Well, another residency application season is in the books.
And in 2019, the average residency applicant (all comers) submitted 92 residency applications.
Yes.
NINETY-TWO.
And each year, this number creeps higher and higher.
We need to talk about this.
(thread)
And in 2019, the average residency applicant (all comers) submitted 92 residency applications.
Yes.
NINETY-TWO.
And each year, this number creeps higher and higher.
We need to talk about this.
(thread)
First:
Can we please stop defending application inflation by saying that applicants *HAVE* to apply to so many programs because the number of residency programs isn’t growing at the same rate as applicants?
It’s not true.
Can we please stop defending application inflation by saying that applicants *HAVE* to apply to so many programs because the number of residency programs isn’t growing at the same rate as applicants?
It’s not true.
Statistically-speaking, there’s never been a better time IN THE PAST 50 YEARS for a graduating U.S. medical student to get a PGY-1 position.
But don’t take my word for it - let’s get it straight from @TheNRMP.
mk0nrmp3oyqui6wqfm.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/upl…
But don’t take my word for it - let’s get it straight from @TheNRMP.
mk0nrmp3oyqui6wqfm.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/upl…
Second:
In the aggregate, applying to more programs does NOT help students. Match rates do not improve when students overapply.
(Overapplication occurs because students are caught in a prisoner’s dilemma, in which overapplying is a dominant strategy.)
jgme.org/doi/pdf/10.430…
In the aggregate, applying to more programs does NOT help students. Match rates do not improve when students overapply.
(Overapplication occurs because students are caught in a prisoner’s dilemma, in which overapplying is a dominant strategy.)
jgme.org/doi/pdf/10.430…
Third:
Overapplication does not help program directors. PDs need more applications like they need a hole in the head.
Instead, overapplication guarantees the use of whatever convenience metric will help thin the pile (USMLE scores, school prestige, citizenship, etc.).
Overapplication does not help program directors. PDs need more applications like they need a hole in the head.
Instead, overapplication guarantees the use of whatever convenience metric will help thin the pile (USMLE scores, school prestige, citizenship, etc.).
But #ApplicationFever has been very beneficial for one group:
the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), corporate sponsor of ERAS.
Note how ERAS revenue has increased almost three-fold since 2008.
the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), corporate sponsor of ERAS.
Note how ERAS revenue has increased almost three-fold since 2008.
In fact, in 2019, ERAS accounted for
$94,153,946
of revenue for the AAMC.
Here’s how that compares to their other revenue streams.
$94,153,946
of revenue for the AAMC.
Here’s how that compares to their other revenue streams.
All that’s to say that the AAMC has a financial conflict of interest in providing solutions to #ApplicationFever. If we’re tired of it, we have to demand solutions.
And I’m on record as saying that nothing short of application caps will fix this.
thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/06/01/wha…
And I’m on record as saying that nothing short of application caps will fix this.
thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/06/01/wha…
If you’re in a video/podcast-y mood and want to learn more, I made one a while ago:
thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/06/14/app…
thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/06/14/app…
