Clear up a Match question for me?

[notdeadyet]

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I was looking over the latest 2008 NRMP match data sheet:
http://www.nrmp.org/data/advancedatatables2008.pdf

I'm confused by something. If you look at the first table on page 2, for anesthesiology, it says that there were 81 programs offering a total of 666 positions. It also shows a total of 1,104 U.S. seniors gained a total of 524 matches.

According to my math, that means that less than half of the folks going for anesthesiology actually landed an anesthesiology spot.

Is that true? I heard that anesthesiology was competitive, but 50% seems awfully low. What happens to the other half of the applicants?

Pardon my ignorance. I'm just a first year and am maybe reading the tables all wrong.

 

[lord_jeebus]

There are 698 more "advanced" PGY-2 positions that require you to secure your own intern year separately. They're listed further down Page 2.

 

[notdeadyet]

There are 698 more "advanced" PGY-2 positions that require you to secure your own intern year separately. They're listed further down Page 2.

But there is a different number of total applicants for each. Should I assume that there is a whole lot of overlap between them? In other words, a bunch of folks applying in the PGY-1 category are also applying in the PGY-2 category (while simultaneously applying for a prelim for PGY-1)?

This makes it hard to get an accurate read of how many folks go for anesthesiology and are left without options on match day.

 

[lord_jeebus]

But there is a different number of total applicants for each. Should I assume that there is a whole lot of overlap between them? In other words, a bunch of folks applying in the PGY-1 category are also applying in the PGY-2 category (while simultaneously applying for a prelim for PGY-1)?

This makes it hard to get an accurate read of how many folks go for anesthesiology and are left without options on match day.

Yeah, almost everyone applies to at least one program of each type. If you look at the full 2007 Charting Outcomes, they'll combine things together and it makes more sense.

 

[notdeadyet]

Yeah, almost everyone applies to at least one program of each type. If you look at the full 2007 Charting Outcomes, they'll combine things together and it makes more sense.

Thanks for clearning that up, Lord Jeebus. Much appreciated...