I’ve recently received some email asking about how Match rank order lists should be affected by positive feedback applicants receive from interviewers and/or program directors. The answer is not at all. Because of the way the Match algorithm works, what programs think of you should have zero bearing on how you make your rank order list. See this recent blog that covers mistakes to avoid when making your list.
It’s really impossible to know about the program’s interest in you anyway. Even if a program tells you straight up that you will be ranked to Match, that isn’t a promise. I’ve known applicants who were “promised” a ranking to Match that never happened.
Bottom line: It doesn’t matter what the programs think of you; it’s all about what you want. Here’s a good video about the Match algorithm if you’d like to understand the process more granularly.
