MD Do most people match at their top choices?

[enantio1988]

Do away rotations at specific institutions significantly help with matching at those particular institutions? And say you get an interview at a place you did an away at... do interviews significantly increase chances of matching? I heard somewhere that most decent applicants (in primary care fields like FM, peds, IM) match at one of their top choices... how true is this?

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[The Knife & Gun Club]

Do away rotations at specific institutions significantly help with matching at those particular institutions? And say you get an interview at a place you did an away at... do interviews significantly increase chances of matching? I heard somewhere that most decent applicants (in primary care fields like FM, peds, IM) match at one of their top choices... how true is this?

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Match-by-the-Numbers.pdf

So 77% of US allopathic (MD) seniors matched at one of their top 3 on the rank list, which is surprisingly high. This number drops if you’re a DO, IMG, or Allopathic but took time off from school.

Your question shows that you need to do a little reading about the match process.

1) do away rotations help you match at that institution? Sometimes, depends on the field and the position of the applicant. If you’re a DO, IMG, or USMD with poor stats it could help. However in many fields USMDs do not need always and they can actually be more of a risk than a benefit.

2) about interviews - you can’t match without an interview. Like getting into med school you MUST attend an in person interview to be considered. However when doing an away many programs will offer an interview to all rotators during their away rotation, to make things more convenient.

3) depends what you mean by “decent applicant” and what their top choice is. Remember when people talk about “top choice” it’s the top programs on their match list among programs they interviewed at. So someone who only got 1 interview and matches is counted as matching their top choice even though that’s not great for them overall.

 

[getdown]

Do away rotations at specific institutions significantly help with matching at those particular institutions? And say you get an interview at a place you did an away at... do interviews significantly increase chances of matching? I heard somewhere that most decent applicants (in primary care fields like FM, peds, IM) match at one of their top choices... how true is this?

1. The benefit of an away rotation depends on the specialty field. Some more competitive fields you have to do an away. Some aways will give courtesy interviews to people who did aways with them. However if you **** up during your away, your application is good as dead.
2. You can't match if you don't get an interview
3. Most people get their top 3 choices. look at link in above post.

 

[7331poas]

How much does being at a newer school play into your ability to match if you an otherwise competitive applicant for the field?

 

[PhillyMed777]

If you apply to a very competitive residency (i.e. derm or integrated plastics), and have multiple top programs in your top choices, its very possible to slip a bit down your list. Still expect top 6.

Otherwise yes in general people get their top 3.