How many interviews does it take to match?

general consensus is that if you get around 10 interviews you have a better than 90% chance of matching.....at least i've heard that number thrown around on here and elsewhere over the last couple years.

that being said, if you do some looking back through posts here and talk to other people "in the know" (whatever that means, cause it sure isn't me), everyone has heard stories or knows people that had 2 or 3 interviews and matched as well as people with 15+ interviews that didn't.

basically, the bottom line is that i don't know that there really is a magic number, but around 10 seems to be the most quoted. hope that helps in some way
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I've heard the same number of 9-10. Supposedly it was published somewhere too. However I heard rumors that this might be kinda low this year, since there may be more applicants.

Although the 10 interview number is thrown around a lot, you have to take into account the total number of spots that those 10 interviews represent. If you get 10 interviews at big programs >6 vs. 10 interviews at small programs , you obviously have better chances. That being said the big programs tend to be "better" programs and if you get interviews at those programs you should get a fair amount. I am not suggesting that bigger programs are better, just a mild generalization. Something to think about.....

Along the same line of getting more interviews at "better" programs, common sense would also dictate that unless you are real superstart, if you only interview at "top" programs, then your chances of matching are also affected because those places are also much more competitive. So the same advice that you got when you applied to med school also goes...apply to a wide range of programs and interview at a wide range....top tier, average, and some that you might not be as thrilled about going to, but where you might have a better chance. Of course, in ortho, there is no program out there that's a sure thing or that's really not competitive.

I've heard the >10 interviews = a greater the 90% chance of matching as well. Not sure if it is published or not but each year is different. I'm sure Ortho has more applicants now than ever based on the 80 hr work week....just make sure to apply to a large number of places if you feel you are borderline and make sure all of them aren't in the Harvard, HSS, Penn status as well. If you really want to be Ortho you gotta be prepared for matching at a less than desirable place if it means that you get to where you want to be. Generally, away rotation's increase your number of interviews as well.

2 years ago: 2 interviews and did not match

This year: 3 interviews and matched.

I do not believe that there is a magical number. I think it all depeds on who is going to bat for you and who can hit a homerun for you when the pitch comes. That's more important than any particular number of interviews, except if you are a stellar applicant who doesn't really need special support from anybody. I think that if you are an average or below average applicant, it's all about who is pulling for you.