Most Competitive Doctor Specialties [2024 Update]

It’s time for a new list of the most competitive medical specialties, and there are some big changes! Based on brand new data from the official NRMP Charting Outcomes released in August 2024, we meticulously reassessed the most and least competitive specialties.

To overcome the shortcomings of looking at a single factor, we examine six categories of data: average match rate, Step 1 score, Step 2 CK score, number of publications, percentage of matriculants that were AOA, and percentage of applicants from a top 40 NIH-funded medical school. Each specialty is ranked by those six categories on a point-based ranking system, and certain categories are weighted higher than others. Step 1 is weighted at 25%, Step 2 CK at 15%, match rate at 25%, publications at 20%, AOA at 10%, and NIH at 5%.

TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
02:12 Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
03:12 Orthopedic Surgery
04:00 Plastic Surgery
06:50 Neurosurgery
07:49 Dermatology
08:59 What’s Misleading About the Numbers

LINKS FROM VIDEO:

#medicalschool #medicalcareer #medicalspecialties
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Disclaimer: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. The content and associated links provide general information for general educational purposes only. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Kevin Jubbal, M.D. and Med School Insiders LLC will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. May include affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you).

[MedSchoolInsiders]

🚨 Since the release of this video, we had to make a few updates. Though the NRMP included USMLE Step 1 scores in their data, this was only for the 13.3% of applicants who had taken exams prior to January 26, 2022. For this reason, we removed Step 1 entirely and increased the weight of Step 2 scores, which residency programs now place much more importance on. To offset the removal of Step 1, other factors, such as match rate and publication items, were also adjusted.

[mustang]

Gunners are gunning even in the comment section

[logandavis]

Would be very interested in you made a video showing the overall competitiveness for the top 5 vs bottom 5 specialties over the past decade and comparing how they shake out. Love the video!❤

[davidwg]

In France now the most competitive surgeries (as a med stud, I saw the differences between the choice of those who had the best scores) : - 1. Dermatology 2. Plastic surgery (13 plastic surgery residency on the 8000 French students going through the big specialty exam) 3. Ophthalmology 4. Cardiologist 5. Anaesthetist 6. ENT 7. Radiology 8. Oncology

[dr.kevinyoo]

Thanks for the uodated info at all times. Appreciate it!

[mytube]

From NRMP data, can it answer the following?

1). For US MD Seniors who applied for Internal Medicine residency programs in 2024, what was the percentage of them who matched to the top 3 choices on their Rank list?

2). For US MD Seniors, which Internal Medicine residency programs are most competitive match? (Maybe the ratio of the number of applicants matched to the program vs. the number of applicants ranked the program.)

[okhljjn]

Can you do fellowships sometime! It seems like a good new video idea, and I’m sure a lot of us are curious!

[SABreakout]

I will become a cardiothoracic surgeon one day

[willay]

I’m really curious as to how one gets so many publications

[cherry-gs]

Even though that neurosurgery is one of the most competitive specialties in 2024 I still know i can become a neurosurgeon

[howie]

I thought because ENT is such a small field, its match rate fluctuates like crazy compared to larger specialties.

[RachelOreoluwa]

I'm actually 15 years old and I actually have been watching lots of videos from Doctor Jubal
I'll certainly be a Surgeon although it's tedious but I know one day I'll be an exceptional Surgeon

[mustang]

There's enough So You Want To Be videos to explain what each specialty does. In these videos I think you should spend more time explaining why each position landed where it did

[bryanbartnick]

I have a question, if it is known that a medical school is "more competitive" and often ranked higher if they have their students match into the more competitive specialties, why do so many push their students to do rural primary care, for example? At least from a business perspective, I don't understand.

[aidanodonnell]

Hey Kevin! Can I suggest a possible video talking about medical mission work for both premeds and physicians?

[sparktaylor]

Anyone know how competive Anesthesia is?

[Golferperson]

Step 1 scores should not be a large factor this. You are wrong about students in the cohort still having step 1 scores. The only ones that do are people who took research years. Go back and look through the charting data for individual specialties. 90%+ have step 1 scores of 'unknown', aka they took P/F step 1. Step 2 was the primary score for this dataset. This is why you are seeing large drop-offs for step 1 some of these specialties. It doesn't make sense to use step 1 scores as the most important factor when the vast majority of applicants in this dataset have no score.

[otstudios]

Are these lower step 1 scores because of DEI being implemented in hospitals and for the selection of residents?

[Mein_KampfyChair]

I'm a first year med student now, but I'm tired. I don't want to compete so hard anymore. I'd be happy with one of the less competitive specialties like neurology/ pathology I think

[deliciousnutritious]

It does not matter how competitive each speacialty is. If you want it, you can achieve whatever specialty you desire through the work you put in. ❤✨