Selection into speciality training is the complex process of reconciling limitless human desires with finite training resources and future career opportunities. These difficulties may be ascribed to “competition”. The processes and procedures (the criteria) of selection themselves may exacerbate or alleviate the competition. The efficiency of selection, as defined by the time from graduation to selection in accredited speciality training, is not widely recognised as an attribute of the selection systems. Consequently, the impact of the criteria on efficiency is not weighed against other goals, such as equity, diversity or rural workforce shortages. From a predominantly undergraduate system in the late 1990’s, there has been a drastic increase in the proportion of postgraduate entry into medical education in Australia. While maturity may have benefits in terms of clinical performance and patient rapport, this has resulted in a rise in the median age of graduate doctors entering the medical workforce. Furthermore, the length of time required to train specialists is increasing. This presentation will explore the role that the selection criteria in all specialities play in the efficiency of sorting medical students in their career pathways. We show that, in addition to the inevitable competition, the lack of coordination of the criteria of selection greatly exacerbates the inefficiency of the selection process. Due to the increasing age of medical graduates and increasing length of training, inefficiency impacts the choices made by medical students.