Pediatrics Has 14% More Applicants Than Four Years Ago
On the day programs opened ERAS 2027 applications, 5,066 people had applied to pediatrics, against 4,463 at the same point of ERAS 2023. Programs interviewed 58% of the applicants who signaled them and 23% of those who didn't.
By Rezumab · Data as of
That is a 14% increase, comparing the same day of each cycle. Of the 20 specialties with at least 300 applicants, 17 grew; pediatrics had the 16th-largest increase. Over full seasons, the change from ERAS 2023 to 2026 was +15%. By applicant type, the same-day change since ERAS 2023 was −15% for MDs, −3% for DOs and +56% for international graduates.
Below are five seasons of AAMC ERAS data for pediatrics: who applies, how many applications they send, how signals are used and how often programs interviewed applicants who did and didn’t signal them, split by MD, DO and international medical graduate.
The international-graduate share of applicants rose 11 points
In ERAS 2026, 5,871 people applied to pediatrics. The pool was 32.9% MD, 13.3% DO and 53.8% international graduates. 45.6% applied to no other specialty, a count that treats required preliminary and transitional years as another specialty.
Applicants are down 1.2% from the same day last year
| Season | All | MD | DO | Intl. grads | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERAS 2027so far, vs. same day of 2026 | ▼−1.2% | ▼−3.9% | ▲+1.6% | ▼−0.2% | ▼−7.4% |
| ERAS 2026vs. 2025 | ▲+9.0% | ▼−3.4% | ▼−5.4% | ▲+25.9% | ▲+1.8% |
| ERAS 2025vs. 2024 | ▲+13.6% | ▲+2.7% | ▲+7.7% | ▲+28.8% | ▲+1.9% |
| ERAS 2024vs. 2023 | ▼−7.2% | ▼−10.3% | ▼−6.4% | ▼−3.7% | ▼−9.5% |
The median applicant sends 28 applications, down from 33
By type in ERAS 2026: MDs 24, DOs 37, international graduates 30. The middle half of applicants sent between 14 and 46. The overall median is the sixth lowest of 23 specialties covered here.
On the programs’ side, the median pediatrics program received 592 applications in ERAS 2026, against 607 in ERAS 2023.
Most applications still arrive without a signal
In ERAS 2027, 98% of pediatrics applicants used signals, and the median signaling applicant used 5.
At the median program, 12% of applicants had signaled it, up from 11% in ERAS 2026. The median program received 97.5 signals; the busiest tenth received 209 or more.
Signals per applicant by season: 2024: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 5 · 2027: 5.
Unsignaled applicants still get interviews
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| Did not signal | Signaled | |
|---|---|---|
| All applicants | 23% | 58% |
| MD | 59% | 86% |
| DO | 35% | 83% |
| Intl. graduates | 6% | 24% |
At 95% of programs, signaled applicants were interviewed at a higher rate than those who didn’t signal. Applying beyond your signals still pays in pediatrics; a signal raises the odds but isn’t required.
These are last season’s rates. Track who is sending pediatrics interview invites this season.
A DO's signal returns 97% of what an MD's does; an international graduate's, 28%
An MD who signaled a pediatrics program was interviewed at 86% of the median program, the highest of 21 specialties with interview data. For DOs, pediatrics ranks the most DO-friendly of 16.
An international graduate who signaled (24%) still did worse than an MD who didn’t (59%).
These are outcomes by group, not the effect of belonging to one. The groups differ in exam timing, visa needs and U.S. clinical experience, and none of that is controlled here.
The most common backup is internal medicine, chosen by 35%
| Also applied to, ERAS 2026 | Share of applicants |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine (categorical) | 35% |
| Family Medicine | 32% |
| Internal Medicine (primary care) | 25% |
| Internal Medicine (preliminary)PGY-1 year | 19% |
| Transitional YearPGY-1 year | 10% |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 9% |
Rows marked PGY-1 year are preliminary and transitional programs, which specialties that start at PGY-2 require. Categorical programs in another specialty are the real backup plan.