Radiology isn't as competitive as it used to be.
Only 74% of radiology is US seniors. Only 94.8% was filled (nearly 5% unfilled).
Compare to the other fields you mentioned:
US senior/Filled% 2013
Rads: 74%/95%
IM: 50%/99.4%
EM: 82%/99.8%
Anes: 70%/96%
Path: 45%/96.4%
Derm: 86%/98%
Also, I haven't seen any average Step 1 scores since the 2011 charting outcomes (a lot has happened since then). Maybe someone else has NRMP data published since then? Unless they do, I don't think you can use the 2011 # as the competitiveness has taken a slight nosedive. The two %'s above are very telling in competitiveness of the specialty, other than average Step 1 score which I've yet to see recent data.
I think a lot of people are judging the competitiveness of radiology based on a pre-2011 view and not the last few years. The reality is, is someone is willing to train anywhere - radiology is a rather easy match (I.e. a 225 Step 1 score would have a great shot at matching - e.g. > 90% chance).
Agreed, but again - the 2011 data is far from what happened the last 2 years.
To give an example of just a few
US senior/Filled% 2011
Rads: 78.9%/96.6
EM: 78.9%/99.7%
Anes: 79.8%/97.5%
edit: IMG changes the game a bit and may make it more difficult.