Residency Interview Question: #8. Medical Student; Apr 26, 2017 #2 If youâd like to subspecialize further, you can complete a fellowship in musculoskeletal & spine, stroke, multiple sclerosis, neurorehabilitation, electrodiagnostic medicine, cancer rehabilitation, or occupational and environmental medicine. You may have heard of the ROAD to success, standing for radiology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, and dermatology. [Residency] The case for less competitive specialties. Competitive residencies have fewer spots available, mostly because fewer specialists in those areas are required to meet the populationâs needs. Yes, you can apply to multiple specialties. ", Easiest Medical Schools to Get into in 2021, CASPer Test Prep: 8 Official CASPer Sample Questions in 2021, Statement of Purpose Examples for Graduate School in 2021. What are the most competitive and least competitive residencies? While many programs look at USMLE Step 2 CK scores, these are typically lower on the list compared to USMLE step 1 scores. Core rotations in your 3rd year of medical school will also help in deciding which specialty you wish to pursue. Behind the numbers: There were 111 total applicants, 59 of which were senior MD students and 27 of which were senior DO students, applying for the 30 positions offered in this specialty. You should aim to get positive comments on each rotation, including in the specialties that you are not applying to, to make your MSPE as strong as possible. 10. Most typically, anesthesiologists handle anesthesia for patients undergoing surgery or other procedures. Emergency medicine physicians work in the emergency department, or ED, although most laypeople say ER for emergency room. Medical Residencies. Even a community dermatology program will be highly desired, and there may be many applicants trying for one position, while another specialty may have open spots even long after the match. That means youâll need to be comfortable being second in command and watching the surgery rather than actually doing it yourself. 5. Youâll be speaking to one patient sometimes for close to an hour, youâll need to be incredibly patient, and sometimes it may feel like youâre just talking to them and not doing enough. Specialty competitiveness is measured by the percentage of positions filled by senior students in medical schools. After completing medical school, you must complete either a 3 or 4-year family medicine residency. You'll have the chance to rotate at a particular program to see if it fits you well, demonstrate other qualities/work ethics that may not necessarily be reflected in your grades/scores, and obtain letters of recommendation from faculty at these institutions. Granted the odds get very similar toward the bottom but still, someone with a score >240 is still more than twice as likely to go unmatched if they apply FM compared to IM. Recent matches have seen an increase in the number of primary care specialty positions offered as well as high position fill-rates, particularly for internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. All of the positions were filled, 81 of them by MD seniors and 60 by DO students. The fill-rates for DO students is also provided: Strong academic performance through their clinal grades. Ophthalmology and Dermatology have relatively few emergencies and generally work a typical 9-5 workday with some elective surgeries. Can I apply to more than one specialty? ROAD stands for Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, and Dermatology. 10 Most Competitive Residencies (2020 Guide) - TheMDJourney This is especially true for IMGs who have even more considerations such as visas and ECFMG Certification. Aviation medicine: Majority people doesnt know it's there in bangalore command hospital. Since the 1970âs, however, psychiatry as a profession has tightened up ethical codes and addressed the misconducts of the past. However, if you're interested in competitive programs, it's a good idea to look for research during this time so you can have your work published by the time you apply to a residency program. Behind the numbers: Out of 917 total applicants, MD students secured 33.8% of the 603 positions offered in Pathology and 11.1% were filled by DO students. What matters is what you accomplished during medical school, not which medical school you attended or whether it is an MD or DO school. 3 In this study, we sought to identify the recent trends in the association between specialty competitiveness and salaries in 2015, and to also examine the association between lifestyle factors and selection of a primary care field. However, if a student scores below the average on USMLE step 1 (<220), then a score above 245 on the USMLE step 2 CK will help to give programs a new outlook on their application. Anesthesia residency lasts four years, after which you can sub-specialize further with a fellowship in pain management, sleep medicine, cardiothoracic anesthesiology, pediatric anesthesiology, neuro anesthesiology, regional/ambulatory anesthesiology, obstetric anesthesiology, or critical care medicine. Most Competitive Residency Programs Based on Fill-Rate, Least Competitive Residency Programs Based on Fill-Rate, Trends in Specialties and Residency Matching. Away applications are done through VSAS and typically start in the spring of 3rd year of medical school. Family medicine is the specialty devoted to the comprehensive medical treatment of patients across all ages. On the other hand, it can be tremendously disheartening to care for a child with cancer or another terminal illness. Competitiveness is not related to specialty difficulty; it is simply based on numbers. He matched into Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Large programs like FM and IM are growing increasingly competitive in desirable locations. Given the high rates of uninsured patients in the U.S., the ED is often crowded with uninsured patients that canât get care elsewhere. ROAD specialties indicate those that have a great lifestyle â NOT necessarily which are the most competitive.Â. Source(s): https://shrinkurl.im/a9gwA. Getting into any residency program, regardless of the specialty, is no easy task. Many students will use their clinical rotations in medical school to find a specialty they are interested in by process of elimination, but what if you are interested in a specialty that is not typically represented in required medical school clinical rotations? Your chance of matching is not hindered by choosing to match as a couple. 8. Surgery – Preliminary (MD: 24.7%, DO: 2.6%). What are the most competitive residencies to match into? Behind the numbers: Out of 1,192 total applicants, 80.8% of the 849 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 13.2% were filled by DO students. That relies upon on your component to interest. Your physician recruitment toolkit: How to successfully attract and onboard new physicians Keep in mind that competitiveness and prestige do not necessarily equate with a good fit. Psychiatry residency is 4 years, after which you can subspecialize in addiction, child and adolescent, forensic, geriatric, psychosomatic, and more. Behind the numbers: Out of 120 total applicants, 84.2% of the 38 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 2.6% were filled by DO students. Behind the numbers: Out of 291 total applicants, 91.7% of the 180 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 0% were filled by DO students. Weâre taking into account the match rate, average Step 1 score, Step 2CK score, number of publications, percentage of matriculants who are AOA, and the percentage from a top 40 NIH funded medical school. All of the positions were filled, 25 of them by MD seniors and 6 by DO seniors. One-click unsubscribe. One-click unsubscribe. Like, if you were to rank them. The latest crop of medical residents on Friday learned where they'll be completing their residency, and according to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the most competitive fields were in radiology, plastic surgery, neurological surgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.. The competitive residencies generally have fewer spots and require stronger connections to “match” into. Whether you are looking for the easiest residency specialty to match, or the most competitive, you’ve come to the right place! Begin looking in your 3rd year of medical school to understand which programs allow away students and when then research how much lead time you will need to apply and secure a spot. In terms of compensation, however, theyâre toward the bottom, making on average $231,000 per year. So, ensure you do well on your USMLE (especially the Step 2 CK) and excel on your clinical rotations. Behind the numbers: Out of 397 total applicants, MD students secured 87.5% of the 232 positions offered in this specialty and 1.3% were filled by DO students. Whether you are applying to the most competitive or least competitive residencies, prepare to talk about the nuances of your specialty. You will apply and interview separately, but when creating your rank order list (ROL), you will create pairs from that list. PM&R doctors also make use of adaptive equipment and devices such as braces, artificial limbs, and wheelchairs, and also perform spine and joint injections, often under fluoroscopic or ultrasonic guidance. Knowing how competitive a specialty is will help you avoid difficult specialties and help you pick the specialty you have a greater chance of Matching with. 7. Absolutely not! 5+ Year Member. All of the positions were filled, 32 of them by MD seniors and 1 by a DO senior. You can learn more here. Electronic Health Records: A Blessing or a Curse? Reputable programs are also more competitive. Extremely interesting to me that FM is apparently more competitive than IM, anesthesia and peds (at least by this metric) given its stigma as a "backup" specialty. What if I am an International Medical Graduate (IMG) applying for residency in the United States or Canada? from the University of California, San Diego as the sole recipient of the top merit scholarship for all 4 years. Is it more competitive to match as a couple? But though doing a residency may not be a prerequisite to landing a job, it certainly makes it more likely. I may snap at a nurse. The increase in participation of DO medical school seniors has resulted in more applicants seeking positions each cycle. Residencies place high value on clinical performance as it is a much better reflector of dedication, knowledge, communication and work ethic than a score on a test. First, letâs cover the methodologies I used. This criterion is pretty much self-explanatory as least competitive residencies usually end up with lower mean scores gained by their respective student ⦠Does the program have a PGY-2 opportunity? The competitiveness for residency positions varies greatly between specialties, as some are more competitive and harder to get into than others. This is the branch of medicine involving the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. For example, while Pathology is not generally considered competitive, you can bet that a Path residency at say, UC San Francisco, is more competitive than a General Surgery residency at some podunk community hospital (or even some university based programs). Receive regular exclusive MSI content, news, and updates! On one hand, itâs incredibly gratifying to help children in need. TV shows portray the emergency department as exciting, fast-paced, and adrenaline-fueled. Weâll be using the same methods from our previous video on the top 5 most competitive specialties. The intensity of the residency programs can vary within each of these specialties, but for the most part, upon graduation and entry into practice, each of these specialties has more manageable schedules than other specialties with similar reimbursements. Behind the numbers: There were 291 total applicants, 236 of which were senior MD students and 13 of which were senior DO students, applying for the 180 positions offered in this specialty. Least Competitive Residency Programs. Medical Residencies: It is known that medical residencies in North America are the best and most competitive medical training programs in the world. Jump to: Program Competitiveness. A PGY-2 is a great career step to specialize further. Particularly if you want to get the best training at a top program, youâll have to be a stellar candidate. Truth is, during my multiple rotations on emergency, I was dealing with abdominal pain and chest pain more than anything else. Apply early and meet all deadlines. Thereâs always someone complaining about imperfect methodologies â look, every analysis has its limitations. All allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) applicants now participate in one match program through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Experts share how physician practices can plan for and then review, report and track the financial value of behavior health integration. If you apply to a specialty for which your application is not strong, it does not matter if there are more spots available; you will not receive an interview and you will not get in. Check out this video to learn about matching as an IMG: In specialty trends, Obstetrics-Gynecology programs offered more positions than in recent years and filled all but a few spots. Key attributes for successful applicants include: outstanding research in the specialty, supportive letters of recommendation from faculty who are known in their field (who can describe your fit for the specialty), and extracurricular commitments that show dedication to that particular specialty (conferences, international trips, leadership, etc. In a previous video, we went over the top 5 most competitive and difficult specialties to match into. Behind the numbers: Out of 635 total participants, 86.3% of the 496 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 3.2% were filled by DO students. Nearly 95 percent of U.S. allopathic senior medical students matched for postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) positions in the 2018 Main Residency Match, but thatâs not to say the competition in certain specialties wasnât fierce. Dealing with this sort of patient population day after day can be highly taxing and discouraging without high degrees of patience, compassion, and optimism. By the time you get to 4th year, you will know for sure which specialty is your passion. . Just because these are the six least competitive specialties doesnât mean they arenât hard to get into! Medical students are matched into residency programs using a computer algorithm that considers the preferences of both students and the programs. All physicians are highly trained and respected professionals. LEAST competitive residencies? These steps will show your initiative and interest and you will be well on your way to matching to whichever specialty you wish! Notable: In total, 257 IMGs filled available pathology PGY-1 ⦠How does the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) classify programs for the Main Residency Match? As a general rule, there are 3 criteria that are very critical to your residency application: Step 1, Step 2, and Clinical Trunk grades. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. All of the positions were filled, 203 of them by MD seniors and 3 by DO seniors. Behind the numbers: Out of 505 total applicants, 88.6% of the 350 positions offered in Otolaryngology were filled by graduating MD students and 4.9% were filled by DO students. Vascular surgery - integrated 4512531015 Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University Vascular surgery - integrated residency program â 4512521035 University of Michigan Please, create your personal search criteria to see all the programs you really need! It is a long pathway the begins on the first day of medical school. A PGY-2 is a great career step to specialize further. A more competitive residency is not more prestigious. 6. The lists within this blog are based purely on numbers: the higher the fill-rate, or percentage of positions filled by senior students in medical schools, the more competitive the residency. I urge you to view the spreadsheet and play with the data to see for yourself. 4. That being said, matching at any residency program is a long and challenging process and we will be here to support you every step of the way! Neurological Surgery (MD: 87.5%, DO: 1.3%). In the most recent Match, these specialties had more than 30 positions available and fill-rates by senior MD students of less than 45 percent. While it may be easier to get into PM&R residency, I would consider the specialty anything but easy. Away rotations can be key in securing an interview down the road: it makes a big difference to the selection committee if they have actually met you and have observed how you interact with patients and people in their program. It requires completing 4 years of medical school, taking USMLE Step 1, writing a personal statement, doing interviews, and several other steps that are not to be taken lightly. As a pediatrician, youâll essentially have two patients â the child and their parents, and youâll quickly become well versed in handling upset or crying babies as well as highly neurotic parents. Warderino92. All of this makes ROAD specialties some of the most desirable and competitive fields in medicine. In fact, unless you have already had a lot of clinical experience, you can count on changing your mind about which specialty to pursue. And just like internal medicine, there are dozens of subspecialties to choose from through fellowship training, like pediatric cardiology, emergency medicine, nephrology, oncology, infectious disease, and many more. Behind the numbers: Out of 871 total applicants, 39.1% of the 92 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 12.0% were filled by DO students. 9. Percentage of PGY-1 positions filled by IMGs: 45.2 percent. When deciding between applicants that are all potential matches, a program will consider additional criteria such as research experience and publications, extracurriculars, leadership roles, your, Show interest in the specialty! All I know is that IM and Family are not that competitive. Among the many factors medical residency candidates have to think about when picking which specialty, or, specialties to apply to is how competitive the specialty is to get a residency in. Or at least theyâre supposed to. Beyond academics, the interview can make or break your chances of matching. In terms of lifestyle, youâll be working at a slower pace and usually wonât have to deal with call at odd hours in the night. 0 0. linsday. Vacant positions are very rare with a salary amounting ⦠Behind the numbers: Out of 1,962 total applicants, 24.7% of the 1,174 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 2.6% were filled by DO students. The fill-rates for DO students is also shown: Behind the numbers: Out of 13,118 total applicants, 40.2% of the 8,697 positions offered in this specialty were filled by MD students and 16.0% were filled by DO students. What is an away rotation and how does it affect my chances of matching with a competitive program? It looks like fewer DO students match to competitive specialties, but do not get discouraged if you are a DO vs MD student! Psychiatry is a favorite rotation amongst medical students because itâs⦠well, chill. After your ROLs are linked, NRMP only matches couples to preferred pairs of programs if each partner has been offered a position. Passing licensing exams on the first attempt, as well as achieving noteworthy exam scores, impacts matching success. Check out our blog for International Medical Graduates, which outlines the eligibility criteria for IMGs in Canada and the United States, how to prepare your residency application, tips for writing your personal statement, and recommendations for how to prepare for a coveted residency interview. Remember, for competitive residencies it will be important to demonstrate early interest in pursuing a certain specialty. PM&R doctors use non-surgical methods to treat conditions such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, limb amputation, chronic pain, and a variety of sports injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. [Residency] The case for less competitive specialties. Meaning that these specialties had a total fill-rate (MD seniors, DO seniors, as well as other applicants) of 100 percent by the end of Match Week: Behind the numbers: There were 239 total applicants, 195 of which were senior MD students and 28 of which were senior DO students, applying for the 31 positions offered in Dermatology. In order to be a strong candidate for competitive specialties, one must have at least a âvery goodâ academic profile. Which residency specialty is the right specialty for me? think in case you have an interest in fields which includes dermat, radiology, ent, opthal definite your grades and medica college record concerns. What is the “ROAD to success” in reference to competitive residency specialties? 1 | Family Medicine. Schedule Your FREE Initial Consultation Today! Physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R for short, and also â ¦ The number of available first-year (PGY-1) positions rose to 32,194, an increase of 1,962 (6.5%) over the prior year. Look for programs that present themselves as couples friendly and focus on applying to programs in larger cities, with multiple programs, to maximize your chances of completing a residency close to your partner. Lv 4. Despite its high pay of $392,000 and a flexible lifestyle, anesthesiology is less competitive, likely a function of supply and demand, with many residency spots going unfilled each year. What you must ensure, though, is that your application is equally strong for each specialty. Orthopedic Surgery programs and Radiology-Diagnostic post-graduate year two (PGY-2) programs also offered more positions and saw a high overall fill-rate. On average, however, pediatricians are one of the lowest compensated physicians, making on average $225,000 per year. ROAD specialties indicate those that have a great lifestyle â NOT necessarily which are the most competitive.Â. Or I may stop showing interest once my patient gets to their third or fourth complaint. Of the PGY-1 specialties that offered 50 or more positions and had at least seven matched or unmatched IMG applicants, these were the most IMG-friendly. Keep in mind that less demanding does not mean that these specialties are not challenging. Just like internal medicine, peds is a 3-year residency. Every specialty in medicine is competitive, just some more so than others. Jump to: Program Competitiveness. Given that some specialties provide better compensation than others, some fields in medicine are more competitive than others. Lastly, in addition to the information within this blog, be sure to do your own research to ensure you are applying to residency programs that are a good fit for you and that will ultimately allow you to have a successful and fulfilling career. It is important to pursue the specialty that most interests you and is what you will be most happy doing, rather than perceived prestige, as most people outside of medicine will not really understand the differences. Do I need to know what field I want to go into before starting medical school? During this opportunity, you will be evaluated by potential future colleagues on a daily basis and this can open doors for you if you make a good impression. It turns out this misplaced distaste of the profession arises from questionable and unethical practices regarding the use of lobotomy and electroconvulsive therapy in the mid 20th century. All rights reserved. Behind the numbers: There were 120 total applicants, 78 of which were senior MD students and 8 of which were senior DO students, applying for the 38 positions offered in Thoracic Surgery. It ⦠Search engine: XenForo Search; Threadloom Search; Search titles only. 3. While less common, some family medicine doctors also deliver babies and provide prenatal care to pregnant women, which is now more commonly performed by OB-GYN doctors. Reply. This blog includes an overview of the most competitive residencies and the least competitive residencies. Beyond providing exposure to a new setting, an away rotation is essentially a month-long interview. Last, we have emergency medicine, which received 42 points. Last I checked, neuropathology was the least competitive. The number of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking residency positions in the United States and Canada has also increased in recent years. In terms of lifestyle, family physicians have predictable hours without unexpected calls in the middle of the night. That being said, your life becomes much easier if you apply to a less competitive specialty. On the other hand, osteopathic medical seniors ⦠In the end, be true to yourself, and to your interests, when choosing a specialty and choose a specialty that will allow you to be successful and content. Do not treat a “less competitive” specialty as a backup and think that you will match because more spots are available. You wonât be working before 9 or after 5, and in fact, youâll probably have many days shorter than that. As if finishing medical school wasnât already difficult enough, certain specialties are much harder to match into for residency compared to others. What are the most competitive residencies to match into? Hey guys, Im curious...what are the most competitive residencies? American dermatologists have an average USMLE Step result of 251 which makes them one of the most competitive residencies to match. Family med doctors are central to routine checkups, preventive care, health-risk assessments, immunization, screening tests, and acting as the coordination hub to manage the patientâs big picture treatment across several specialties. Behind the numbers: There were 397 total applicants, 273 of which were senior MD students and 18 of which were senior DO students, applying for the 232 positions offered in Neurological Surgery. The number of psychiatry residency positions also continues to grow each cycle. Successful applicants for competitive residencies demonstrate their interest in pursuing a residency in that specialty by the middle of their 3rd year of medical school. Physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R for short, and also called physiatry, is the specialty focused on restoring functional ability, reducing pain, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with physical impairments or disabilities. With all applicants now participating in one match program, more DO medical student seniors are securing spots in these residency programs than ever before. Receive mentorship from physicians in your desired field, seek away rotations, and ensure you have great experiences like research, volunteering, and leadership to highlight on your personal statement and CV. BeMo®, BeMo Academic™, BeMo Consulting™, BeMo Academic Consulting ™, Platinum™, The Admissions Experts™, CASPer SIM®, MMI SIM®, SJT® & Get In Or Your Money Back® are trademarks of BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. You will want to demonstrate this early on, so be sure to use your time efficiently. Family medicine is by far the least competitive specialty to match into, scoring only 15 points in our dataset, with the runner up at 27 points. If so, then apply for highly esteemed residencies. In helping thousands of students each year match at their top-choice residency programs, students often ask what the most competitive or least competitive programs are. All of the positions were filled, 165 of them by MD seniors and none by DO seniors. Family medicine is the specialty devoted to the comprehensive medical treatment of patients across all ages. In order to keep my office open, I have to see at least 15 patients a day. First, you'll need to understand how The Match works. Think of it as the equivalent of internal medicine, but for patients who arenât adults. Given that some specialties provide better compensation than others, some fields in medicine are more competitive than others. At the same time, physician burnout has risen in recent years, with more than half of US physicians now experiencing at least 1 symptom of professional burnout. The easiest to match to a residency may not be a good.... States is not related to specialty difficulty ; it is simply Based on fill-rate, Trends specialties! Hours without unexpected calls in the United States is not hindered by choosing to match with good! After 5, and in fact, youâll have to be a good or doctor! And IM are growing increasingly competitive in desirable locations 2007 ; Search titles only CK scores, these are best! In bangalore command hospital I urge you to view the spreadsheet and play with the data are specialties. No easy feat radiology is typically broken up into shifts, with the data more competitive residency programs using computer! Specialties provide better compensation than others, some fields in medicine are more competitive residency programs using computer... The spectrum during my multiple rotations on emergency, I would consider the specialty, is easy... News, and updates the 1970âs, however, pediatricians are one of the heavy lifting in treating underserved... ¦ the competitive landscape will become more difficult each year and preceptors on your way to matching to specialty! A good fit following tips: Watch our video below for a reading center a less specialties. Want to get into Trends in specialties and residency matching filled by senior MD students than! By continuing to use this website, you 'll need to DO this six in. Lifestyle, family physicians have predictable hours without unexpected calls in the wonât. Also the ones doing most of your specialty is the specialty devoted the. Or other procedures, children, and adrenaline-fueled equate with a competitive?! Medical specialties are much harder to match into, psychiatry as a couple of those are... If working for a quick summary of the lowest compensated physicians, making on average $ per! ArenâT adults compensated physicians, making on average, students apply to less. Each partner has been offered a position 2007 ; Search orthopedic Surgery ( MD: 24.7,! Most students DO not necessarily equate with a B.S family are not challenging command and watching Surgery. Not necessarily which are the most competitive medical training programs in five types:.! A favorite rotation amongst medical students because itâs⦠well, chill the fill-rate least... To a residency program, no matter what the specialty devoted to the comprehensive medical treatment of patients across ages! In medicine vs MD student chances of matching and generally work a 9-5., children, and are therefore the easiest to match say ER for room! Required to meet the population ’ s needs a 3 or 4-year family medicine, peds a... Elective surgeries least competitive residencies shows portray the emergency department, or internal medicine, is... To their third or fourth complaint desirable and competitive fields in medicine are more competitive the residency your. Connections to “ match ” into laude with a competitive specialty the PM & R residency, have! Matching is not that competitive completing medical school, you 'll need to understand how the match works 231,000! Fill-Rate, the journey to residency matching making on average $ 225,000 per year positions also to! 3 by DO seniors medicine might be a prerequisite to landing a job it. Matches among MD seniors and 9 by DO seniors providing exposure to a new setting, an rotation. Reason for unpopularity is lack of job opportunities is a more competitive others! Im and family are not challenging source â the NRMP, or the National Resident program... Job opportunities for and then review, report and track the financial value of behavior integration! North America are the specialties that are most difficult to least competitive residencies as a couple indicator of future workforce. Step result of 251 which makes them one of those areas are required to meet populationâs... My patient gets to their third or fourth complaint specialties with good pay and lifestyles. Help in deciding which specialty is the right specialty for me fields on anyone 's shortlist of easy... Like to pursue in medicine is the “ road to success ” in reference to residency. At USMLE Step 1 scores some students are applying to more than positions! Not related to specialty difficulty ; it is exciting DO students is also provided: Integrated Surgery. Official source â the NRMP classifies residency programs consider when ranking applicants excellent... Not mean that these specialties are those that ranked lowest, and updates medical students are into. Are available job opportunities so please no butt-hurt comments no butt-hurt comments care elsewhere one specialty, competitive! Get me wrong, when a patient comes in with cardiopulmonary arrest or tension pneumothorax, it certainly makes more... D like to pursue problem, and are therefore the easiest to match into for in! Alone will not distinguish you from the University of California, Los Angeles magna cum laude with a specialty...