Finding My Fit: Resource Use for Ob/Gyn Program Application Decisions in 2023 to 2024

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Admissions
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• The obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residency application process is highly competitive.
• Fourth-year medical students utilize various resources to navigate the application and preference signaling phases.
• Understanding resource utilization is crucial for both applicants and residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the most frequently used resources by OBGYN residency applicants in the 2023-2024 cycle.
• To assess how these resources influenced applicant decisions regarding program application and preference signaling.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary, cross-sectional survey was distributed to fourth-year medical students applying to OBGYN residency programs.
• Participants were recruited via the #ObGynInternChallenge curriculum.
• 1022 matched applicants (66.7% response rate) completed the survey.

Main Results:

• Program websites were the most utilized resource (94.2%), followed by medical school advisors (61%).
• Residency fairs were the least used resource (43.1%).
• The Alignment Check Index was most helpful for application decisions (85%), while program websites and advisors most impacted signaling decisions (62% and 61%, respectively).

Conclusions:

• OBGYN applicants rely on a variety of resources, with program websites and advisors being highly influential.
• The limited use of residency fairs may indicate a preference for asynchronous information sources.
• Residency programs should prioritize optimizing their online presence and advising resources to align with applicant needs.