Some graduating seniors not matching to residency positions

(HealthDay)—More than 250 of this year's graduating seniors from U.S. medical schools did not match to a residency position, according to the American Medical Association.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the top reasons why seniors failed to match include having low scores on or having failed a United States Medical Licensing Exam; not being competitive for their first choice specialty; not having an appropriate backup plan; not following guidance from their faculty adviser; having poor interpersonal/interviewing skills; and not ranking enough programs. Nearly one-half of the unmatched students had been discussed in promotions committees, indicating that they had performance problems. Most students who don't match re-enter the following year or continue to seek a position.

Schools should examine how to better advise and counsel students for matching, and consider reexamining promotions standards. The University of Illinois College of Medicine implemented a residency preparedness initiative, which includes career development that requires students to develop a strategic plan for the Match or alternate career paths. In addition, the school initiated a loan assistance program for up to one year for students who haven't secured a residency position through the Match.

"These two initiatives demonstrate how committed the school is to ensuring its students go on to become physicians," Kathleen Kashima, Ph.D., senior associate dean of students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, said in a news release from the American Medical Association.