most competitive specialties

[digimon]

so i've matched, and am kind of out of the loop. which specialties are considered the toughest matches this year? which are having an upswing? a buddy of mine claims that anesthesia is becoming tougher these days....he claims it's becoming the next "rad onc." is this true?

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[ny skindoc]

I do not agree with your friend.There are so many anesthesia residecies relative to rad onc that this is not likely to be the case.This year there were a good number of anes slots that went unfilled.If a respectable applicant applies to a broad range of programs without regard to geography and includes community problems they should be ok.Yes at the top level places competition may well become more intense.

 

[musicman1991]

Most Competive (In no particular order)
Ortho
Urology
ENT
Radiology
Rad-Onc
Derm
Plastic Surgery
Optho


Getting Competitive/Mildly Competitive
Anesthesia
General Surgery (at top programs)
PM&R
Emergency Medicine

Not Competive:
Psych, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Peds, Ob/Gyn, Path

However, it's still competitive to get the top programs within the easy fields.

Watch for big spikes in Path, PM&R, Anesthesia - lifestyle fields on the horizon.

For some reason General Surgery had a rough year too (80 hour workweek wooing people back into it).

 

[southerndoc]

General surgery only mildly competitive at top programs? I find that hard to believe considering how very few unmatched categorical positions were available this year.

 

[Finally M3]

Misperception that Surgery had a bad match. The vast majority of the unfilled spots were prelims. Categoricals had a 90 something percent fill rate this year.

I think if you are looking at a Top 10 program in any of the 'noncompetitive' fields, you will have to be a very 'competitive' candidate.

Agree in increasing future interest in Gas, Path, PM&R. Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle.

 

[IMGforNeuro]

Add to most competitive: Neurosurgery

Add to non competitive, but could increase in competitiveness (to mildly competitive) in future: Neurology (The number of vacancies has decreased significantly in last few yrs)

 

[zinjanthropus]

how competitive is preventive medicine?
more specifically, how competitive are the post PGY-1 programs in general public health? any idea? thanks.