Impact of Residency Interview Format on Assessment of Otolaryngology Applicants

To investigate the effect of interview format on the post-interview assessment of otolaryngology residency applicants.

A sample of 30 otolaryngology residency programs were asked to submit applicant ratings following the residency interview process during the 2024 application cycle. Home applicants and away rotators were removed from the analysis to better assess each applicant's interview performance. Program ratings were standardized, and applicant assessments were compared across interview formats. Applicants were surveyed for their self-assessment of performance and perceived impressions left on a program across interview formats. Survey results and demographic characteristics were analyzed relative to program assessments in both virtual and in-person interview formats.

Of the 29 programs included in final review, 15 (52%) provided data from in-person interviews alone compared to virtual only data from 14 (48%) programs. There were a total of 1065 observations for 367 unique applicants. Interview format did not demonstrate a significant impact on applicant ratings; nor did applicant type (MD, DO, IMG), gender, or URiM status. Applicants who believed they performed well during either virtual or in-person interview settings were rated more highly by programs following residency interviews. Applicants perceived they left a better impression on programs following in-person interviews.

Program ratings of applicants did not appear to be impacted by interview format. Interview format did not appear to favor any demographic groups within the otolaryngology applicant pool. Applicants' perceptions of their performance in both virtual and in-person interview formats align with program post-interview ratings.

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