Most competitive match ever?

[utmey07]

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Much talk is going on about this being the most competitive Anesthesia match ever. With all the talk of cutoff Step 1 scores and number of applicants, thought it would be appropriate to start a thread of fact (gossip too) about this topic.

Here's my personal experience from direct email to school's about the status of my application today (11/8/06):
Wake Forest rejected me saying you need a 225 Step 1 to make their cut.
South Carolina COM inquiry resulted with the tidbit of a 220 Step1 to make their cut (roommate told me this).
Michigan and UVA both said they received over 700 applications, so 'many qualified applicants couldn't be interviewed', no mention on cuttoffs though.

700 applications for 20 spots? 225 cutoffs? Did I accidentally apply for ortho, rads, and derm??
Thank God for the interviews I have!

 

[hoosiergirl]

I was recently told by a resident in the department that Ohio State's program has had over 600 applicants this year.

 

[Bertelman]

Emory = 225

Yet, mysteriously, they have not yet officially rejected me. Maybe they thought our impromptu phone conversation should have shaken my resolve.

 

[eagle26]

Same thing happened last year. It wound up being more difficult to match in gas than rads. I don't think this year will be much different.

 

[amyl]

really?!?!? you think matching rads is easier than gas?

 

[vegasdo]

Same thing happened last year. It wound up being more difficult to match in gas than rads. I don't think this year will be much different.

BS

 

[Idiopathic]

The truth of the matter is that last year there were upwards of 700-800 applicants just for moderatly competitive programs like Wake and there ended up being 600 unmatched applicants. For what its worth, thats pretty competitive. Now, I dont think its more competitive than rads, or ortho, but the fact that programs are advertising their cutoffs (which we all knew they had) speaks to a greater competitivity (?) among applicants.

 

[ketafol]

Im scared to all hell, mostly seconday to being an osteopathic student. Not sure how to feel. All I know is that if I were an allopathic applicant with my application, I would be smooth sailing at just about every program. Still have a lot of interviews at some great places. I am just not sure how to read my interview performance?????? Oh well, match day will be interresting. good luck yall.

 

[VentdependenT]

youll do fine as long as you dont act arrogant, like a jerk in general, or a complete nincompoop.

no way is anesthesiology more or even as competitive as radiology.

 

[badgas]

Im scared to all hell, mostly seconday to being an osteopathic student. Not sure how to feel. All I know is that if I were an allopathic applicant with my application, I would be smooth sailing at just about every program. Still have a lot of interviews at some great places. I am just not sure how to read my interview performance?????? Oh well, match day will be interresting. good luck yall.

After a couple of interviews, I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to move my spot up or down any based on the interview. I'm confident that they have most of us ranked by grades, numbers, letters, etc before we ever get there. However, we can get ourselves taken off the list if we were to drool a lot or slap nurses asses on the hospital tour. But seriously, how can you move an applicant up or down based on their answer of why anesthesiology???

 

[ketafol]

After a couple of interviews, I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to move my spot up or down any based on the interview. I'm confident that they have most of us ranked by grades, numbers, letters, etc before we ever get there. However, we can get ourselves taken off the list if we were to drool a lot or slap nurses asses on the hospital tour. But seriously, how can you move an applicant up or down based on their answer of why anesthesiology???

I used to agree. But then I wondered why these programs would spend so much of their time and money to interview us. It must certainly make some difference, dont you think? Even the biggest dingus can behave themselves for a few 15-20 minute interviews.

 

[badgas]

I used to agree. But then I wondered why these programs would spend so much of their time and money to interview us. It must certainly make some difference, dont you think? Even the biggest dingus can behave themselves for a few 15-20 minute interviews.

I have to disagree. I think it is well worth their time and money to make sure people can hold a conversation, make eye contact and not do anything crazy during that short period of time. From horror stories I have hear, you would be suprised! And we all have those select few students in our class that we always wonder "what were they thinking?" I guess they want to see if we are THAT student.

 

[Painter1]

interviews matter no ifs ands or buts about it. it may not depend a whole lot about what comes out of your mouth but more about just getting a feel for you. unfortunetly, though maybe unconcsiously, your judged primarily on how you look.

 

[badgas]

interviews matter no ifs ands or buts about it. it may not depend a whole lot about what comes out of your mouth but more about just getting a feel for you. unfortunetly, though maybe unconcsiously, your judged primarily on how you look.

I just got the feel that an applicant with an average application will not talk himself above a steller application if the steller applicant has average personal skills. Just the feeling I got from questions asked. The other applicants agreed with me when we were trying to figure out how they rank us with the types of questions they asked.

 

[MD Dreams]

Here's my opinion for what it's worth:

1. Anesthesiology is more competitive than before.
2. This is good for the profession. I have seen to many crappy Anesthesiologists and those are the ones that get no respect. It's time to set the standard for the profession.
3. Radiology is many times more competitive than Anesthesiology.
4. During the interview you can tell which students are "hungry" for success and "passionate" for the field and which students applied to Anesthesiology because "it's a good lifestyle." I have seen some great applicants and some that I wouldn't consider twice. I see people being disinterested, yawning, not maintaining eye contact, I even saw someone chew gum the other day 😱
5. Although there are many more applicants many of them get screened out early due to boards, etc. Therefore, the number of students that actually get considered for interview are much lower, usually the same people over and over as we have seen on this board. Of course the increase in the number of applications does increase the number of competitive applicants to some degree.
6. Although it's competitive, it is still doable if YOU are competitive
7. Having said all that, let's hope I match
8. Sorry for the numbering system, it's just my style 😉

 

[ketafol]

I have to disagree. I think it is well worth their time and money to make sure people can hold a conversation, make eye contact and not do anything crazy during that short period of time. From horror stories I have hear, you would be suprised! And we all have those select few students in our class that we always wonder "what were they thinking?" I guess they want to see if we are THAT student.

So does this mean we dont have to send thank you notes? Is anyone sending them? They get to be such a pain.

 

[Stimulate]

Cleveland Clinic has over 700 applications for 20 spots... It is getting competitive but I think most people will still find positions, it just may be more difficult to get a top choice.

 

[chips]

5. Although there are many more applicants many of them get screened out early due to boards, etc. Therefore, the number of students that actually get considered for interview are much lower, usually the same people over and over as we have seen on this board. Of course the increase in the number of applications does increase the number of competitive applicants to some degree.

I tend to agree with this assessment. In other words:
1. the no. of applicants has increased
2. the quality of the applicant pool has increased
3. the no. of programs applied to per applicant has increased

1 + 2 + 3 + cutoff board scores = seemingly most competitive match ever but actually means most programs will end up ranking the same person and therefore (given the law of non-overlaping space-occupying objects that the same person cannot be a resident at ALL the top programs) most people will still match well but programs may have to dig deeper into their rank lists.

just my convoluted opinion.

 

[RockLee]

In a way,

I think this is a good thing. More competitive applicants will most likely result in more people staying in academics, ambitious with research, and hence furthering the field. It's sad to see that Anesthesiology has one of the lowest research ratings among all specialties/fields.

Hopefully brighter and more eagered minds joining the field will change this.

My two cents.

 

[rufio173]

In a way,

I think this is a good thing. More competitive applicants will most likely result in more people staying in academics, ambitious with research, and hence furthering the field. It's sad to see that Anesthesiology has one of the lowest research ratings among all specialties/fields.

Hopefully brighter and more eagered minds joining the field will change this.

My two cents.

I agree with you Rocklee. We need more research in Anesthesiology to keep the field going strong or eventually the CRNAs will push us out of academics and the field in terms of MDs will die out....

Anyways, I tend to agree that the match is getting more and more competitive every year for anesthesiology, but I've gotten interviews at almost all the programs I've applied. The only outright rejection as of right now is MGH. Maybe if I had gotten a 240 on my Step I, that wouldn't have happened. Haha!

Everybody, good luck on the interview trail and maybe I'll be seeing some of you crazy cats in the upcoming months!

Peace,
John