The Predictive Value of Application Variables on the Global Rating of Applicants to a General Surgery Residency Program

OBJECTIVE: Selection of applicants to residency programs can involve a great deal of variability. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between different subjective and objective application variables and the global rating score (GRS) of applicants to a general surgery residency program. DESIGN: This was a retrospective analysis of data collected from the Electronic Residency Application Service on 188 applicants to a general surgery residency program from 2010 to 2013. Subjective variables including letters of recommendation (LORs), personal statements (PSs), and volunteer work were blindly assessed by raters using a literature-based method of evaluation. Objective data included several variables, such as United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores. Each applicant received a GRS, which was a faculty-given numerical value reflecting both interview performance and overall application strength. The effect of subjective and objective variables on the GRS was determined. SETTING: The Geisinger Medical Center, a rural moderate-sized general surgery residency program. RESULTS: Of all the application variables examined, bivariate analysis indicated that having no prior residency (p = 0.0023), prior medical work (p = 0.0329), higher USMLE Step II Clinical Knowledge scores (p = 0.0021), higher overall PS score (p = 0.0125) and PS Written Expression score (p = 0.0007), and LORs from surgeons in leadership positions (p = 0.0029) have a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the GRS. Of these factors, USMLE Step II Clinical Knowledge score, PS Written Expression score, no prior residency, prior medical work, and LORs from surgeon in lead position had a significant effect on GRS based on multivariate stepwise regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis identifies specific surgical resident applicant variables that are predictive of the GRS. Interestingly, most of these factors were objective. This may allow for the development of a more quantitative tool for selection of applicants. (C) 2014 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.