367: Emergency Medicine Residency Applicants’ Perceptions About Being Contacted After Interview Day

Abstract

ObjectiveWe sought to characterize the experiences and preferences of applicants to emergency medicine (EM) residency programs about being contacted by programs after their interview day but before the rank list submission deadline.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed all applicants to an academic EM residency during the 2006–2007 interview cycle. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. We used a Web-based survey software program to administer the survey in February 2007, after rank lists were submitted. Two additional invitations to participate were sent over the next month. The instrument contained multiple-choice and free-text items. This study was submitted to our Institutional Review Board and was exempt from formal review.Results240/706 (34%) of applicants completed the survey. 89% (214/240) of respondents reported being contacted by a residency program after their interview but before rank lists were due. Of those contacted, 91% report being contacted by e-mail; 67% by mail; and 55% by phone. 51% of subjects reported that being contacted changed the order of their rank list in at least one case. A majority of contacted applicants felt “happy” (58%) or “excited” (56%) about being contacted, but significant numbers reported feeling “put on the spot” (21%) or “uncomfortable” (17%).A majority felt that it is appropriate for programs to contact applicants after interview day but before the rank lists are submitted, but 39% of contacted subjects responded that contact by phone is either “always inappropriate” or “usually inappropriate.” Regarding perceptions regarding the rules of the match, 80% (165/206) of respondents felt it was appropriate to tell programs where they would be ranked, and 41% (85/206) felt it was appropriate for programs to notify applicants of their place on the program’s rank list.ConclusionMost EM residency applicants report being contacted by programs after the interview day but before rank lists are submitted. Although applicants feel this practice is appropriate in general, over a third of subjects feel that contact by phone is inappropriate. These findings suggest that residency programs can expect a majority of their applicants to be contacted after an interview at another program, and shed light on how applicants perceive this practice.

The Residency Match: Interview Experiences, Postinterview Communication, and Associated Distress

“…4 However, there remains evidence of interview behavior that violates the spirit of the Match and of ongoing gamesmanship in the postinterview period, with a number of applicants reporting exposure to interview questions about other interview locations, 5 rank preferences, marital status, and plans to have children, [6][7][8] and discomfort when programs contact them following the interview. 9 Besides adding a statement explicitly reminding programs that applicants should not be asked about other interviews, the NRMP does not appear to have adopted any specific policy changes or interventions in response to these data. 5 In this context, we hypothesized that (1) the behaviors continue to take place across a variety of specialties; (2) the behaviors cause distress; and (3) postinterview communication is an aspect of the Match process in which the applicant may prefer change.…”

Misunderstanding the Match: Do Students Create Rank Lists Based on True Preferences?

“…3 One cross-sectional study of emergency medicine applicants found that 51% changed their rank lists based on post-interview communication. 4 recently, an online thread on Reddit entitled "How to Game the Match. Rank List Tips!"…”

Post-interview Thank-you Communications Influence Both Applicant and Residency Program Rank Lists in Emergency Medicine

“…4,6,7 Previous work has shown that most applicants were contacted in some form by programs and that they were glad to receive such communication. 8 Despite the absence of any clear evidence in favor of the practice, medical students applying to EM residency are usually advised by clerkship directors and faculty mentors to communicate their thanks to programs. 9 However, it is currently unknown whether the practice benefits applicants or programs.…”