CaRMS rank list strategy

[eat clean tren hard]

Carms interviews are done now and congrats all for getting through interview season.

This is probably common knowledge, but I thought I'd put out a reminder of how to optimize your rank list. The best strategy is to rank programs based on where you'd like to go most, and not based on where you think you have the highest chance of matching. See the videos below explaining the match algorithm. NRMP is for the states, but the algorithm used in NRMP and CaRMS is the same. 

 

[Neurophiliac]

Great reminder — would also add for anyone who did not interview at program X, you should still rank program X as you would based on the order you’d prefer that program (despite a lower probability of matching there, for if you don’t rank, then that option is completely off the table).

[No Name Brand]

Looking forward to seeing the R1 stats this year - will be interesting to see how things play out given the shift in the competitiveness of some specialities to get interviews

[CAP]

I don't understand the value of ranking a program with no interview. 

[Pakoon]

7 minutes ago, CAP said:

I don't understand the value of ranking a program with no interview. 

It serves to clutter rank lists and feed hopes that a clerical error results in a match 

[bearded frog]

58 minutes ago, CAP said:

I don't understand the value of ranking a program with no interview. 

There is an anecdote of one time, some FM program ranked every applicant and not just the ones they interviewed, and an applicant who ranked every program matched to it without interviewing. Seems pretty unlikely, but in the 0.1% chance that some program does this and goes down their rank list, and with no downside, why not rank every program?

[NothingButNetters]

If anyone wants to nerd out about “matching markets” and the econ theory about how the CaRMS match works.. here’s a great podcast: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/07/1127543123/how-sorority-rush-is-a-matching-market

And here is Dr Alvin Roth’s Nobel Prize lecture on Matching Markets and explaining how a deferred matching algorithm prioritises the student and allows you to put your true “rank order” without compromising your spot. Hence, rank by WHAT you want, whether it’s realistic or not: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2012/roth/biographical/

[No Name Brand]

Here is the CaRMS take on ranking a program when you didn't get an interview at... (https://carms.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004148783)

The Rank Order List section within CaRMS Online is not currently linked to applicant interview attendance. Therefore, applicants have the ability to still submit a rank order list, even if they were not contacted for any interviews.

Ranking a program you did not get an interview to will not reduce your chances to match either way. This is why the best strategy is to always rank according to your own personal preferences regardless of interview outcomes.