Applicant Interview Experiences and Post-Interview Communication of the 2016 Radiation Oncology Match Cycle

Publication date: Available online 21 August 2016
Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
Author(s): Camille Berriochoa, Matthew C. Ward, Michael A. Weller, Emma Holliday, Aaron Kusano, Charles R. Thomas, Rahul Tendulkar
Purpose/ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize applicant interview experiences at radiation oncology residency programs during the 2016 match cycle and to assess applicant opinions regarding post-interview communication (PIC) following recent attention to gamesmanship noted in prior match cycles.Materials/MethodsAn anonymous IRB-approved 29-question survey was deployed following the rank order list (ROL) deadline to all 2016 radiation oncology residency applicants applying to a single institution.ResultsComplete surveys were returned by 118 of 210 applicants for a 56% response rate. Regarding possible match violation questions, 84% of respondents were asked at least once about where else they were interviewing (occurred at a median of 20% of program interviews); 51% were asked about marital status (6% of interviews); and 22% were asked about plans to have children (1% of interviews). Eighty-three percent of applicants wrote thank you notes, with 55% reporting fear of being viewed unfavorably if such notes were not communicated. Sixty percent of applicants informed a program that they had ranked a program highly; 53% felt this PIC strategy would improve their standing on the ROL yet 46% reported feeling distressed by this obligation. A majority of applicants stated that they would feel relieved if programs explicitly discouraged PIC (89%), and that it would be preferable if programs prohibited applicants from notifying the program of their rank position (66%).ConclusionsPotential match violations occur at a high rate but are experienced at a minority of interviews. PIC occurs frequently, with applicants reporting resultant distress. Respondents stated that active discouragement of both thank you notes/emails and applicants' notification to programs of their ranking would be preferred.



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