Number of Categorical Positions??

[Gr42]

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Does anyone know how to find out the number of categorical positions avilable each year and the amount of applicants(on average) that want to fill those positions??

 

[njbmd]

Does anyone know how to find out the number of categorical positions avilable each year and the amount of applicants(on average) that want to fill those positions??

Hi there,
You can go to the Match website and look at last year's numbers for the number of categorical slots at each site. That website will not give you the number of applicants because this varies from year to year. You can ask the program directly via e-mail. They may or may not provide you with this information.

njbmd 🙂

 

[ekydrd]

You can also go to the website for the program you are interested in. All of the websites I went to listed how many categorical and how many prelim spots were offered.

 

[Gr42]

Basically I want to know if the number of general surgery residency spots is greater than the number of candidates? I understand that it was that way a couple of years ago or am I wrong? For what I hear, now it has become a competitive residency (depending on the program) as it was in the past?

 

[Payne]

Even "non-competitive" GS programs have many more applicants than categorical GS spots. At sexy-name programs, the ratio is often 100:1 or greater.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Even "non-competitive" GS programs have many more applicants than categorical GS spots. At sexy-name programs, the ratio is often 100:1 or greater.

I wouldn't call us "sexy name" but we have greater than 400 applications this year for 4 categorical positions. We've invited about 1/4 of those to interview and obviously only 4 will match here, but some may take a Prelim spot if offered. So yes, there are more applicants than spots.

 

[ekydrd]

I wouldn't call us "sexy name" but we have greater than 400 applications this year for 4 categorical positions. We've invited about 1/4 of those to interview and obviously only 4 will match here, but some may take a Prelim spot if offered. So yes, there are more applicants than spots.

According to NRMP there were no unfilled GS categorical spots last year and only 2 prelim spots unfilled.

 

[Pilot Doc]

According to NRMP there were no unfilled GS categorical spots last year and only 2 prelim spots unfilled.

By my read of Table 6 the numbers filled/available are 1042/1044 for categorical and 699/1074 for prelim.

 

[ekydrd]

By my read of Table 6 the numbers filled/available are 1042/1044 for categorical and 699/1074 for prelim.

I agree, but if I remember correctly that table is from either before scramble or before filling with IMGs, can't remember which. Guess I'll have to take another look at it.

 

[Payne]

The table you are referring to is from before the scramble. In fact, it is the data provided to unmatched students before "scramble day". Thus, for people who had to scramble last year, there were 2 categorical positions and many more prelim spots for which they could apply. Not surprisingly, there were no unfilled GS categorical spots in the US after the scramble.

 

[Gr42]

All right!! These tables have great information; however, it does not show what was the total number of applicants for categorical positions. Maybe I didn't see it?? I know all positions were filled but were there any applicants who didn't get anywhere even after the scramble????

 

[Celiac Plexus]

All right!! These tables have great information; however, it does not show what was the total number of applicants for categorical positions. Maybe I didn't see it?? I know all positions were filled but were there any applicants who didn't get anywhere even after the scramble????

If I recall, there were around 1400 US seniors who applied for categorical surgery positions. FMG/IMGs inflated the applicant pool significantly.

 

[Celiac Plexus]

If I recall, there were around 1400 US seniors who applied for categorical surgery positions. FMG/IMGs inflated the applicant pool significantly.

This year's (2004-05) numbers: a little over 1400 US seniors applying for roughly the same number of categorical spots as last year (~1040-1050).

My program is interviewing about 18 people per spot. We received about 80 applications per spot.