The Successful Match 2017: Rules for Success in the Residency Match

In competitive fields such as general surgery, dermatology, plastic surgery, and orthopedic surgery, over 25% of U.S. senior allopathic applicants failed to match.

The numbers are significantly worse for osteopathic and international medical graduates (IMGs). 

As an applicant, your goal is to match into your preferred specialty, and ideally your preferred program. The evidence indicates that it has never been more difficult to reach these goals.

Over a decade ago, in response to an anticipated physician manpower shortage, allopathic and osteopathic medical schools increased student enrollment. New schools were also established. However, the number of residency positions has not risen at a commensurate level. As more and more graduates have entered the Match, the competition for available residency positions has intensified.

The first edition of this book was published in 2009, and while the core strategies for a successful match remain the same, some important changes have occurred. The most relevant is that the competition is more intense. This has translated to applicants applying more widely and extensively than ever before. The larger number of applications means more challenges for programs. Programs are finding it difficult to reduce this large group of applicants into a smaller, more manageable number who will receive interview invitations. 

With increased competition, it has become even more important to ensure that your application stands out from the hundreds or even thousands of applications that your dream program has received.

In the 600 plus pages of this book, we answer the question of what it takes to match successfully. As with our previous edition, we provide specific evidence-based advice to maximize your chances of a successful match.

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