I've heard that the only 65% of applicants this year are going to match, and that many are predicting next year will be even lower. Anybody else hear anything similar? Those of you in residency already, have you had a significant increase in the number of applicants? Thanks.
Rad onc significantly more competitive this year?
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Also to add to that... our PD said there is an anecdotally significant increase in the number of applicants from schools without home radonc programs and a number of schools with very high numbers of their own students applying (penn, wayne, miami, etc...)
If this is so, any guesses as to why?
D
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Even in this competitive era, that is quite a drop off ... I think the best number to look at (when it comes out) is the unmatched senior rate. That's the one that really matters - if a bunch of FMGs or medicine residents are applying and failing to get in, that doesn't make it much more competitive.
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arguably the more relevant question is how many LCME applicants. This is probably much lower than 280.
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I really don't believe that only 65% will match. Rad Onc is not Derm, Neurosurg, or Plastics. I don't even think it is as competitive as Ortho or ENT, really. Don't stress. Apply into the field if you like it. Just don't stress if you don't get to interview at the "top" places (whatever that means). There are a ton of good programs out there.
I would be surprised if this was written by a Radiation Oncology resident or applicant. Derm and Plastics by pure numbers are the only two fields that are more competitive than Radiation Oncology. Some would argue given our percentages of MD/PhDs and average pubs our applicants are more qualified and thus radiation oncology is the MOST competitive
I dont buy that
but many do say that. Either way you slice it Radiation Oncology is intensely competitive. I suggest you check out the NRMP charting match outcomes:
http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2009v3.pdf
Compare radiation oncology to anything else, the only two that emerge slightly ahead are Derm and Categorical Plastics. This year application numbers were higher than they have ever been the match rate is going to be in the gutter the word about Rad Onc is out, we will see if the trend continues next year but many are predicting sub 70% match rates for this year ouch.
http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2009v3.pdf
Compare radiation oncology to anything else, the only two that emerge slightly ahead are Derm and Categorical Plastics. This year application numbers were higher than they have ever been the match rate is going to be in the gutter the word about Rad Onc is out, we will see if the trend continues next year but many are predicting sub 70% match rates for this year ouch.
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Damn! I was hoping radonc would be kept a secret for a couple more years! 😀
The cat has been out of the bag for quite awhile now I think 😀
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Numbers are up for pretty much EVERY specialty, not just rad onc. Remember, medical schools sizes increased this year. In addition, to prepare for the shortage of rad oncs in the future, the number of spots has increased. I agree that it is more competitive this year, even for american medical seniors. Yes, the ratio is about 1.5 students per rad onc spot (it was about 1.1:1), which would mean that about 2 of 3 (67%) applicants will match , but that does not specify who is a reapplicant, who took time off to do research, who is in another residency such as medicine and switching over and finally who is a foreign grad. It also appears that with the exception of places that did NOT match last year and new programs, for the most part the ratio of applicants to spots is still about 10-15:1.
I really do believe that american medical seniors will still do well. I believe their match rate will be at least in the low 80%'s because these are the people who probably already had the scores and research to apply right away. Unfortunately, I do not know about other types of applicants so I refuse to comment on it, but I'm sure people who took time off to do research also have a good chance because they showed dedication to the field. Anyway, there is nothing that can be done at this point so we might as well prepare for the worst and think positive thoughts till match day
I really do believe that american medical seniors will still do well. I believe their match rate will be at least in the low 80%'s because these are the people who probably already had the scores and research to apply right away. Unfortunately, I do not know about other types of applicants so I refuse to comment on it, but I'm sure people who took time off to do research also have a good chance because they showed dedication to the field. Anyway, there is nothing that can be done at this point so we might as well prepare for the worst and think positive thoughts till match day
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... there is nothing that can be done at this point so we might as well prepare for the worst and think positive thoughts till match day
There are 3 medical students spending a year doing research on the thoracic rad onc service at MD Anderson. Two are unpaid, one is paid (there's the advantage of working for an NIH funded attending). There's more on the other services as well. From what I've seen, they'll all get rad onc residencies with possibly one or two matching at MD Anderson.
