2025 NRMP data · moderately competitive

Psychiatry ERAS Application Editing

Specialty-specific review for Psychiatry (Psych) applicants. Matched applicants averaged Step 2 CK 246. We help you meet that bar.

97.5%
US MD match rate
404
Programs
2,388
PGY-1 positions
99.7%
Fill rate
What programs see

Top concerns in Psychiatry applications

The patterns reviewers flag most often when screening Psychiatry candidates.

Concern 1

Personal statement that reads as a generic description of psychiatric illness without personal connection

Concern 2

No psychiatry sub-I or acting internship

Concern 3

Missing letter from a psychiatrist

Concern 4

Applying with red flags (MSPE concerns, gaps) without addressing them proactively

Concern 5

Not demonstrating comfort with ambiguity in clinical reasoning

What reviewers weight

What Psychiatry PDs prioritise

  • Authentic personal narrative connecting to psychiatry

  • Letter from a psychiatrist who supervised you clinically

  • Sub-I or clerkship performance in psychiatry

  • Longitudinal patient care experience or advocacy involvement

  • Research in mental health, neuroscience, or health equity

Scores & metrics
Step 2 CK · matched246
Step 2 CK · unmatched239
Research experiences3
Publications / abstracts7.5
Avg programs ranked11
Program signals10
Application tips

How we help Psychiatry applicants compete

Three concrete moves we'll work through with you, drawn from current NRMP / Charting Outcomes data.

1

Write a personal statement with a specific patient encounter that illustrates your understanding of the biopsychosocial model — psychiatry PDs weight authenticity heavily.

2

Apply to 40–60 programs; with 2,388 positions psychiatry has one of the largest per-specialty position counts, and the 97.5% MD senior match rate reflects accessible competition.

3

Use all 10 signals for programs with a specific research focus or patient population you identified in your personal statement.

Cycle trends

What's changed in Psychiatry recently

  • Psychiatry filled 2,380/2,388 positions (99.7%) in 2025, and MD seniors matched at a 97.5% rate — one of the highest rates among mid-sized specialties.
  • ERAS signaling (10 flat-tier signals) was implemented for psychiatry in the 2023-2024 cycle.
  • Psychiatry has seen the third-highest growth in new ACGME programs in 2024-2025 (+20 newly accredited programs), reflecting national attention to mental health workforce needs.

Ready to compete in Psychiatry?

We'll pair you with a reviewer who's served on Psychiatry selection committees. Your personal statement, CV, and signal strategy — line-edited against the bar above.

Application Ready · $899Compare All Tiers

Data sourced from NRMP / AAMC, NRMP / AAMC. Match year 2025.