| > This is a rather elaborate conspiracy theory I wish it was. > and one that falls apart entirely once you think about the actual costs of residency programs What are the `actual` costs of residency program? > the mechanics of matching students As someone who has seen how the sausage is made ... the junior attendings (usually paid like shit because it's an academic institution) sort through a few thousand ERAS applications who narrow it down to a few dozen candidates. We hold a few interview dates and have a dinner at somewhat nice place. We have a meeting. We make a rank list. An algorithm matches our residents. That's it. Consider that what the average applicant spends on traveling for interviews (I'd guess ~5-15k, more if couples matching or competitive specialty; many take out loans for this)... I don't feel bad for the programs holding a few interview dinners. > real ROI that they would make in the process What are you basing this on? Most teaching hospitals would fall over without cheap resident labor. In practice, my experience is that residents function like extremely cheap, slightly-more capable mid-level providers. |