Match Day Success

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Anyone heard any numbers on how many applicants match at their top three? I know it's not that simple, with factors such as location, individual rank order lists, etc., but I talked to a current resident recently who said he matched at his tenth choice. That made me cringe a little. My tenth choice is an awful place. My low step 1 held me back from the top programs, but I still got a few reach programs for interviews. Will my low step 1 pretty much keep me from matching a good program, despite interviewing there?
 
Even if you could get any meaningful data on this (you can't), it wouldn't indicate anything. My understanding of the match formula is that it doesn't penalize a student for over-reaching at the top of his list. Provided that he also ranks more realistic sites, a mediocre applicant could rank the top 10 programs in the country, even without having interviewed there, and it wouldn't affect his overall chances of matching or even the specific program at which he eventually ends up. Has there been some sort of change that limits the number of programs an applicant ranks?
 
There are no numbers, but most people match in their top 3.

That said, I know people who have matched well into the teens on their rank lists
 
cowme said:
There are no numbers, but most people match in their top 3.

That said, I know people who have matched well into the teens on their rank lists
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That is horrifying. And I feel for them. I have this gut feeling that when my reach programs are ranking applicants, they'll look at my numbers and just think I don't belong.
 
Specialty-specific data are not available, but the OVERALL percentage of applicants that match to ranks 1-3 was 78.8% in 2013.
 
2324tigers said:
Anyone heard any numbers on how many applicants match at their top three? I know it's not that simple, with factors such as location, individual rank order lists, etc., but I talked to a current resident recently who said he matched at his tenth choice. That made me cringe a little. My tenth choice is an awful place. My low step 1 held me back from the top programs, but I still got a few reach programs for interviews. Will my low step 1 pretty much keep me from matching a good program, despite interviewing there?
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You know what would make me cringe more? Not matching at all after 10+ interviews. I would have felt gracious for matching at all. Definitely would have enjoyed the elation of getting that match email vs dealing with the stress of SOAP.

Right now, you can only deal with what you can control. Rank the programs based on what you want and let the match take its course. I am sure you will be fine.
 
It all depends on on your stats - how low of a Step 1 score are we talking here? Do you mean low for Radiology - where the average has been around 24o, historically. Or lower than the national average for US med students. Also, are you from an Allopathic med school or are you FMG? Radiology is a lot less competitive now than it was 5 years ago, so if you're from an Allopathic school and have an average Step 1 score - you're chances of matching into your desired program are high.
It also depends on how competitive these programs are, in order to match into a Top tier/Big name university program, you still have to be a Rockstar applicant, but for a "B level" academic program, an average Step 1 score and decent performance at an Allopathic school should suffice.
For an FMG, they would definitely need to stand out with a high Step score.
 
BeardedRunner said:
It all depends on on your stats - how low of a Step 1 score are we talking here? Do you mean low for Radiology - where the average has been around 24o, historically. Or lower than the national average for US med students. Also, are you from an Allopathic med school or are you FMG? Radiology is a lot less competitive now than it was 5 years ago, so if you're from an Allopathic school and have an average Step 1 score - you're chances of matching into your desired program are high.
It also depends on how competitive these programs are, in order to match into a Top tier/Big name university program, you still have to be a Rockstar applicant, but for a "B level" academic program, an average Step 1 score and decent performance at an Allopathic school should suffice.
For an FMG, they would definitely need to stand out with a high Step score.
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226 step 1, and 256 step 2. I think some selection committees may see the Step 1 and just not be able to rank me to match.
I'm an American allopathic student and finished in the top half of the class, with honors in neurology and family medicine rotations. I'd like to know how far down my rank list I'll fall with stats like that, especially since my top three are large academic centers in the southeast.
 
2324tigers said:
226 step 1, and 256 step 2. I think some selection committees may see the Step 1 and just not be able to rank me to match.
I'm an American allopathic student and finished in the top half of the class, with honors in neurology and family medicine rotations. I'd like to know how far down my rank list I'll fall with stats like that, especially since my top three are large academic centers in the southeast.
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If you got an interview, your step 1 wasn't a huge impediment, and the fact that you showed improvement on Step 2 is a plus. You sound like a pretty decent applicant for mid-range academic programs. It's hard to say more without more specific details.
 
I'd say people with your stats are likely to match in their top 3.
 
Whether you match at your top 3 depends on the programs you rank as your top 3, obviously. Some people make location important and stay in a region for personal reasons, so their programs aren't necessarily as competitive as their stats. Other people rank highly competitive programs at the top or programs with few spots.

I was one of the people that got great feedback and love letters from multiple programs but didn't match at those programs. One of my weaker interview days ended up being at the program I matched at halfway down on my list. Admittedly, I had pneumonia during my biggest interviews. Actual pneumonia requiring antibiotics and feeling near death, so I felt that contributed to my drop a little bit. I also ranked a few places higher even though they were the type you need to rank 1and maintain contact with them, so it wasn't a surprise I dropped past them.

In the end, I still ended up at one of the better programs for my personality and interests outside of the hospital. I also ended up at an intern year that is only a 2 hour drive with lots of good networking, so it worked out for the best.

Short answer, the majority probably end up a their top 3 but even of you don't, there are worse things in life.
 
€#*! happens.
Think hard about your list. I read all this top 3 stuff back in the day. I felt confident. After all, I was a non crazy, affable, MD/PhD, 269 step I, top 20 med school candidate. Ended up matching at #5. Glad to have matched, and like the place, although it's in a different city than #1-4. Some of us end up surprised. And even if you think you just want to match, you will feel temporarily disappointed, especially since you thought the stats are in your favor. My life was temporarily blown up, and I had to move my family.
Just saying. Good luck to all. It's unlikely to be you, but then again...
 
saco said:
€#*! happens.
Think hard about your list. I read all this top 3 stuff back in the day. I felt confident. After all, I was a non crazy, affable, MD/PhD, 269 step I, top 20 med school candidate. Ended up matching at #5. Glad to have matched, and like the place, although it's in a different city than #1-4. Some of us end up surprised. And even if you think you just want to match, you will feel temporarily disappointed, especially since you thought the stats are in your favor. My life was temporarily blown up, and I had to move my family.
Just saying. Good luck to all. It's unlikely to be you, but then again...
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Yikes, you ever find out why? This is scaring me (although I suppose that was the point).
 
saco said:
€#*! happens.
Think hard about your list. I read all this top 3 stuff back in the day. I felt confident. After all, I was a non crazy, affable, MD/PhD, 269 step I, top 20 med school candidate. Ended up matching at #5. Glad to have matched, and like the place, although it's in a different city than #1-4. Some of us end up surprised. And even if you think you just want to match, you will feel temporarily disappointed, especially since you thought the stats are in your favor. My life was temporarily blown up, and I had to move my family.
Just saying. Good luck to all. It's unlikely to be you, but then again...
Click to expand...


My top three aren't Ivy League or anything, but it's all relative I guess.
 
DirtyJustice said:
Yikes, you ever find out why? This is scaring me (although I suppose that was the point).
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All speculation. I've moved on. Didn't mean to scare. Statistically you're still likely to match top 3, despite my personal anecdote.
 
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