Wow, any thoughts on why this occurred?
Yes, applications overall and per applicant were down, but there were still more applicants that spots and on average ENT applicants apply to more programs than those who apply to other specialties.
One thought on the reduction in the overall number is that applicants who don't have the stats (step 1 over 250, publications, all Honors etc.) either self-selected not to apply or were discouraged by their medical school advisors (schools don't like to have unmatched students).
However that would indicate that the applicants that did apply were not only more qualified, but also a more homogenous group. We'll have to wait for the NRMP data to establish that.
Is this a top-down problem, programs not interviewing or ranking enough applicants or are they all interviewing and ranking the same applicants?
Are the applicants all applying to the same top programs and not applying broadly to a range of programs?
Yes, applications overall and per applicant were down, but there were still more applicants that spots and on average ENT applicants apply to more programs than those who apply to other specialties.
One thought on the reduction in the overall number is that applicants who don't have the stats (step 1 over 250, publications, all Honors etc.) either self-selected not to apply or were discouraged by their medical school advisors (schools don't like to have unmatched students).
However that would indicate that the applicants that did apply were not only more qualified, but also a more homogenous group. We'll have to wait for the NRMP data to establish that.
Is this a top-down problem, programs not interviewing or ranking enough applicants or are they all interviewing and ranking the same applicants?
Are the applicants all applying to the same top programs and not applying broadly to a range of programs?