only 82 spots for the next PM&R match?

[jonnylingo]

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So I'm confused... There are according to FREIDA 79 PM&R programs. If you look at FREIDA's stats for individual programs, many (perhaps over half) say:

Accepting applications for 2006-2007 No
Will be accepting applications for 2007-2008 No

Are these typos? Are half of the programs NOT accepting students for the next year (or more??). Check out:

http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/pgmrslt/1,1239,,00.html

Also listed on another thread was:

"In 2006 match, the 82 spots for PM&R were 92.7 % filled. Which was below psychiatry 94.8%, peds 96.5% IM, 97.9%, general surgery 99.9%, and ob/gyn 97.9%..."

What is meant by "the 82 spots"? Are there really only 82 spots in this field?

 

[Taus]

without looking at the page...I'm going to assume that those are the PGY-1 spots (ie linked internship and residency) and that the "no" on accepting applications is only because it is too early to send them applications for next years match. Off the top of my head I remember seeing almost 300 spots this past year in total for PM&R.

 

[Hemisphere]

without looking at the page...I'm going to assume that those are the PGY-1 spots (ie linked internship and residency) and that the "no" on accepting applications is only because it is too early to send them applications for next years match. Off the top of my head I remember seeing almost 300 spots this past year in total for PM&R.

yes the 82 spots were PGY-1 spots... the article I quoted only looked at the pgy-1 spots in comparison to the other specialities... here are the full data (sorry it pasted funny, but check out the match data on the AAMC's careers in medicine website, your medical school should be able to give you a password)

PGY-1 2004 2005 2006
Number of Positions Offered:
Number of U.S. Seniors applying:
Number of Total Applicants:
Positions Per U.S. Senior:
Positions Per Total Applicants:
Number of Positions Filled by U.S. Seniors (%):
Number of Positions Filled, Total Applicants (%):
Number of Unfilled Positions:

75
214
418
0.4
0.2
51 (68)
69 (92)
6

78
234
441
0.3
0.2
38 (48.7)
71 (91)
7

82
192
396
0.4
0.2
47 (57.3)
76 (92.7)
6

PGY-2 2004 2005 2006
Number of Positions Offered:
Total Number of U.S. Applicants:
Number of Total Applicants:
Positions Per U.S. Applicant:
Positions Per Total Applicants:
Number of Positions Filled by U.S. applicants (%):
Number of Positions Filled by Total applicants (%):
Number of Unfilled Positions:

268
198
493
1.4
0.5
133 (49.6)
257 (95.9)
11

278
227
500
1.2
0.6
149 (53.6)
264 (95)
14

270
185
457
1.5
0.6
122 (45.2)
256 (94.8)
14

 

[CasaElGato]

It seems like PM&R was not as competitive this year (compared to last year), but moreso than 2004 and 2003 based crudely on the data from Washington University (St Louis).

http://residency.wustl.edu/

2006
# Categorical/ Advanced positions available for U.S. Seniors 352
% U.S. Seniors matched* 88
# Unfilled Categorical/ Advanced Positions 20
#Unmatched U.S. seniors 23

2005
# Categorical/ Advanced positions available for U.S. Seniors 356
% U.S. Seniors matched* 80
# Unfilled Categorical/ Advanced Positions 21
#Unmatched U.S. seniors 48

2004
# Categorical/ Advanced positions available for U.S. Seniors 343
% U.S. Seniors matched* *92
# Unfilled Categorical/ Advanced Positions 15
#Unmatched U.S. seniors 17

2003
# Categorical/ Advanced positions available for U.S. Seniors 353
% U.S. Seniors matched* *94
# Unfilled Categorical/ Advanced Positions 20
#Unmatched U.S. seniors 9

*Among U.S. seniors who ranked only Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation programs; over 67% of U.S. seniors ranking PM&R programs ranked ONLY this specialty.

US MATCH STATISTICS

Competitiveness(*)

2006 : High
2005 : High
2004 : Intermediate
2003 : Intermediate

Competitiveness is based on the percentage of U.S. seniors who match in each specialty.

 

[Gauss]

percentages mean nothing without knowing how many US seniors applied

 

[drvlad2004]

percentages mean nothing without knowing how many US seniors applied

Also US Seniors refers only to MDs and not DOs. Therefore the stats are not accurate enough.

 

[jonnylingo]

According the the http://residency.wustl.edu/ site, PM&R was ranked as "high" competitiveness:

Competitiveness

2006 : High
2005 : High
2004 : Intermediate
2003 : Intermediate


What is everyone's take on this? Is this accurate? Normally you hear of PM&R as being easy to get into (depending on program of course...don't mean to offend the best of the best) 😛

Also, aren't there some official stats posted about the average board scores of those applying/matching as well as number of programs applied to, number of interviews... etc.

I know of such an official posting from Ophthalmology. A resident gave me this "official" print off which was helpful in getting an overall picture of what one is dealing with when applying to Ophtho. Such numbers would be helpful for us going to PM&R as well. Thanks for any insight.

 

[Gauss]

there are several threads down about individual's stats, number of interviews, number of apps, and so forth, but there are no "official stats" that you are asking about.
there are very competitive programs, not very competitive programs, and a lot in between. Location, prestige, research/academics all factor in. Is PM&R more competitive now than 4-5 years ago - I'd say definitely (although I'd not put it into "high" competitiveness category), but there are still plenty of programs that anyone could match into.
The bottom line is, there are a lot more US grads applying and many programs have started to only take US grads. I don't foresee this trend changing in the near future.