I was contacted personally by four of the thirteen programs (phone calls, letter from PD, ect) and got the infamous email "we are coming up with our list, and your on it" from two or three. It was tough, because a couple of the phone calls were from programs that were in my top four, that I really really liked, but I knew weren't my No. 1. They kinda tried to pin me down, without saying it, and a couple told me outright that if I ranked them as my first that "they'll see me in July." What do you do in that situation? Well, I told them that I would be very excited to train there and that they were going to be one of my top programs. I reiterated my interest and told them that I would be happy to train there, but didn't say that I'll see them in July. I didn't let it sway my rank list (thankfully) and I ended up matching at my No. 1, which was one of the ambiguous email programs. Two of the other programs called and told me the same thing, both of which were in my middle teir. I told them that I had a great interview, that they had a very strong program, and that I would be taking their advice/declaration into strong consideration.
My main point and advice is to rank them in the order that you would if nobody contacted you, who cares if you have been told that you have an opportunity to train there if its not your top program. If you change your list, then you are selling yourself out.
