Electronic residency application service scores: do they correlate with the rank order list for the match?

To investigate the relationship between ERAS-based preinterview scores, residency program postinterview scores and candidate rank order for the match.

Two hundred sixty-three candidates' preinterview and postinterview scores and rank order were evaluated. The rank order was stratified as 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, > 13 and unranked. Spearman's p statistical analysis was used.

There was a moderate relationship, r2 = 0.543, between preinterview and postinterview scores for all applicants. There was a significant inverse correlation between preinterview score and rank order, r2 = -0.763, and for the postinterview and rank order, r2 = -0.768. However, there were no significant relationships between factors significant for the top 4 ranked candidates.

Preinterview and postinterview scores significantly correlated with each other and with the rank order list except for top-ranked candidates. Other factors may influence the rank order list.