Summary:
- Otolaryngology Overall Competitiveness: High
- Research Importance: High
- USMLE Importance: High
- Importance of Attending Top 40 Med School: High
- Importance of Class Rank / Obtaining AOA (Med School Honors): Moderately High
Table of Contents
Is Otolaryngology Competitive in 2022?
One way to assess the competitiveness of a specialty is to look at the match rate – the % of people who apply who end up matching into their preferred specialty. Among US Seniors, the unmatched percentage was 30.8%, making it moderately competitive among US residencies. The match rate for otolaryngology is better than the most competitive specialties like plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery. However, otolaryngology is considerably more competitive than pediatrics, emergency medicine, general surgery, or even neurological surgery in the 2022 match. For more on the most competitive US specialties, see this article.
Otolaryngology Match Rate
What is the Otolaryngology match rate for US seniors, DO seniors, and IMGs? The “match rate” is the % of people who applied to a particular specialty as their preferred specialty who successfully matched into the specialty.- US Senior Otolaryngology Match Rate (2022 Match): 69.2%
- DO Senior Otolaryngology Match Rate (2022 Match): 60%
- US IMG Otolaryngology Match Rate (2022 Match): 0%
- Non-US IMG Otolaryngology Match Rate (2022 Match): 0%
Otolaryngology Match Statistics 2022
In 2022, there were 361 otolaryngology positions available in the NRMP match. A total of 556 applicants listed it as their preferred specialty. In the 2022 Match, otolaryngology ranked #15 out of 22 specialties for most total positions offered, behind:- Internal medicine: 9,809 positions
- Family medicine: 4,926 positions
- Emergency medicine: 2,921 positions
- Anesthesiology: 1,969 positions
- Orthopedic Surgery: 875 positions
- Pathology: 631 positions
How Many Applicants Receive Interviews in Otolaryngology?
According to the 2021 Program Director survey, each Otolaryngology program received 407 applications on average. Other data include:- Applications received (Otolaryngology): 407
- Applications rejected based on standardized screen (Otolaryngology): 67
- Applications receiving holistic review (Otolaryngology): 340
- Interview invitations sent (Otolaryngology): 56
- Applicants interviewed (Otolaryngology): 49
- Applicants ranked (Otolaryngology): 46
- 16% of Otolaryngology applications were rejected via standardized screen,
- Only 84% of Otolaryngology applications received a holistic review,
- 14% of Otolaryngology applications received an interview invitation, and
- 11% of all Otolaryngology applicants were ranked to match
Otolaryngology is Not Very Reliant on Screens
Many specialties, including otolaryngology, rely on standardized screens to weed out applicants. In the 2021 Program Director Survey, otolaryngology PDs respondents reported that 16% of applications were rejected via standardized screen. This ranked near the lower end when compared to other residencies.USMLE Scores for Otolaryngology
Step 1 scores for otolaryngology for matched US seniors reflect its high level of competitiveness. Otolaryngology Step 1 Scores (Matched Applicants in 2022 Match):- 25%ile: 259
- Median: 250
- 75%ile: 244
Step 1 Otolaryngology Scores Are Higher Compared to Other Specialties (2022 Match)
- 25%ile: 265
- Median: 258
- 75%ile: 250
Step 2 CK Otolaryngology Scores Are Higher than Other Specialities (2022 Match)
Matching into Otolaryngology as a DO
Matching into Otolaryngology as a DO is moderately competitive, with a 60% match rate and 6% of spots filled by DO Seniors in the 2022 Match. In 2022, 35 DO seniors applied for Otolaryngology; 21 matched.
Otolaryngology is Moderately DO-Friendly (2022 Match)
Is Otolaryngology IMG Friendly?
Otolaryngology is not IMG-friendly, with an overall 0% match rate and 0% of spots filled by IMGs in the 2022 Match.
Otolaryngology is Not IMG-Friendly (2022 Match)
For Otolaryngology, US IMGs and Non-US IMGs have 0% match rates
Otolaryngology-Friendly IMG Residency Programs
For a list of the most IMG-friendly otolaryngology programs, see this article.How Much Do Otolaryngologists Make per Year? Per Hour?
Otolaryngologists have an average annual salary of $469,000. This can vary dramatically based on practice setting, specialty training, and experience level.
Otolaryngologists make $469,000 per year on average
Otolaryngologists make roughly $184/hr on average when taking in hours worked per year
How Important is AOA for Otolaryngology?
AOA – Alpha Omega Alpha – is the med school honors society. Each school may elect up to 20% of the graduating class of students. Having AOA membership confers a greater advantage to matching into some specialties more than others. Often this AOA advantage is greatest for the most competitive specialties.
AOA membership correlated with a 22% match rate advantage for Otolaryngology in the 2022 Match
How Many Publications for Otolaryngology Residency in 2022
Research is an important characteristic for matching into many specialties, particularly the most competitive. So, how many publications do you need to match into an otolaryngology residency? In 2022, the mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications for US seniors who matched into otolaryngology was 17.2. The mean number of research experiences was 7.3.Do I Need an MD-PhD to Match Into Otolaryngology?
You may wonder how much an MD-PhD helps with matching into otolaryngology. It appears that having a PhD correlates with a large advantage when applying to otolaryngology. Specifically, the match rate for those with a PhD is 30% higher than for those without one when applying into otolaryngology.
Having a PhD correlated with a 30% match rate advantage for Otolaryngology in the 2022 Match
3.6% of matched applicants to Otolaryngology had an MD-PhD in 2022
Should You Attend a Top Medical School to Match Into Otolaryngology?
Does attending a top medical school help with matching into Otolaryngology? According to the program director survey results above, 35.7% of Otolaryngology PDs consider medical school reputation when considering whom to interview. The mean importance score was 3.7. Similarly, we can look at the advantage to attending a school in the top 40 by NIH funding. In 2022, there was a 13% advantage in match rate to those attending a school in the top 40 for NIH funding vs. those who did not.
Graduating from a medical school ranked in the top 40 by NIH funding correlated with a 13% match rate advantage for Otolaryngology in the 2022 Match
Does an MPH or MBA Help Match Into Otolaryngology?
Medical training is long. Despite this, many consider – or complete – other degrees, like MPHs or MBAs. But how much of an advantage – or disadvantage – does an MPH (Master of Public Health) or MBA (Master of Business Administration) confer when applying into otolaryngology? Not much, it turns out. In fact, the match rate for US seniors with other degrees was equal to the rate for those without other degrees. These statistics imply that having a second degree that isn’t a PhD doesn’t appear to help your chances of matching into otolaryngology.
Having another degree like an MBA or MPH correlated with a 0% match rate disadvantage for Otolaryngology in the 2022 Match
What Are the Best Otolaryngology Programs?
While otolaryngology may be competitive, the most desirable programs will always be extremely difficult to enter. So, which are the best otolaryngology residency programs? Opinions will vary. However, some of the most desirable otolaryngology residency programs would include:- Massachusetts General Hospital
- University of California-San Francisco
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Stanford Health Care
- Duke University Hospital
- Johns Hopkins University
