A Study of Otolaryngology Residency Match Outcomes from the National Residency Matching Program

To identify trends and evaluate key predictors of matching success in the otolaryngology residency match from 2016 to 2024.

A retrospective cohort study using data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

National residency match data analysis up to March 2024.

NRMP data from 2016 to 2024 were analyzed to assess trends in otolaryngology programs, positions, and applicants. Competitiveness was evaluated using the applicant-to-position ratio. Predictors of match success-including USMLE Step 2 scores, research productivity, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership, MD/PhD status, and medical school ranking-were compared between matched and unmatched applicants.

From 2016 to 2024, the number of otolaryngology programs rose from 109 to 138, with available positions increasing from 304 to 382. Applicants also increased (370-513), raising the applicant-to-position ratio by 6.9%. Matched applicants had significantly higher Step 2 scores (255.2 vs 247.8, P < .001), more research experiences (13.94 vs 9.62, P < .001), and ranked more programs (13.52 vs 6.68, P < .001). Research output grew at an annual rate of 11.9% (P < .001). AOA membership, MD/PhD status, and attending a top 40 medical school were not significant predictors of matching.

Competitiveness in otolaryngology residency has intensified, driven by rising applicant numbers and research output. While Step 2 scores remain a reliable predictor, AOA status and MD/PhD degrees do not appear to influence match success. The increasing emphasis on research may incentivize quantity over quality, highlighting the need for programs to reconsider applicant evaluation metrics.

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