10 Most Competitive Residency Programs in US

Applying for residency and awaiting matching results is probably the most stressful part of medical student’s life up to date, and we’ll probably add more pressure to some of them by compiling the list of 10 most competitive residency programs in US. Residency might not be med school graduate’s first true medical experience, but it’s definitely a start of one’s medical career. Most competitive residencies can be tough to get into – especially if candidate’s GPA and MCAT scores aren’t exactly strong. If med school graduates want to get a perfect match in highly sought after residency program of their choosing, they have to excel at both the Medical College Admission Test and throughout their med school education. This table will show you what happens if, for instance, a med student messes up the test. Even if his/hers GPA was as high as it could have been, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll find any type of match – let alone the intended one.

Some people are moved by potential earnings and this list of 13 highest paid medical residency programs in US should come in handy if you’re wondering how much do the residents get paid overall. Of course, resident’s salary changes every year, and the more years to the residency, the more a resident will eventually earn. Respective residencies themselves offer different payment conditions as you can see, and so do different programs and even regions inside the US. But I digress. Salary isn’t the only criterion that determines respective residency’s competitiveness rating. Some residencies are more competitive than others simply because there are less available programs and open positions for them. This means that more than one med school graduate vies for a single spot in a respective residency program. This further means that most competitive residencies require better USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores. All these criteria are important when trying to establish which of medical residency programs is the most competitive, and neither of them will be neglected.

In order to compile the list with such diverse inputs, however, we’ve had to apply our own points to all three of the given categories (physician’s average annual salary, mean USMLE tests score and a number of open positions per US senior candidate). First we have pinpointed the maximum and minimum values across all three criterions. Then, we have calculated the difference between these two points and divided it with 10 in order to get ten scoring segments. Those residencies with scores in lowest of these segments have received a single point while those ending up in highest have been assigned with the maximum 10 points. With this done for all three criterions, it’s easy to figure out that point range spans between 3 and 30. More competitive residencies, naturally, have the higher overall score. Finally, if more than one residency ends up with a higher score, a number of positions per US senior is used to determine the more competitive of the two (or more). Let’s see which are the 10 most competitive residency programs in US.

10. General Surgery

Overall score: 18

Future general surgeons need to exhibit solid USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores which, in this instance average 238.5. They still, however, have more than a few spots open for them as an average US senior competes for 1.1 open position in trying to get the match in this residency. Finally, general surgery promises physician’s mean salary of $360,933 which represents the middle ground compared to the rest of available specialties.

9. Diagnostic Radiology

Overall score: 20

“The eye of medicine” – diagnostic radiology is responsible for diagnosing the illness and paving the way for other medical specialties. The average salary of $404,302 is quite promising indeed, but in order to earn it, every diagnostic radiology resident will have to get a 245 USMLE Step tests average or thereabouts. Lucky for them, at least they compete for 1.29 open positions.

8. Ophthalmology

Overall score: 20

Ophthalmologists might earn slightly lower average yearly salaries of $343,144 than their predecessors on this list, but they don’t have plenty of maneuvering space when it comes to a number of open positions. 1.01 is the number here, and most US seniors have to really excel with their respective applications.

7. Urology

Overall score: 22

Urology is still competitive, even though the results vary between the years. Average USMLE tests scores for urology are almost impossible to find, but we have managed to dig urologist’s average Step 1 score from 2013 which sits at 238. Salary of $381,029 and positions per US senior score of 0.82, however, clearly pinpoint urology’s high competitiveness rating.

6. Radiation Oncology

Overall score: 23

A present-day radiation oncologist is closely connected with cancer treatment, even though physician in this field would only be a part of any respective cancer treatment team. Still, their overall Step score averages 244.5, and they all fight for 0.93 positions. Furthermore, their respective yearly salary of $418,288 is also quite competitive, but they first have to finish their residencies before getting the chance to actually earn it.

5. Dermatology

Overall score: 24

With mean USMLE Step tests score of 251, average US dermatologist represents the most qualified residency match. Their respective salary reaches $400,989 and they compete for 0.95 open positions. Considering all this, it’s no wonder why dermatology is one of the most competitive specialties on our list of 10 most competitive residency programs in the US.

4. Otolaryngology

Overall score: 25

Proudly carrying the moniker of “the oldest medical specialty in the US”, otolaryngology positions itself inside the top 5. Compared to some of less competitive residencies, the salary of $369,790 doesn’t seem like much, but 250 average in Step 1 and Step 2 scores, together with 0.84 positions per US senior applicant clearly make this residency stand out among others.

3. Plastic Surgery

Overall score: 26

Opposite of otolaryngology, plastic surgery is one of the youngest medical fields in the US. However, it has rapidly gained popularity in past couple of decades and is now considered one of the most competitive specialties. The future plastic surgeon can expect a median yearly salary of $407,709, but he/she also needs average USMLE test score results of around 248.5. Finally, Plastic surgery is the most competitive residency in terms of open positions per US applicant. 0.74 positions mean that only two out of three US seniors can expect to get a match.

2. Neurological Surgery

Overall score: 27

Neurosurgeons earn the most, with their average yearly salaries soaring as high as $609,639. However, they compete for 0.93 positions which isn’t the highest score; as we have seen. Their respective Step 1 and Step 2 score average of 245.5 also isn’t the best, but neurological surgery still manages to be one of the most competitive residency programs, regardless.

1. Orthopedic Surgery

Overall score: 28

The specialty that leads the list of 10 most competitive residency programs in US is orthopedic surgery. Orthopedics warrants the average USMLE tests score of 248, and all future residents have to know that they will compete for only 0.83 open positions. However, average annual salary of $535,668 should be enough to sway many a young med school graduates and seniors into considering this highly competitive specialty as their future vocation.