Average Residency Applications Per Specialty (2024)

Is the Residency Match Process Becoming More Competitive?

The short answer is yes. Residency admissions has changed drastically over the years, even though the famous Match algorithm has remained the same. Today’s medical students submit more applications (and pay more application fees) than applicants 10 years ago, raising concerns that the process is becoming unsustainable. 

The growth in application submissions has also placed a burden on residency program directors, who have to sift through more and more applications every year. The result? More applications are screened out at a glance, based on metrics like grades and test scores.

Below is a table of the average applications submitted per student** for some of the major fields of medicine. I included 3 different years (2015, 2019,  and 2024) so you can see the growth rate.

**Source: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). (Note: 2015 data not available for all specialties.)

Read more: Categorical vs. Preliminary vs. Advanced Residencies

Program Signaling May Change This Trend

Residency program signals have been around for five years or so, and the ability to signal preferred programs may be one explanation for the drop in residency applications per student in the 2024/25 cycle.

Over 90% of residency programs allowed students to signal them in the previous cycle, and a majority of program directors report using them as a considerable factor in their application review process. When applying to residency, I strongly recommend students max out their limit of program signals to ensure they have the best shot at getting interviewed by their preferred programs.

For more on program signals and how to use them, check out my comprehensive guide to signaling.

How to Select Residency Programs

Your greatest chance at getting matched is selecting the best residency programs for yourself based on several factors. It’s less about raw numbers and more about how you fit.

For the best results, apply to programs that best align with your:

• Experience
• Preferred specialty
• Preferred location
• USMLE step 2 score for MD students or COMLEX Level 2 score for osteopathic students
• Clerkship grades
• Extracurricular activities and leadership roles
• Letters of recommendation
• Dean’s Letter (MSPE)
• Med school GPA or class rank
• Mission and vision for your career as a future physician

Read More: Components of a Residency Application

The more competitive specialties you choose, the better your stats need to be to qualify. If you’re a pretty average student with less-than-phenomenal test scores and grades, you probably shouldn’t apply to the most competitive and prestigious specialties.

That said, the residency application process is just one part of your medical education journey. Don’t settle — aim for your ideal medical residency, given your stats, experience, and goals for the future.

Learn More: Average Residency Salary by Specialty + Job Level

Considerations for IMGs

International medical graduates (IMGs) have a harder time getting matched because they have gone to a non-U.S. medical school, including Caribbean medical schools. On average, IMGs applied to nearly double the number of residency programs in 2023 as U.S. medical graduates (144 vs. 78).

A lower percentage of IMGs get matched compared to U.S. and Canadian med students; therefore, IMGs must often apply to more residencies to get good results in this increasingly competitive landscape.

I typically recommend that IMGs apply to at least 100 residency programs with the goal of securing 8-10 interview invites. Numbers like those should give you an 80-90% chance of matching, though that could vary depending on the quality of your application.

IMGs also need to consider the following when applying, whereas a U.S./Canada student doesn’t:

• US citizenship — Citizens of the United States who studied medicine abroad are IMGs, but they have a slightly higher chance of matching with their preferred residency than non-citizen IMGs. If you’re a US citizen, you may be able to apply to fewer programs than non-US citizens, perhaps 30-60 depending on your grades.
• US clinical experience — Most programs prefer (or require) you to have clinical experience completed in the US, including internships, sub-internships, externships, clerkships, or any clinical rotations inside the US.
• Visa needs — IMGs are expected to do their own research into whether a given residency program meets their visa needs.
• English proficiency — Use your personal statement section to demonstrate strong proficiency in the English language.
• IMG-friendliness — Certain states, specialties, and programs are more IMG-friendly than others. Seek out the most IMG-friendly residency programs to save your limited time while increasing your chance of matching. The IMG-friendliest specialties are usually family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.