Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship virtual interview sentiments

Interviews for Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship rapidly transitioned to virtual interviews mid-cycle in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aims to describe perspectives on virtual versus in-person interviews for both applicants and program directors.

Cross-sectional study. Surveys were conducted of all Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship applicants participating in the San Francisco Match and program directors in 2020 and 2021.

Out of 32 U.S. trained fellowship applicants, 24 completed the survey in 2020 and 18 in 2021. While 70% of applicants felt they did not get the same experience with virtual interviews, 75% did not feel it changed how they ranked programs. Applicant perception of virtual interviews improved in 2021, with the majority (56%) preferring virtual interviews if provided an option. Twenty out of 36 fellowship directors completed the survey in 2020, and eighteen in 2021. While fellowship directors continued to prefer in-person in 2021, an increased number (10% in 2020, 30% in 2021) felt continuing with virtual interviews may increase the number of applicants in the future.

Based on the survey, both applicants and fellowship directors had a less favorable perception of virtual interviews compared to in-person interviews initially; however, applicant perception favored virtual interviews in 2021, while Program Directors continued to prefer in-person.