Student Expenses in Residency Interviewing.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Training
• Surgical Specialties

Background:

• Student costs for residency interviewing are a growing concern.
• Limited current data exists on the financial and time burdens of residency interviews.
• Updated information is crucial for informed residency selection by students and programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the expenses and time invested in residency interviews by medical students.
• To analyze the influence of gender, regional campus, and specialty choice on interview costs and time.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 195 graduating medical students regarding interview activity and expenses.
• Data collected included self-reported estimates of costs, time spent, and number of applications/interviews.
• Statistical analyses (MANOVA, ANOVA, chi-square) were used to compare groups based on gender, campus, and specialty.

Main Results:

• The average student spent $3,500 and 26 days interviewing, with significant variation.
• Non-primary care applicants reported higher interview numbers and costs compared to primary care.
• Regional campus students had fewer interviews and less time interviewing, with comparable costs when controlling for specialty.

Conclusions:

• Medical students incur substantial financial and time costs during residency interviews.
• Choosing primary care specialties is associated with lower interview expenses.
• Regional campus students experience fewer interviews and reduced time commitment during the interview process.