The Most Important Components of your Residency Application – Part II

METHODS: A 29-question online survey was designed to discern desired qualities regarding resident selection, interview processes, resident participation, and program director satisfaction with the current process.

RESULTS: 43 of 49 program directors responded (87.8% response rate).

Academic Quality	Average Rank
“What letters of recommendation say”	3.81
“Who says it”	4.31
AOA membership	4.60
USMLE step 1 score	4.63
Clinical grades	4.83
Letters from plastic surgeons (vs general surgery, and so on)	5.74
Research experience	6.44
USMLE step 2 score	6.80
Medical school reputation	6.98
Dean’s letter strength	8.73

Subjective Quality	Average Rank
Performance on away/subinternship rotation	2.29
Performance on interview	3.34
Personality	4.03
Maturity	4.07
Leadership potential	4.23
Research experience	6.00
Interest in academics	6.20
Publications	6.46
Appearance	8.13

Janis JE. Hatef DA. Resident selection protocols in plastic surgery: a national survey of plastic surgery program directors. [Journal Article] Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 122(6):1929-41, 2008 Dec.

Correlate: The Most Important Components of your Residency Application

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