How should I view residency placements?

[BGGA]

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I’m trying to decide which medical school to attend. I’m considering numerous factors including schools residency placements. When I’m looking at match lists from different schools should I consider how many people get placed into competitive residencies or what hospitals the residents go to? I am not certain which area of medicine I am interested in so I can’t decided based on success in a particular area. Or should I not consider residency placement at all? Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Neither of these things tell you much.

Placement into competitive residencies: while a high number is encouraging, a low number isn't necessarily bad. After all, since you don't know how many tried to match into competitive residency X, the raw number is relatively meaningless.

Location: again, difficult to say whether or not this is helpful. Many people choose residency location for family reasons (ie, couples matching), for geographical reasons (ie, want to be close to family, certain area of country, etc.), etc. Also remember that the big names aren't necessarily the best places for certain residencies. There are many more prestigious and competitive FP residencies than those at some of the Ivy League schools.

Most medical schools boast a decent match percentage. If you ask them how many of their students in each specialty matched into one of their Top 5 programs, that *might* mean more, but again it tells you little about the competitiveness of the student, the programs they applied to, etc.

Unless you saw some glaring inadequacy, I wouldn't make it a significant factor in choosing a medical school.

If you might possibly be interested in a competitive residency, you might, however, be well advised to choose a medical school which has a strong department and residency in that particular field. It might be helpful come match time.

 

[ptolemy]

I really have to agree with Kimberli here, for the most part, I think of the match stats as a function of the people in the class, and not necessarily the school. Also, looking at who matched into their top X program is not a great measure either. People only rank where they interviewed, and the interview invites usually screen out "less desirable" applicants from strong programs. Also, the undergraduate name of the school for residency (for academic programs) doesn't always translate to a top tier program, so the name is not the best thing to go by.

I also agree to choose a school that has a strong program in a field of interest b/c the people who write you LORs will come from that department (for the most part). However, I think the OP did not know what specialty he/she wanted, so I would probably not consider the match list much at all in that case. (MHO)

 

[SocialistMD]

Go to the school where you felt most comfortable. I don't think it benefits you to look at match lists when you don't even know what you want to do. If you are a strong student, you will be able to go into any specialty at any program you want regardless of your school. The only exception to this that I've seen is if you are trying to match at an integrated plastics program from a school without such a residency. Other than that, the field is wide open. Go where you felt most comfortable; it will allow you to be a better student and lead to the results you desire.

 

[dsblaha]

The only thing I would consider is how many people match at their medical school. I'm not sure what it means when a large number of students stay at their school for residency. . . . maybe they like the area.

 

[BGGA]

Thanks for all the advice.