Student Perceptions and Use of Social Media as Residency Program Information

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Virtual residency interviews during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to students and residency programs in the United States. We evaluated fourth-year medical students' perceptions of the virtual format and social media use to help select residency programs. We also assessed applicant utilization and perceived usefulness of our social media content. METHODS: We administered an anonymous, web-based survey study of interviewees at an urban, academic medical center residency program. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Seventy-five of 138 applicants completed the survey (response rate 54%). Most applicants reported worry about obtaining enough information about residency programs to apply (64%) and to rank programs (87%). Though more traditional information sources remain most prevalent, social media is now widely used to research residency programs (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Most applicants to this family medicine residency program used social media to gather information, but they expressed worry that it was enough. Virtual interviews are likely to remain postpandemic, creating challenges for residency programs and especially for their hopeful applicants. Programs seeking to provide well-rounded information for applicants should maintain a social media presence as part of their recruitment practices.