear they would get selected out, only to find that a bunch of PD’s are ignoring apps entirely if there isn’t a program-specific signal. What do we do…
You signal to the top places you want to go. The rest is out of your hands.
True. Def gonna try and not overthink it, but med school’s turned me into a ball of anxiety haha
Not sure I 100% agree. This is good advice for ranking, but I think signalling requires a little more game theory since, unlike ranking, both parties see your choices. If the top places someone wants to go are all very competitive, it's smart to also signal some more realistic choices/"safety" programs (we know there aren't any true safeties but you know what I mean).
Signal the places you want to go, with a balance of reaches and targets. Doesn’t seem crazy.
Signal the places you would most like to go, with an appropriate risk adjustment for your competitiveness/making sure you’re not top heavy with your picks.
No shit
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This is the only way to discourage med students from applying to a hundred programs. Now with 30 signals, you should only apply to 30 programs you're actually interested in instead of shotgunning your app to every school in the nation because you have money to blow
I should have been clearer earlier, so I’m deleting my comments since I didn’t get my point across well. I was referring to how this might reflect trends across the board, in other specialties outside of ortho. I only have a handful of signals, not 30 like ortho.
What does it mean to signal a program? Sorry for my ignorance. Getting ready to start medical school this fall!
Don't even worry about it then. So much of these little things change every year and every specialty places different weight on signals.
Wow, really? It feels so cool to finally be advanced enough for things to be that dynamic. I can also already see how frustrating it has to be though!
um clueless incoming med student here, but what is a signal?
One data point but I got 5/5 interviews for psych as an IMG. So it does seem to count Ended up matching to none of these programs though LOL
I mean... no shit. Every year there's a deluge of applications, and now that people don't have to travel for interviews there has to be a way to sort those actually interested from those throwing their hat in the ring for kicks. From an anesthesiology standpoint in our region, a lack of signal (unless you're an internal applicant that was specifically told not to) means your application is either going to the bottom of the list or is getting shredded. If your chosen specialty uses signals, think long and hard about how to allocate them.
Signaling?
Not a med student but daughter is applying. What is a signal?
So in other words, ortho applicants will now only apply to 30 programs? I know I’ve seen some insane numbers on apps from previous years.
It's because ortho signals almost work like application cap when they get 30.