Viewpoint
Mar 2000
There is one cardinal rule that both programs and applicants must observe: neither must ask the other to make a commitment as to how one will be ranked before the match ... references to how one will be ranked should be avoided and definitely should not be solicited.
Despite that, results of a recent survey about the Match program revealed that students "perceive that programs are making 'informal' commitments (43%), lying to them (33%), and encouraging their unethical behavior in order to match (21%)" [1].
Anderson KD, Jacobs DM, Blue AV. Is match ethics an oxymoron? Am J Surg. 1999;177(3):237-239.