Preference Signaling and Success in the 2025 Urology Residency Match: Applicant and Program Director Perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Matching

Background:

• The urology residency match process involves significant competition.
• Preference signaling allows applicants to indicate interest in programs and vice versa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess applicant and program director perceptions of the 2025 urology match preference signaling system.
• To identify factors contributing to successful matches in urology residency.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous web-based surveys were emailed to urology residency applicants and program directors.
• Surveys collected data on perceptions and utilization of the preference signaling process.

Main Results:

• 251 applicants and 53 PDs responded. Applicants applied to a median of 46 programs, receiving 15 interview offers, with 12 from signaled programs.
• Program directors used signals mainly for screening (81%) and interview decisions (62%).
• 85% of applicants matched, with 95% matching at a signaled program. Interview yield was crucial (median 14 offers for matched vs. 4 for unmatched).

Conclusions:

• Both applicants (87%) and PDs (68%) were satisfied with the 30-signal limit.
• Preference signals significantly influenced interview decisions and match outcomes.
• The increased signal allotment facilitated program director identification of interested applicants and reduced applicant application volume.