key: cord-0764788-am26nd40
authors: Boyd, Carter J.; Ananthasekar, Shivani; Vernon, Rebecca; King, Timothy W.; Saadeh, Pierre B.
title: Interview Hoarding: Disparities in the Integrated Plastic Surgery Application Cycle in the COVID-19 Pandemic
date: 2021-03-03
journal: Ann Plast Surg
DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000002840
sha: 01f8ba739cd2e72dfe38aaea91368d5c9541f2d0
doc_id: 764788
cord_uid: am26nd40

nan

During the 2020 to 2021 match cycle, plastic surgery applicants applied to 18% more programs than the previous 5 years. This comes after programs in the 2019 to 2020 cycle were bombarded with 21% more applications than the year before ( Fig. 1) . Hyperinflation of applications has introduced congestion in the interview process. 2 Proposed solutions to hyperinflation in the plastic surgery match include implementing secondary applications and capping both the maximum number of programs to which applicants can apply and to where they can interview. 3, 4 However, there was little urgency to adapt proposed changes as plastic surgery has had an efficient match rate of >99% over the past 5 years. The consequence of interview hoarding will likely result in a disparity between above-and below-average applicants in the match if immediate action is not taken. Although these strategies can no longer be implemented to create a more equitable interview process for this cycle, we propose a new solution-one which applicants still have the ability to enact and can enact in future years.

In the midst of this unique application cycle, we are calling to applicants to consider their role in making this year another successful match. For applicants, 15 contiguous rankings provide a greater than 95% probability of matching in integrated plastic surgery residency. 5 Those with a sufficient number of interviews should consider releasing some invitations to extend the opportunity to their colleagues. All students should refer to historical match data and guidance from advisors to maximize their chance of a successful match. However, a truly equitable process can only be achieved when these concerns are addressed by programs and organizations overseeing the residency process at the national level. One mechanism for achieving this would include offering extending more interviews during times of uncertainty as travel restrictions may still be in place next year. Despite these difficulties, we wish all applicants the best of luck during this challenging time.

Association of American Medical Colleges

Association of American Medical Colleges

BS implementation of a secondary application to increase efficiency in the plastic surgery match

Virtual interviews during COVID-19

Charting Outcomes in the Match: Senior Students of U.S. Medical Schools