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Professional and Personal Development

(525) Unmatched Applicants in Otolaryngology, Where Do They Go?

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Bhavya K. Sharma, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Missouri-Columbia
    Columbia , Missouri, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Carson K. Gates

    Medical Student
    University of Missouri School of Medicine
    Columbia, Missouri, United States

  • MP

    Megan Price, BS

    University of Missouri School of Medicine, USA

    • Senior Author(s)

  • C.W. David Chang, MD

    Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology
    University of Missouri-Columbia
    Columbia, Missouri, United States

Disclosure(s):
Bhavya K. Sharma, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Carson K. Gates: No relevant relationships to disclose.
C.W. David Chang, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: The otolaryngology match is a competitive and challenging process to undergo as a medical student. While we remain familiar with students who match into the specialty, there is minimal data on re-applicants, specifically those who complete gap years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study investigating otolaryngology applicants from the 2021 match year was completed at a single institution. Basic information on a total of 319 applicants was obtained. Applicants on whom there was not sufficient data regarding match outcome and gap year information, those completing gap years overseas, and those who completed gap years in different specialties were excluded. Using doximity profiles, otomatch spreadsheets, residency websites, social media, and researchgate data the match outcome and gap year information of the applicants studied was obtained. Re-applicants applying during the 2021 year were included.

Results: A total of 280 applicants were investigated after exclusion criteria. The overall match rate was found to be 63% (176/280). Of the 104 unmatched applicants, 73% (76/104) elected to take a gap year and 27% (28/104) dual applied initially or SOAPED into another specialty. Those who completed a gap year were specified into a clinical gap year (surgery preliminary or medicine preliminary/transitional) and those taking a research year. Among those taking a gap year, 51% (39/76) chose to take a clinical gap year and 47% (36/76) a research gap year, with one applicant (1/76) completing both. The match rate into Otolaryngology after taking a gap year was found to be 38% (29/76) overall, with 26% and 50% matching after taking solely a clinical gap year or research gap year respectively.

Conclusions: The Otolaryngology match continues to be difficult for re-applicants with a decreased overall match rate. A majority of unmatched applicants elected to take a gap year and approximately half of those taking gap years performed either a clinical or research gap year. The match rate was found to be increased nearly two-fold for those taking a research gap year relative to clinical gap years. Further study with a larger sample size is warranted.