Puffy2 said:
Curious, where are the top places that everyone wants to go? I suppose it depends on the specialty you are interested in...can someone explain this process a little more? What sort of things do the hospitals look for in potential residents?
My experience was in pediatrics, but searching for a residency was more like looking for a job than applying to college. Some people are able to purely choose the program they want. Some people have other considerations but still prioritize a 'top' program like Children's Hospital Boston or Childran's Hospital Philadelphia. But, honestly, most of the better known programs are great for people wanting to stay in academics or go into research, but perhaps not so neccesary for people who just want to practice basic medicine.
By the time medical students are applying for residency, many have spouses and even children to consider. For most people I knew, in fact, geography played the biggest part in their rank list! Second was usually how well you felt you 'fit' the style of a particular program. Programs are so tightly regulated as to what you learn for each specialty that there's often not as much variety as one would think.
And then there's the 'silly' stuff. I refused to rank any program that didn't give us a private room to sleep in. Or that had really nasty showers
People might find the concept of 'couples' matching interesting as well. You can couples match with anyone in the match. You submit a list of paired rankings. You have to rank every combination that you will accept separately. They, they figure that into the algorithm, and you will only get one of your paired choices. (Or, the last choice of everyone by default, the dreaded no match)
A few days before the match comes the 'scramble' Everyone who didn't get a spot anywhere gets notified and a list of unmatched places. At a certain time, a mad rush of phone calls and faxing begins. That way, on official match day, they can release the results without anyone but those involved who made it in the official match and who made it in the scramble.
The whole thing sounds exciting, keep us posted. BTW I have friends in Minneapolis and actually went to a wedding in Rochester, it is a little out there but nice. I've only been once to MN but I was struck by how nice and easy going people are there and there is really great weather there for at least 3 months out of the year! 
