How does it work?

As much as they say selection is mutual, the pnm really doesn’t have that much say until the end unless they’re a TOP pnm that all the houses want. Just as you all rank the houses, the houses rank all the pnms. Then there’s some math algorithms that work out which houses get which pnms back. Essentially, if a house wants you back you will go back to them regardless of if you wanted to drop them, UNLESS more than the max number of houses want you back. For example, say philanthropy has a 12 house max. If 14 of the houses want you back, then you’ll only get your top 12 based on your ranking. But if 7 want you back, you’ll get those 7 even if you voted to drop all 7 of them. If you vote a house as your first choice and they vote to drop you, you won’t get them back no matter what. So as much as it’s advertised as “mutual”, the vast majority of pnms really won’t have much of a say in their schedules until pref round when they’re choosing between their top 2 houses that they have left

The reality is top houses AND top pnms drive the process

The pnms rank their favorite houses and the houses rank their favorite pnms.

The process starts with the houses and their picks. Neither houses or pnms automatically get their top picks, but it is driven by the houses.

Houses “everyone” wants are likely to get their top picks because there is mutual interest. Same with pnms “every” house wants. The desired houses are likely to get their girls.

If a house isn’t desired and their “top” pick pnm hasnt ranked them high - the girl is set aside. If her card becomes full in the process she never returns to such a house for re-consideration. However, in a scenario where a pnm is “set aside” and then doesn’t get her top picks, this house (who ranked her high) will get to pick her up.

And of course, not everyone gets a full card - that happens when houses quotas fill before the pnms.

Popular/desired houses likely don’t have to go deep into their list of pnms. And, less popular pnms aren’t likely to get their top picks.

Also based on “return rates” - top houses with high interest may cut deeper early on making them even more difficult to move forward with.

After ice water teas - with top houses making cuts (often of the same girls) - the selection availability between houses and pnms can really change. “Top”‘houses start competing for the same girls and “lower” houses competing for a different set of girls.

Honestly, can’t imagine the programmer who put this all together as it’s terribly complicated, but this should give you the idea. \n\n\n\n\n