Summary:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Overall Competitiveness: Moderate
- Research Importance: Low
- USMLE Importance: Moderate
- Importance of Attending Top 40 Med School: Low
- Importance of Class Rank / Obtaining AOA (Med School Honors): Moderate
Table of Contents
Is Obstetric and Gynecology 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 16.1%, making it moderately competitive among US residencies. The match rate for obstetrics and gynecology is considerably better than the most competitive specialties like plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, or otolaryngology. However, obstetrics and gynecology is considerably more competitive than pediatrics, anesthesiology, physical medicine, or even radiation oncology in the 2022 match. For more on the most competitive US specialties, see this article.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Rate
What is the Obstetrics and Gynecology 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 Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Rate (2022 Match): 83.9%
- DO Senior Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Rate (2022 Match): 65%
- US IMG Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Rate (2022 Match): 34%
- Non-US IMG Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Rate (2022 Match): 33%
Obstetrics and Gynecology Match Statistics 2022
In 2022, there were 1,503 obstetrics and gynecology positions available in the NRMP match. A total of 2,044 applicants listed it as their preferred specialty. In the 2022 Match, obstetrics and gynecology ranked #8 for most total positions offered, behind:- Internal medicine: 9,809 positions
- Family medicine: 4,926 positions
- Pediatrics: 3,016 positions
- Emergency medicine: 2,921 positions
- Psychiatry: 2,047 positions
- Anesthesiology: 1,969 positions
- General Surgery: 1,622
- Obstetrics and Gynecology: 1,503
How Many Applicants Receive Interviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology?
According to the 2021 Program Director survey, each Obstetrics and Gynecology program received 652 applications on average. Other data include:- Applications received (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 652
- Applications rejected based on standardized screen (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 300
- Applications receiving holistic review (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 375
- Interview invitations sent (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 91
- Applicants interviewed (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 81
- Applicants ranked (Obstetrics and Gynecology): 75
- 46% of Obstetrics and Gynecology applications were rejected via standardized screen,
- Only 58% of Obstetrics and Gynecology applications received a holistic review,
- 14% of Obstetrics and Gynecology applications received an interview invitation, and
- 12% of all Obstetrics and Gynecology applicants were ranked to match
Obstetrics and Gynecology is Moderately Reliant on Screens
Obstetrics and Gynecology relies on standardized screens to weed out applicants. In the 2021 Program Director Survey, obstetrics and gynecology PDs respondents reported that 46% of applications were rejected via standardized screen. This ranked near the middle of residencies.USMLE Scores for Obstetrics and Gynecology
Step 1 scores for obstetrics and gynecology for matched US seniors reflect its moderate competitiveness. Obstetrics and Gynecology Step 1 Scores (Matched Applicants in 2022 Match):- 25%ile: 224
- Median: 235
- 75%ile: 245
Step 1 Obstetrics and Gynecology Scores Are Middle of the Road (2022 Match)
- 25%ile: 240
- Median: 249
- 75%ile: 258
Step 2 CK Obstetrics and Gynecology Scores Are Middle of the Road (2022 Match)
Matching into Obstetrics and Gynecology as a DO
Matching into Obstetrics and Gynecology as a DO is moderately competitive, with a 65% match rate and 16% of spots filled by DO Seniors in the 2022 Match. In 2022, 371 DO seniors applied for Obstetrics and Gynecology; 241 matched.
Obstetrics and Gynecology is Moderately DO-Friendly (2022 Match)
Is Obstetrics and Gynecology IMG Friendly?
Obstetrics and Gynecology is moderately IMG-friendly, with an overall 33% match rate and 5% of spots filled by IMGs in the 2022 Match. In 2022, 125 US IMGs and 119 non-US IMGs applied to Obstetrics and Gynecology; 42 US IMGs and 39 non-US IMGs matched.
Obstetrics and Gynecology is Moderately IMG-Friendly (2022 Match)
For Obstetrics and Gynecology, US IMGs had a slightly higher match rate (34%) than non-US IMGs (33%) in the 2022 Match
Obstetrics and Gynecology-Friendly IMG Residency Programs
For a list of the most IMG-friendly obstetrics and gynecology programs, see this article.How Much Do Obstetrics and Gynecologists Make per Year? Per Hour?
Obstetrics and Gynecologists have an average annual salary of $336,000. This can vary dramatically based on practice setting, specialty training, and experience level.
Obstetrics and Gynecologists make $336,000 per year on average
Obstetrics and Gynecologist make roughly $123/hr on average when taking in hours worked per year
How Important is AOA for Obstetric and Gynecology?
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 16% match rate advantage for Obstetrics and Gynecology in the 2022 Match
How Many Publications for Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency in 2022
Research is an important characteristics for matching into many specialties, particularly the most competitive. So, how many publications do you need to match into an obstetrics and gynecology residency? In 2022, the mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications for US seniors who matched into obstetrics and gynecology was 6.8. The mean number of research experiences was 4.4.Do I Need an MD-PhD to Match Into Obstetrics and Gynecology?
You may wonder how much an MD-PhD helps with matching into obstetrics and gynecology. It appears that having a PhD correlates with a modest advantage of 4% when applying into obstetrics and gynecology. Specifically, the match rate for those with a PhD is 4% higher than for those without one when applying into obstetrics and gynecology.
Having a PhD correlated with a 4% match rate advantage for Obstetrics and Gynecology in the 2022 Match
1.5% of matched applicants to Obstetrics and Gynecology had an MD-PhD in 2022
Should You Attend a Top Medical School to Match Into Obstetrics and Gynecology?
Does attending a top medical school help with matching into Obstetrics and Gynecology? According to the program director survey results above, 31.5% of Obstetrics and Gynecology PDs consider medical school reputation when considering whom to interview. The mean importance score was 3.6. Similarly, we can look at the advantage to attending a school in the top 40 by NIH funding. In 2022, there was a 4% 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 4% match rate advantage for Obstetrics and Gynecology in the 2022 Match
Does an MPH or MBA Help Match Into Obstetrics and Gynecology?
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 obstetrics and gynecology? Not much, it turns out. The match rate for US seniors with other degrees was 5% higher than the rate for those with no other degrees. These statistics imply that having a second degree modestly (5%) helps your chances of matching into obstetrics and gynecology.
Having another degree like an MBA or MPH correlated with a 5% match rate disadvantage for Obstetrics and Gynecology in the 2022 Match
What Are the Best Obstetrics and Gynecology Programs?
While obstetrics and gynecology may be moderately competitive, the most desirable programs will always be extremely difficult to enter. So which are the best obstetrics and gynecology residency programs? Opinions will vary. However, some of the most desirable obstetrics and gynecology residency programs would include:- University of California- San Francisco
- Northwestern University- Chicago
- Colombia University- New York
- University of Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
- Johns Hopkins University
- Duke University
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
