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

To identify which resources students in the 2023 to 2024 obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) application cycle were most used and how these platforms influenced their decisions during the application and preference signaling phase.

This was a voluntary, cross-sectional survey study. Participants were recruited through the #ObGynInternChallenge, an optional, text-messaging-based curriculum that is tailored toward preparing fourth-year medical students for OBGYN residency.

This was a survey study conducted virtually through the #ObGynInternChallenge text-messaging-based curriculum PARTICIPANTS: Fourth-year medical students who applied to categorical or preliminary internships in OBGYN in the 2023 to 2024 match cycle.

Of the 1533 matched OBGYN applicants in the 2023 to 2024 cycle, 1022 (66.7%) responded. Program websites were identified as the most used resource by OBGYN residency applicants, with 963/1022 (94.2%). Residency fairs were the least utilized resource for applicants (440/1022, 43.1%). The Alignment Check Index was the most helpful in determining whether to apply to a program (540/634, 85%). Lastly, program websites and medical school advisors appeared to be the most impactful on the decision to send a signal to a program (598/963, 62%; 470/768, 61%, respectively).

Applicants rely on a diverse constellation of resources, each offering distinct contributions to the decision-making process. Program websites emerged as the most frequently utilized resource, while residency fairs have limited use. This may underscore the desire of applicants for asynchronous resources and can guide programs to focus their efforts on more utilized platforms.