Is everyone deserving?

[poky]

xposted with OceanChild

Hold up...according to this were were more than 10k extra spots if all US grads matched.

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...2014-Final.pdf

I added up the numbers of spots offered and the numbers of matched/unmatched US Seniors on the chart on page 8 of the PDF.

2014 Residency Spots offered: 25356
2014 Matched and Unmatched US Seniors: 16372

This was 2014 match data that only distinguished between US Seniors and Independent applicants, which I would assume means DOs and FMGs. So really there are more than enough spots for the "intended" population, it's just the competition from DOs or FMGs means some US Seniors aren't matching. And if they are the better applicants, well, who am I to say they shouldn't?

I definitely think we need more residency spots, but I also don't think making sure EVERY applicant has a spot is the right strategy either--that demand will never slow down.

Here's the 2015 version of that PDF, and they added more than 500 PGY-1 positions between 2014 and 2015: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...2015_final.pdf

[SuzySunshine]

I agree there should be more spots but no, everyone doesn't deserve a spot just because they graduated. Part of the problem is specialty choice, some people have NO business going into the specialty they've chosen but they stick to it and then go unmatched, that is on them.


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[Vanquisher]

I agree there should be more spots but no, everyone doesn't deserve a spot just because they graduated. Part of the problem is specialty choice, some people have NO business going into the specialty they've chosen but they stick to it and then go unmatched, that is on them.


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I completely agree with this. Not everyone is a rocket surgeon.


Heidi

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I think the issue is that the available spots do match the applicants interest/desired specialty. We saw a few in DH's class who had NO business applying the way that they were (too few programs, too competitive a specialty, or trying to couples match in a way that virtually guaranteed that they wouldn't match). And that isn't a problem we should correct for - I don't get every job that I'm theoretically qualified for based on my undergrad degree - it goes to the best person.

The author of that article isn't any different than other people who didn't get the job they wanted out of grad school and now face under/unemployment. It sucks for them but you don't always get what you want and you have to be realistic about plans/job prospects if you're a candidate in anything...especially something as competitive as medicine.

[MAPPLEBUM]

The author of that article isn't any different than other people who didn't get the job they wanted out of grad school and now face under/unemployment. It sucks for them but you don't always get what you want and you have to be realistic about plans/job prospects if you're a candidate in anything...especially something as competitive as medicine.

Well said.

[MrsC]

I think the issue is that the available spots do match the applicants interest/desired specialty. We saw a few in DH's class who had NO business applying the way that they were (too few programs, too competitive a specialty, or trying to couples match in a way that virtually guaranteed that they wouldn't match). And that isn't a problem we should correct for - I don't get every job that I'm theoretically qualified for based on my undergrad degree - it goes to the best person.

The author of that article isn't any different than other people who didn't get the job they wanted out of grad school and now face under/unemployment. It sucks for them but you don't always get what you want and you have to be realistic about plans/job prospects if you're a candidate in anything...especially something as competitive as medicine.

This!
I don't see why it's different from any other job. It should go to the best candidate.
I also think med school grads are far too picky about where they apply. DH's residency program was excellent but it was in a shitty location so they always got mediocre applicants.
I think the problem lies with med schools. They're all about the money.

That's interesting about the application process ST. In Ireland it's all grade/points based and it works quite well. But then the spots are so few and it's so hard to achieve the required grades, it weeds out a lot of people. I can see why it would be hard to make it work here.

[SoonerTexan]

Do they not do any interviews at all MrsC? In this case they still take grades into account, they just disregarded the interview portion altogether that year from what I gather


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[MrsC]

Do they not do any interviews at all MrsC? In this case they still take grades into account, they just disregarded the interview portion altogether that year from what I gather


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Actually, I just read that they now do interviews in two of the med schools there so I wonder if they're moving towards that now. The others have an extra test that assesses your skills in a bunch of different areas. DH didn't have one. It's the same for most third level courses though. It's based on academics alone. But you don't have the same kind of financial investment that you do here so I'm sure the drop out rate is higher.