title: Comparison of applicant criteria and program expectations for choosing residency programs in the otolaryngology match.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate criteria used by residency applicants in ranking otolaryngology residency programs and to compare applicant criteria with program expectations of ranking otolaryngology residency programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  2009 and 2010 match cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program applicants and otolaryngology program directors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applicants were asked to rank the importance of 10 criteria in choosing a residency program (1 = criterion was of the utmost importance and 20 = not important at all). Program directors were asked to express expectations of how applicants should rank programs using those same criteria. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze responses between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comprehensiveness of subspecialties and resident satisfaction were the most important criteria for both groups; salary, call schedule, and likelihood to rank the resident highly were least valued. Four criteria were significantly different between groups. Applicants significantly valued location (4.36 vs 8.9, P < .0001) and call schedule (9.85 vs 12.73, P = .002) more than program directors did. Program directors valued didactic schedule (6.1 vs 9.18, P < .0001) and comprehensiveness of subspecialties (2.53 vs 3.02, P = .007) more than applicants did. Forty-one of 105 (39%) program directors completed the survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While applicants and program directors agree on the most and least important criteria for ranking residency programs, there are several significant differences in these criteria. This study provides insight on ranking criteria that may improve the resident match process and subsequent training experience. However, the ability to generalize the results is limited by the low response rate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puscas
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Walter T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult