Rad Onc 2013 Match

[ChemPetE]

So this year there were only 5 rad onc vacancies across two schools compared with last year's 8 across 6 schools. Could be because it's more competitive, larger applicant pool this year, or just natural fluctuation I suppose. Anyone feel like commenting?

[igeorgex]

I think people are starting to become a bit more aware that: a) this field exists and has great lifestyle. last year's disaster match left many people scrambling for spots in R-2 and rad onc suddenly looked a lot more attractive. if people had upper year friends who didn't match 1st round, then matched rad onc 2nd round, then maybe this trickled down back to them and encouraged them to apply.

 

possibly, people who did not back up with family probably saw this as good an opportunity as any, plus the fact that it's a 5 year program means your funding will follow you IF there is a transfer spot at your institution available next year. plus it has the common rotating 1st year like in EM, surgery, etc... so that is also a plus if thinking of transferring.

 

also, the fact that rad onc is in the top 3 most competitive US residency spots to attain for the last few years means canadian grads can write their USMLE (..or not depending on which states accept LMCC as a proxy) and practice there if there's no jobs in canada after.

 

orrrrr all this speculating can just be speculation and we just had a pool of candidates interested in oncology and physics lol