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Pediatric match data: Positions exceed individuals matched :

December 8, 2016

Perspective, geographic location, reputation of the program and perceived goodness of fit top the list of factors considered by U.S. medical school seniors when applying to residency programs, according to the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match.

The NRMP issued three reports looking at trends in demographics of U.S. and international medical school students and graduates, broken down by specialty. For the first time, the NRMP offers a separate report on osteopathic medical school applicants.

The reports also document how applicant qualifications affect the match success of U.S. allopathic medical school seniors and U.S. and non-U.S. citizen students/graduates of international medical schools.

The number of positions historically has exceeded the number U.S. students applying for positions, according to the NRMP (http://bit.ly/2eEwhJ9). The combined number of graduating students from U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical schools has been lower than the total number of available PGY-1 positions in NRMP and American Osteopathic Association matches since 2002.

Successful match applicants are more likely to rank more programs within their preferred specialty, be members of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society (among allopathic students) and be U.S. citizens if they are international medical graduates, according to Charting Outcomes in the Match.

For a glimpse of the other side of the match, the NRMP conducted a survey of allopathic pediatric program directors (http://bit.ly/2eEwNGZ). The directors reported that they had each received over 1,200 applications, having sent out just 234 invitations for interviews. Of 185 applicants interviewed, 169 were ranked.

NRMP data indicate that there are always more positions than U.S. students applying for those positions. Data specific to pediatrics and Match Day can be found at http://bit.ly/2fm2S6v. Future pediatricians seeking medical education support can visit the AAP Section on Pediatric Trainees webpage, with information for medical students (http://bit.ly/2fzxNkC) and trainees (http://bit.ly/2eEloa3).

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