Characteristics of Pharmacy Students Associated with a Successful PGY1 Residency Match

Background: The pharmacy residency selection process is a complex one using both quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess the applicant. Though some literature exists about desired characteristics of an ideal applicant from a program perspective, little data exist about the student characteristics that predict a successful match. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if match applicant demographics, pre-admission standardized test scores, and academic performance in pharmacy school affect match rate. Setting: This study was conducted at a large public school of pharmacy in the USA. Methods: Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) residency match data and student characteristics were obtained over a 6-year time period. PGY1 match success per year was calculated as a proportion of students who were successfully matched in that year out of all the active applicants. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the impact of student characteristics on match rate. Main Outcome Measure: Student characteristics influencing a successful residency match. Results: In the multivariable analysis, PCAT-Chemistry (OR = 0.979, p = 0.0455), PCAT-Reading Comprehension (OR = 1.012, p = 0.0428), and final grade point average (OR = 9.847, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with match success. Student demographic characteristics did not influence match rate. Conclusions: Among PGY1 residency applicants, a higher GPA and better performance on the PCAT-Reading Comprehension subsection increased the likelihood of a successful PGY1 match over the study period. Higher performance on the PCAT-Chemistry subsection was associated with a lower success of matching. © 2017, International Association of Medical Science Educators.