Preference Signaling in the 2022 Urology Residency Match - The Applicant Perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Matching

Background:

• The Urology Residency Match is highly competitive.
• Preference signaling was introduced to streamline the application process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate applicant experiences with preference signaling in the 2022 Urology Residency Match.
• To assess applicant attitudes towards continuing the preference signaling program.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous electronic survey was distributed to urology residency applicants at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
• The survey collected data on demographics, signaling behavior, interview rates, match outcomes, and opinions on preference signaling.

Main Results:

• Applicants signaling preference received interviews at a higher rate (54.23%) compared to non-signaled programs (40.54%).
• Match rates were higher for programs where applicants completed away rotations (35.71%) or signaled interest (26.19%).
• 96% of respondents supported the continuation of preference signaling.

Conclusions:

• Preference signaling may be an effective tool for applicants to convey interest in urology residency programs.
• While favored by applicants, preference signaling does not alleviate the increasing application burden on programs and applicants.
• Further research is recommended to fully understand the impact of preference signaling on the Urology Match.