Each year, following student applications and interviews, this computer bank in Washington, D.C., matches students' wishes to the schools' picks. Amid drama and nervous anticipation, students gathered at the USA Conference Center at Brookley Field to receive their letters. Ms. Ray had applied to 18 residency programs. The stress level's as far up as you can reach,'' she said, minutes before receiving her letter. I'm not good at not knowing.
Residency training lasts three to seven years, depending on the specialty area.
Placement is important for more than just the prestige of going to a top institution. Half of medical students end up practicing close to their residency programs, not where they went to school, said Ture Schoultz, associate dean of the College of Medicine. Across the ballroom, students echoed Ms. Ray's jubilant response screaming, kissing, hugging and crying at the news of their placements. Twenty five of the students will stay at the USA hospitals. Schoultz credited the increasing emphasis on primary care with students' understanding of the evolving managed care system.