COVID-19 Increased Residency Applications and How Virtual Interviews Impacted Applicants

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Graduate Medical Education
• Residency Admissions

Background:

• The increasing number of medical residency applications raises costs for students due to application fees and interview travel.
• Virtual interviews, widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced travel expenses but raised concerns about assessing program-applicant compatibility.
• This study critically evaluates the impact of virtual interviews on application numbers, interview invitations, and attendance, alongside applicant perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of virtual interviews on the number of residency applications submitted, interview invitations received, and interviews attended.
• To analyze medical students' perceptions and experiences with the virtual residency interview process.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to medical school graduates post-NRMP match (2018-2021).
• Participants reported the number of programs applied to, interview invitations received, and interviews attended.
• The 2021 survey included a qualitative question on the impact of virtual interviews on the applicant experience.

Main Results:

• The average number of applications increased significantly from 35.4 to 47.7 with virtual interviews (p=0.002).
• Interview invitations (16.8 vs 16.3) and attended interviews (11.8 vs 12.7) did not significantly change.
• Qualitative feedback indicated positive themes of reduced expenses and increased convenience, but negative themes included difficulty assessing program fit and making connections.

Conclusions:

• Virtual interviews are a viable format for residency interviews, with 63% of students reporting positive or neutral experiences.
• Despite virtual interviews, the trend of increasing application numbers persists without a corresponding increase in interview opportunities.
• The shift to virtual interviews may exacerbate disparities, as increased variability in application outcomes suggests some applicants may benefit disproportionately.