How important is it for a program to be completely filled?

[Nebraska1]

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I was wondering if you all have worked with your residency program "on the other side" and know how important it is for a residency program to be compeletely filled?

I am applying to this program for an off cycle PGY1 position, and after interviewing with them, they seem like they don't care to fill the spot that one of their residents unexpectedly left.

I know that my candidacy might have something to do with it, meaning, i'm not the MOST competitive applicant, 200/210 on step 1 and 2, great LORs, A/B grades, but still, would they just rather leave the spot open and increase their spots for the following match? does this say anything about their program at all?

thanks for your thoughts on this.😕

 

[atsai3]

I was wondering if you all have worked with your residency program "on the other side" and know how important it is for a residency program to be compeletely filled?

Depending on the type and quality of residency program (e.g., surgery vs. dermatology), it can be very important to the residents and to the program director for that remaining slot to be filled. If the slot isn't filled, then the inpatient services may be down a resident and can get overworked, and the calls have to be redistributed amongst the other residents. However, at highly selective programs, the program director (and the other residents) may decide that they would rather be down one resident than accept a subpar resident into their cohort. All depends.

-AT.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It depends on how they've dealt with it. If they've already adjusted the schedule, then there is no rush to fill the slot. They may find someone to fill it during the interview season -- someone already graduated who is not bound by the match.

If they haven't adjusted the schedule, then there is a bigger incentive to take someone, as it avoids the pain of schedule adjustments.