EctopicFetus said:
Great advice here!
I would add one thing -- don't be afraid to try and call the PD or e-mail and ask specifically WHAT it was that held you back. It may well be that you were among the many at the 'cut' line and just through luck of the draw, didn't get one. If that's the case, I'd go for it.
Or maybe they will tell you sorry, but you're academic record and/or board scores don't measure up. If that's the case, I'd move on. Tough to try and overcome that type of stigma no matter how strong your interview.
Or maybe they don't have a track record with people from your school or, worse, maybe someone from your school has not done well at the program. This, admitedly, is something that is going to be hard to get out of the PD. But you might get a feeling of it in talking to them.
To say nothing of the fact that if you find out why you were initially rejected and then decide it is in your interests to go on any offered interview, you know what you need to be ready to address.
For the record, I was in your position with one of my choices last year. I had plenty of interviews and am happy with my #1 choice where I matched, but the program that I really had it in my head I would gun for rejected me. So I wrote the e-mail. And I can tell you that I DID NOT get an interview. But I will tell you this -- I got a personal response from the PD, i have since met him at conferences, and I now consider his program a possible destination for fellowship/job opportunity. By then I stand to be a known quantity, and I know I am at least on his radar now.
Good Luck. Oh, and the good thing -- so many strong programs, unless it is for personal reasons, like your spouse is already there, or something, I can almost guarantee that whatever you loved about the place that rejecte you, you can find that (and possibly more) and several other programs...