An unnamed faculty member included the statement that a student received good evaluations solely because of his obsequious behavior towards his mentors. The student matched into the residency, which almost prompted me to send the program director a dictionary with the word obsequious highlighted. The dean's letters are generally the most useful document received on a candidate and consist of a myriad of candid comments from many faculty regarding a student's performance, phrased in the most positive manner. Class rank is rare, as well it should be, since it is unclear whether it is better to be last in a class of geniuses or first in a class of morons. Applications are mailed, and the courtship begins.
Some students never get to the dance, since certain programs interview only by invitation.
Although program directors deny it, they probably invite based on a student's board scores or pedigree. For the uninitiated, IMGs are foreign born and trained physicians, now called international medical graduates in our era of political correctness. The students try to plan an itinerary, and make sure they are getting frequent-flyer miles from their airlines. Other students are more provincial, and visit only places their Dodge Dart can still reach. Most residency programs have a very organized program for the visiting applicants.