Every year I hear about qualified premeds not getting into med school because there are so few spots. Why are qualified people being turned away if there’s a worsening doctor shortage in the US?
In: 3577
When applying to residency, new doctors have to pick a speciality. They don’t just have a generic “residency”, but rather a program for neurology or one for orthopedic or ob/gyn, etc. Some programs are more popular choices than others for a variety of reasons (better $, better work hours, less after hours calls, etc.) Often med students are not realistic about the program they are trying for. The location is also an issue. Med school students apply to interview for various residency programs. Typically (covid years were exceptions) that means they get invited to interview at the school and that means the student has to buy their own ticket and make their own travel plans to show up at the interview. Time and money limit how many schools they can get to. Of those they do interview at, the student gets to rank them by favorite. The schools then also rank their interviewees by favorite. If all goes well, favorites match up. Sometimes the interview does not go well or the school has such a big pool to pick from that some just don’t get matched. The advisor for the student should be helping them establish realistic goals and attainable residency programs. Not everyone can be an orthopedic doctor in a big city. Sometimes they gotta be willing to move across country to start out.
Latest Answers