AAI Q/A: Jenny Explains Computer Matching

Most Dietetic Internship's participate in Computer Matching to select interns.  The matching is completed through through the online website D&D Digital. Applicants log onto the site, pay a fee, and rank the internships they have applied to in order of preference.  At the same time the dietetic internship programs rank their applicants.  On match day, applicants log back onto the site to find out the results.  Computer matching can be very confusing!  Thankfully Jenny has come to the rescue to answer an AAI reader question and clear things up. 

Dear Jenny,

From what I understand, the way computer matching works is that the student picks the internships and ranks them in order of preference. Then, based on the applications that the schools received, they choose their top choices to accept into their programs. From there, the system matches the student based on his/her order of preference, and based on whether the student has been picked by the school. For example, if my number one choice is BU, and I am on their list of accepted students, I'm matched right away; and If I am not in the list, the system goes to my number 2 choice, and so on until I am matched to a program that has me on their list.

However, a professor told me that the way it works is that both the student and the program ranks in order of preference, so that in order for me to be matched, my order of preference for that school must be the same order of preference that the school placed me in. So that for example, if I chose BU as my number 1, but they chose me as their number 3, I do not get matched. Or if they matched me as their number 1 but i matched them as my number 3, I do not get matched either.

How exactly does it work? And, if my professor is correct should I try to place a program that i really want to get into as my number 2 or 3 choice if I believe I will not be their number 1 choice?

Sincerely,

Confused About Internships

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Dear Confused About Internships, 

Your first explanation of computer matching is more correct. The reason computer matching is so confusing is because it depends on what you rank, what the director ranks you, and what other applicants rank those same programs you are applying to. As a general example, lets say a program has 100 applicants apply.

You apply to this program and rank it #1.

The program ranks you in their top 50 (let's say #7). There are 6 spots in the program.

The first spot will be filled by the applicant that ranked that program #1 and also was ranked highest in the top 50 (the directors dont have to rank all their applicants). If there are 20 applicants that ranked the program #1 and were also in the top #50 from the director, then the spots are filled according to the specific ranking that the director gave.

So, since you are #7, there are 3 things that could happen:

1. the six applicants ranked above you all ranked the program #1,  so you would NOT get matched to the program

2. at least 1 applicant ranked above you did not rank the program #1 AND was MATCHED to another program, so then you would get a spot

3. if the six applicants ranked above you did not rank the program #1 and they were ALL NOT MATCHED to their higher choices, then you would NOT get a spot and all 6 ranked above you would get matched.

The above example is one of about a million different ways that the computer matching could play out, but thats the logic. It is 100% impossible to predict what other applicants will rank and how many applicants there will be and what you will be ranked. The only thing you control is what you rank the program and that should only be decided based on where you really want to go and where you think you would be a good match! :) I really would not put any thought or strategy into the numbers game. Really, just figure out what program you want the most and fits you the most!    

Sincerely,

Jenny

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