Fereydooni Arash, Fisher Andrea T, Yang Lucy, Tran Kenneth, Lee Jason T, George Elizabeth L, Sgroi Michael D, Chandra Venita
Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Ann Vasc Surg. 2025 Sep;118:113-121. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2025.04.117. Epub 2025 Apr 29.
The COVID-19 pandemic provoked an abrupt transition from in-person to virtual format interviews for integrated vascular surgery residency. Recently, 12 programs (15.8%) resumed in-person interviews in 2023-2024. We evaluated the applicant perspective on both interview approaches.
Students who matched to integrated vascular surgery residency programs in 2024 completed a voluntary, anonymous survey regarding their interview experience.
Of the 100 matched students, 78 completed the survey (53.9% male and 35.9% Caucasian). The median number of interviews was 29, and the median number of applications submitted was 64, highlighting a growing trend in overapplication; 61% of participants completed at least one day with 2 or more interviews, 92.2% attended at least one in-person interview (median: 3, interquartile range: 1-5), and 100% experienced a virtual interview (median: 22, interquartile range: 15-26). The majority of matched students, 71.4%, thought programs with virtual interviews should offer optional second-look visits after the program's rank list was finalized. Of those who attended a second-look visit (41.6%), 65.6% moved the visited program(s) up on their rank list. The majority (57.1%) of matched applicants preferred virtual interviews, followed by 22.1% in-person and 20.8% hybrid interview. Most (89.3%) reported that they would feel pressured to interview in-person if both options were offered. In-person interviews were deemed helpful for forming an overall impression of a program (77.5% agreed), connecting with faculty and residents (66.2%), and assessing culture and collegiality (78.9%), facilities (84.5%), and quality of life in an area (90.1%). Virtual interviews were easier to plan (93% agreed) and conflicted less with applicants' personal wellness (73.2%). Both interview types were equivalent for assessing a program's clinical volume (74.7% agreed) and conveying one's strengths (52.1%).
Despite reporting more comprehensive assessment with in-person interviews, applicants prefer virtual interviews with second-looks, primarily for planning and personal well-being purposes. In addition, second-look visits after virtual interviews can boost a program's standing in an applicant's rank list. Developing strategies to streamline scheduling and mitigate the financial burden of in-person interviews or second-looks could reduce overapplications and overscheduling.
新冠疫情导致血管外科住院医师综合面试从面对面形式突然转变为虚拟形式。最近，12个项目（15.8%）在2023 - 2024年恢复了面对面面试。我们评估了申请者对这两种面试方式的看法。
2024年匹配到血管外科住院医师综合项目的学生完成了一项关于他们面试经历的自愿、匿名调查。
在100名匹配的学生中，78人完成了调查（男性占53.9%，白种人占35.9%）。面试的中位数为29次，提交申请的中位数为64份，凸显了过度申请的增长趋势；61%的参与者至少有一天要参加两场或更多面试，92.2%的人至少参加了一次面对面面试（中位数：3次，四分位间距：1 - 5次），100%的人经历过虚拟面试（中位数：22次，四分位间距：15 - 26次）。大多数匹配的学生（71.4%）认为，进行虚拟面试的项目在项目排名确定后应提供可选的二次参观。在参加二次参观的学生中（41.6%），65.6%将参观过的项目在他们的排名列表中上调。大多数（57.1%）匹配的申请者更喜欢虚拟面试，其次是22.1%的人喜欢面对面面试，20.8%的人喜欢混合面试。大多数（89.3%）报告称，如果两种选择都有，他们会感到有压力参加面对面面试。面对面面试被认为有助于形成对一个项目的总体印象（77.5%表示同意）、与教职员工和住院医师建立联系（66.2%）、评估文化和团队合作（78.9%）、设施（84.5%）以及该地区的生活质量（90.1%）。虚拟面试更容易安排（93%表示同意），并且与申请者的个人健康冲突较少（73.2%）。两种面试类型在评估项目的临床工作量（74.7%表示同意）和展示个人优势（52.1%）方面相当。
尽管申请者表示面对面面试能进行更全面的评估，但他们更喜欢有二次参观的虚拟面试，主要是出于安排和个人健康的考虑。此外，虚拟面试后的二次参观可以提高项目在申请者排名列表中的地位。制定策略来简化安排并减轻面对面面试或二次参观的经济负担，可以减少过度申请和安排过满的情况。
