Fourth-year medical student William Keller, a pseudonym used for anonymity, is applying for residency programs. He completed 42 applications, spending over $500, to increase his chances of matching successfully. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reported a decrease in the average number of applications submitted per candidate due to preference signaling, a process allowing students to indicate their preferred programs during the application. This reduces costs for applicants and helps program directors identify candidates genuinely interested in their program. Keller, who applied to multiple programs due to couples matching, finds it challenging to determine the importance of signaling and which programs prioritize it.
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