Factors important to anesthesiology residency applicants during recruitment

The United States residency application and interview process is expensive and time consuming. The purpose of this study is to better understand and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the anesthesiology residency application and interview process.

Applicants to the anesthesiology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN were anonymously surveyed after the 2016 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match. Survey questions included medical school and program characteristics, factors important for applying to and interviewing at programs, and the frequency and impact of post interview communications.

Three hundred two of the 705 (42.8%) applicants who received the survey responded. Program websites (159/229, 69.4%), residents enrolled in the program (130/231, 56.3%) and visiting rotations (92/225, 40.9%) were the most important resources used to evaluate programs. Most respondents (169/264, 64.0%) contacted at least one program about their NRMP rank order list and some (12/169, 7.1%) respondents informed more than one program they were ranked first. Many respondents (163/264, 61.7%) reported contact by at least one program about their rank order list. Forty-six of these 163 respondents (28.2%) moved the program higher based on this communication.

Recruitment of the best residency applicants is a priority for residency programs. Our survey informs residency programs on factors to consider in developing effective recruitment strategies. Department websites were the most frequently used tool to research programs. In spite of efforts to curtail post-interview communication between applicants and programs, it continues to be a common occurrence and may influence rank lists.