Is cardiology really competitive? NRMP data doesn't say so

[donaldtang]

I'm a PGY-1 and trying to decide on the subspecialty. I checked the NRMP data http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddatasms2012.pdf
It shows that the percent of applicants matched for cardiology has been around 65% over the last 2 years, for immunology it is around 70%, but for endocrinology it is only 58%, does that mean endocrinology is more competitive than cardiology or immunology?
But most people around me said the opposite, so I would like to know your opinion on this, especially from people who have gone through the fellowship application.

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[Eurostar]

I'm a PGY-1 and trying to decide on the subspecialty. I checked the NRMP data http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddatasms2012.pdf
It shows that the percent of applicants matched for cardiology has been around 65% over the last 2 years, for immunology it is around 70%, but for endocrinology it is only 58%, does that mean endocrinology is more competitive than cardiology or immunology?
But most people around me said the opposite, so I would like to know your opinion on this, especially from people who have gone through the fellowship application.

Two words: selection bias. Those stats don't mean anything.

 

[LoudBark]

I'm a PGY-1 and trying to decide on the subspecialty. I checked the NRMP data http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddatasms2012.pdf
It shows that the percent of applicants matched for cardiology has been around 65% over the last 2 years, for immunology it is around 70%, but for endocrinology it is only 58%, does that mean endocrinology is more competitive than cardiology or immunology?
But most people around me said the opposite, so I would like to know your opinion on this, especially from people who have gone through the fellowship application.

The most important stat for how competitive a specialty is: the number of FMG's who are matching in that specialty. You can see that data on the NRMP site.

No offense to FMG's, but the truth is, the more competitive a specialty, the fewer FMG's match into it.

I don't have the data in front of me, but I can guarantee that the number of FMG's in cardiology pales in comparison to the number in endocrinology.

 

[infarct]

I'm a PGY-1 and trying to decide on the subspecialty. I checked the NRMP data http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddatasms2012.pdf
It shows that the percent of applicants matched for cardiology has been around 65% over the last 2 years, for immunology it is around 70%, but for endocrinology it is only 58%, does that mean endocrinology is more competitive than cardiology or immunology?
But most people around me said the opposite, so I would like to know your opinion on this, especially from people who have gone through the fellowship application.

who cares? how is this relevant to what you want to do with your career as a physician?