Now I don't know how it actually works in Podiatry School...maybe some schools "push" their students to do 3 year residencies?? But from what I have seen on SDN, it seems like there are a good number of students who don't want to do a 3 yr residency...or heck ANY residency.
These factors might play into those stats.
IMO, the best stats to look at are entering stats, part I pass rates, part II pass rates, and scramble rate.
After being in Podiatry School for a few years...I realized that the stats you see from each school are only a snapshot for that certain class at that time. It doesnt reflect what you will become. It tells you how that class performed. If 3 people didn't pass the boards, then it is those 3 students who didn't pass the boards. Just because they failed doesn't mean it's the school's fault, it is the students fault for failing. We all have the same study material and it is based on individual performance. I actually got many of the other schools notes from their classes and after comparing, they are all teaching the same stuff.
Like I said a thousand times, those stats mean nothing to you. If you put the time in, you will get what you want. Some students would do better at certain schools. Find the one you want. If a school has a high scramble rate for 2010, does that mean you will scramble?...I say no. There were some good Residency programs that had to scramble, doesn't mean that residency is not good. I think it matters more what Medical School you go to for Residency placement, but for Podiatry, it's not that way IMO.
I like it when a school has 100% residency placement and then uses that as a marketing tool for years to come. Sometimes not all students get a residency because they had a family issue, failed the boards, had a baby, or other reasons. I wouldn't recommend going to school based off these stats. GO to that school because they are in a great location close to home, family, have nice facilities, have cheap cost of living, a place for your wife and kids would enjoy, or other reasons that you have control over.
I hope you can see my reasoning in my ramblings. Me and many of my friends from other schools agree that many of the things we thought were important in a school don't really matter. Just my opinion and I am sure there are many that disagree and that is fine. Everyone is different and thats' why everyone says their school is the best. They all are. Go Lakers!