Applicant Evaluation of Residency Programs in a Virtual Format: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Recruitment
• Virtual Interviewing

Background:

• The 2021 residency application cycle was the first to be conducted entirely virtually.
• Virtual formats offer potential benefits like reduced costs and travel burdens, particularly for underrepresented minority (URM) applicants.
• Understanding how applicants evaluate programs in a virtual setting is crucial for effective recruitment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how medical students evaluated residency programs during the all-virtual 2021 application cycle.
• To identify key factors influencing applicant program ranking in a virtual format.
• To understand the impact of virtual formats on the evaluation of program fit.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 271 fourth-year medical students from three Chicago institutions post-rank list submission.
• Collected data on the importance of ranking factors and online content preferences.
• Employed descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests for quantitative data, and thematic content analysis for qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Top-ranking factors included program fit, location, reputation, fellowship opportunities, and work/life balance.
• Underrepresented minority (URM) applicants showed a higher preference for institutional or location diversity (P<.0001).
• Virtual interactions with residents/faculty and observing program dynamics were vital for assessing fit but were constrained by the virtual format; program websites and videos were most valued online resources.

Conclusions:

• Applicant evaluation of key residency program factors in a virtual setting has been elucidated.
• Findings offer insights for residency programs to enhance recruitment strategies in virtual or hybrid formats.
• Recommendations for optimizing future virtual residency application cycles were identified.