What if I Don't Match into a Dermatology Residency?

Sadly, the national trend is that more and more qualified dermatology applicants are not matching. It is simply a matter of the math. Currently there are many more qualified applicants than available dermatology positions, and this gap seems to be increasing each year as more US medical schools open and established US medical schools continue to increase class size. Less than enthusiastic feedback from the Dean of Student Affairs early in the application cycle may be the earliest warning sign, based on previous medical student matching statistics from your school. Receiving few interview offers during the first dermatology application cycle may also signal difficulty matching.

Reapplication in a subsequent application cycle may be a consideration. Those considering reapplication should critically review their application. Reapplicants with a Step 1 score below the national dermatology average (240 but seemingly trending up) and not AOA may still find it challenging to get a residency position because of the initial applicant screening process at many dermatology programs and a limited numbers of interview spots. Clinical performance during the PGY-1 year is critically important for reapplicants, as is the type of program and the quality of the institution where the internship is taken. For reapplicants, dermatology program directors will usually want an evaluative letter from the PGY-1 Program Director or the Department Chair. Completing and publishing research started during medical school in peer-reviewed dermatology journals may also help some reapplicants match because it is recognized as difficult to accomplish during the internship year and shows strong continued motivation for a dermatology career.