<p>You pick your specialty by applying only to residency programs in that field. From there you are invited for interviews, then submit of your top choices in order of preference. The residency programs you interviewed at rank all the applicants they are willing to extend offers to in order, and then a computer matches your preferences with the programs preferences trying to find the highest matches possible for the student. So the process is one of mutual selection.</p>
<p>While there is freedom to move about after completing a residency or fellowship (see the jobs posted in the back of JAMA), I do believe that I’ve read articles that say most physicians end up practicing within 150 miles of where they did their residency.</p>