The Applicants’ Perspective of the Urology Residency Match Process

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the competitiveness and high stakes of the Urology Residency Match, little research has focused on the application process from the applicants’ perspective. MethodsIn April 2018, we emailed a 23-question multiple-choice survey to all applicants to the 2018 Urology Residency Match. ResultsOf the 436 applicants, 186 (42.7%) completed our survey. Among the most interesting of the responses was the finding that most applicants (65.1%) would prefer limiting the number of applications per applicant to 60 or fewer, and the vast majority of applicants (89.8%) would prefer a system where interviews are organized by geographic region to reduce cross-country travel. Most applicants (86.6%) also prefer the January match over the NRMP Match in March. ConclusionsThis study provides the applicants’ perspective of the Urology Residency Match process as well as a working framework for improving the application process at both the national and individual program levels. Combining these findings with the perspective of the residency program directors should provide the optimal guidance for the structure of the match process going forward.