Selection criteria for applicants in primary care osteopathic graduate medical education

Program directors of American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-approved primary care graduate training programs were surveyed concerning the relative importance of 12 academic and 10 nonacademic performance-based variables related to trainee selection. Programs holding both AOA and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approval were also compared to programs holding only AOA approval. Results were compared to a previous osteopathic survey and to similar surveys among allopathic programs. Nonacademic variables remain among those most highly valued by directors, though a possible trend toward the academic variables was perceived. Implications for colleges of osteopathic medicine, program directors, and students are discussed.