Peter S Chang1, Josh Rezkalla1, Mark Beard1.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The application process for residency positions is a costly endeavor. This study aims to quantify the financial expenses incurred by University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM) class of 2016. Our hope is that this study will prepare future students of USD and other smaller programs for the financial burdens associated with the match. This data should be used to guide financial decision making by medical students from USD or by regional students from medical programs that desire to apply to residency programs not offered at their home institution.
METHODS: A 10-item online survey was administered in April of 2016 via the USD Sanford School of Medicine email listserv to the graduating MD class of 2016. The survey asked respondents about the number and cost of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, second-look days attended after the interview, preferences for interviewing during an away-rotation, the specialty the applicant matched into, and number on each applicant's rank list that he/she matched.
RESULTS: The survey had a 68.3 percent response rate. The mean number of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, and second-look days attended were 1.3, 12.1, and 0.1 per applicant respectively. The mean costs of attendance to away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days were $1,690.63, $4,881.88, and $24 per applicant, respectively. The total mean collective cost of away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days was $6,596.51 per applicant.
CONCLUSIONS: The process of applying to residencies among the graduating MD class of 2016 is a costly endeavor. Attendance of interviews for residency positions is the most costly part of the residency application process. Although the financial burden associated with applying to residency programs is high, increasing competition for graduate medical education positions may only drive the cost further. Copyright© South Dakota State Medical Association.
OBJECTIVE: The application process for residency positions is a costly endeavor. This study aims to quantify the financial expenses incurred by University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM) class of 2016. Our hope is that this study will prepare future students of USD and other smaller programs for the financial burdens associated with the match. This data should be used to guide financial decision making by medical students from USD or by regional students from medical programs that desire to apply to residency programs not offered at their home institution.
METHODS: A 10-item online survey was administered in April of 2016 via the USD Sanford School of Medicine email listserv to the graduating MD class of 2016. The survey asked respondents about the number and cost of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, second-look days attended after the interview, preferences for interviewing during an away-rotation, the specialty the applicant matched into, and number on each applicant's rank list that he/she matched.
RESULTS: The survey had a 68.3 percent response rate. The mean number of away-rotations completed, interviews attended, and second-look days attended were 1.3, 12.1, and 0.1 per applicant respectively. The mean costs of attendance to away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days were $1,690.63, $4,881.88, and $24 per applicant, respectively. The total mean collective cost of away-rotations, interviews, and second-look days was $6,596.51 per applicant.
CONCLUSIONS: The process of applying to residencies among the graduating MD class of 2016 is a costly endeavor. Attendance of interviews for residency positions is the most costly part of the residency application process. Although the financial burden associated with applying to residency programs is high, increasing competition for graduate medical education positions may only drive the cost further. Copyright© South Dakota State Medical Association.
Mesh:
Year: 2018
PMID: 29990414
Source DB: PubMed Journal: S D Med ISSN: 0038-3317