Some questions

[Medstudentquest]

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Out of curiosity, is it possible/likely that a US grad wouldn't get a residency eventually? I will be applying next year but have seen several people who have graduated from my med school who have not gotten spots. I have also had some residents who were doing pre-lim years. Are pre-lims people who got a spot through a scramble and who don't have a spot for next year? What's the difference with a transitional year?

My questions: do you have to be an extraordinary applicant to get a spot? What's the likelihood you'd never match anywhere even if you reapply? Sorry of some of these questions seem stupid, but like I said, several people that have recently graduated that I've met haven't gotten residency spots so I'm starting to freak out about next year. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[buckley]

i think it would be very difficult for a US graduate with passing board scores not to match ANYWHERE. Univ programs may be a little competitive but there are plenty of community programs if you just want to do residency, period. Most of these programs take in IMGs becuase Im guessing AMGs dont apply there. That being said, it is of course entirely possible not to match even after applying 10x or 100x, especially if you are going for let's say Hopkins Dermatology and that alone. Apply to a good number, attend as many iv as you can and you should be fine.

 

[Medstudentquest]

i think it would be very difficult for a US graduate with passing board scores not to match ANYWHERE. Univ programs may be a little competitive but there are plenty of community programs if you just want to do residency, period. Most of these programs take in IMGs becuase Im guessing AMGs dont apply there. That being said, it is of course entirely possible not to match even after applying 10x or 100x, especially if you are going for let's say Hopkins Dermatology and that alone. Apply to a good number, attend as many iv as you can and you should be fine.

when you say community vs. university programs, do you refer to residency programs attached to a university that has a medical school vs. just a local community hospital type setting? besides things like research, what would be the advantage of doing a residency in a university program? oh and yes, i'm talking about most programs in general, not super competitive things like neuro or plastics or derm at hopkins or harvard or other ultra competitive programs/hospitals. i am wondering why several of the people who've graduated from my school in recent years have not been successful in their first try in the match? it's getting scary.

 

[buckley]

well, there's community, university and, like what you describe, university-affiliated (which imho is pretty much the same as community...there may be some exceptions...).
it really depends on your goals. usually if you see a career in the academe or bench research, university programs are the way to go. if private practice is your main desire, then a community ptogram with a good paying patient base would be great.
research, high usmle's, great lors...research the programs you apply to, apply to some long shots, add some "sure" shots, and apply to many in the middle. maybe you can ask those people why they didn't match, but you see the goal is not simply to match, but to get a residency that you can actually stick through and quite possibly enjoy for the next three or so years of your life. it really is anxiety-provoking--im doing it myself right now.

 

[Smurfette]

when you say community vs. university programs, do you refer to residency programs attached to a university that has a medical school vs. just a local community hospital type setting? besides things like research, what would be the advantage of doing a residency in a university program? oh and yes, i'm talking about most programs in general, not super competitive things like neuro or plastics or derm at hopkins or harvard or other ultra competitive programs/hospitals. i am wondering why several of the people who've graduated from my school in recent years have not been successful in their first try in the match? it's getting scary.

Usually, people who do not match had this happen because (IMHO, in order of most likely to least likely):

1. they applied to some specialty or some hospital that they were not competitive for (i.e. other applicants have higher boards scores and grades, etc., better LORs)

2. They only ranked a couple programs (or only ranked one...would happen every year in my school that somebody would rank only one program and then not match) or only ranked programs out of their league (see #1)

3. didn't apply to enough programs for their competitiveness and specialty chosen (i.e. the more competitive, the more places you better apply to), hence fewer interviews and then see #2 above.

4. some red flag in application/dean's letter/LOR

5. they couple's matched, and ended up in a scenario of one person unmatched and one at a top choice program/city/whatever

6. pure dumb luck

Most US grads can get a residency no problem....but it may not be in a field or location they want. FP, IM, Peds (primary care) are fields most anyone can match into if willing to go anywhere. Derm, ortho, ophtho, etc. are tough to get regardless of location.

 

[Coastie]

With the massive increase in medical schools, not to mention the projected 30% increase in existing spots within established schools, I figure we'll see a few grads without residencies in about 10 years, or so.

Those poor DNP's fighting for their own residency spots.

 

[Faebinder]

Indeed, we'll start seeing criticism of programs that favor FMGs with scores over AMGs. Might trigger a policy change. On the other hand, I have heavy disdain for forcing people to take a career just because there are not enough positions.

 

[Tired]

Every class at most schools have a couple people who failed Step 1 at least once, maybe even failed a class or rotation, and still manage to get a spot somewhere.

You may end up in a less-than-desirable residency, or you may not get the specialty you want, but the odds of never getting into any residency are very very low, as long as you are honest about your prospects. If your grades/scores are bad, apply to 50+ programs, throw in a lot of FP/IM/psych spots, and hope for the best. If that doesn't work out, you can always scramble.