Create, organize, update, and export the Program Rank List during interview season.
1. What is the Applicant Program Rank List Builder?
The Applicant Program Rank List Builder lets applicants enter and manage their rank list all in one place. From ranking programs in preferred order to exporting the list when needed, Thalamus makes it easy for applicants to shape their rank list to fit their needs.
| Important: The rank list is private. Programs cannot view this list or its ranking order. This tool is for personal planning only and does not submit rankings to any official system. |
Applicants can use the Applicant Program Rank List Builder to:
- Capture program details, including program signals, Match IDs, and interview dates for easy reference.
- Add programs to the rank list through Thalamus invites, or manually add programs to build a complete list.
- Export the rank list for official use in other systems.
2. Add programs to the Rank List
Programs can be added to the rank list in two ways from the Rank List section of Thalamus.
From Thalamus invites
Once an applicant has received an interview invitation from a program, that program can be added directly to the rank list.
- Click Add Program.
- Select Add from Thalamus invites.
- The rank list will populate with programs that have sent the applicant an interview invitation.
| Note: This step is not automated. The list reflects invitations received up to the moment the applicant completes this action. If new invitations arrive later, the applicant should repeat these steps to add them. Any previously entered preferences or ranking order will be preserved. New programs are added to the bottom of the list in alphabetical order. |
| Note: Programs added through Thalamus invites cannot be deleted from the rank list. To exclude a program from ranking consideration, use the Do Not Rank label instead. See Section 3 for details. |
Manually
Applicants may wish to manually add programs where invitations were received outside of Thalamus, or when ranking multiple tracks within the same program.
- Click Add Program.
- Select Add Other Programs.
- Fill out the necessary program information on the page that follows.
- Click Save.
The program will now appear alongside other programs in the Rank List Builder and will be marked with an M label to indicate it was added manually.
3. Edit the Program Rank List
The rank list can be updated as often as needed throughout recruitment season.
Reorder programs
To change the order of programs, drag and drop the double-headed arrow on the left side of each program row to the desired position.
Update program details
- To add or update a program's NRMP ID, click the + Add button directly in the rank list interface.
- To update how a program was signaled, click the Signals dropdown and select the appropriate response.
- To update the location, ACGME ID, or interview date, click the three-dot menu to the right of the program and select Edit.
Mark a program as Do Not Rank
Marking a program as Do Not Rank excludes it from the rank list and from any rank list exports. This label applies to the Rank List only — it does not affect the applicant's scheduling or interview status with the program.
Bookmark a program
Selecting the bookmark icon on a program flags it for special attention. Bookmarked programs can be filtered for standalone review using the Bookmarked filter.
4. Export the Program Rank List
The rank list can be exported at any point during recruitment season. Exports maintain the current rank order along with all information associated with each program's row.
To export:
- Click the Export button.
- Select the preferred file format.
Available export formats:
- Excel — full rank list with all program details.
- CSV — full rank list with all program details.
- NRMP (txt) — includes NRMP IDs in rank order only.
| Important: The NRMP ID is not a required field within Thalamus, but it must be accurately entered for any program the applicant intends to upload to NRMP systems. If an NRMP ID has not been entered for a program, that field will appear blank in the export. |
5. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
| Can programs see the rank list? | No. The rank list is private and for personal planning use only. Programs cannot view it or its ranking order. |
| Can the list be updated after it is created? | Yes. The list can be edited, reordered, and exported at any time throughout recruitment season. |
| Does this tool submit an official rank list? | No. The Applicant Program Rank List Builder is a planning tool only and does not submit rankings to any official system. |
| What happens when a newly invited program or manually added program is added to the list? | The new program appears at the bottom of the list in alphabetical order to preserve the existing ranking order. |
| How can an applicant rank two different tracks within the same program? | Each track must be added manually using the Add Other Programs option. The corresponding track NRMP ID should be entered for each track, if applicable. |
| Can a program added through Thalamus invites be deleted? | No. Programs added through Thalamus invites cannot be deleted. To exclude a program from ranking consideration, use the Do Not Rank label to remove it from the list and any exports. |
| Can a manually added program be deleted? | Yes. Programs marked with the M label can be deleted by clicking the three-dot menu to the right of the program and selecting Delete. |