title: Residency characteristics that matter most to plastic surgery applicants: a multi-institutional analysis and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The National Residency Matching Program Match is a very unique process in which applicants and programs are coupled to each other based on a ranking system. Although several studies have assessed features plastic surgery programs look for in applicants, no study in the present plastic surgery literature identifies which residency characteristics are most important to plastic surgery applicants. Therefore, we sought to perform a multi-institutional assessment as to which factors plastic surgery residency applicants consider most important when applying for residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A validated and anonymous questionnaire containing 37 items regarding various program characteristics was e-mailed to 226 applicants to New York University, Albany, University of Michigan, and University of Southern California plastic surgery residency programs. Applicants were asked to rate each feature on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important. The 37 variables were ranked by the sum of the responses. The median rating and interquartile range as well as the mean for each factor was then calculated. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare medians in rank order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 137 completed questionnaires were returned, yielding a 61% response rate. The characteristics candidates considered most important were impressions during the interview, experiences during away rotations, importance placed on resident training/support/mentoring by faculty, personal experiences with residents, and the amount of time spent in general surgery. The characteristics candidates considered least important were second-look experiences, compensation/benefits, program reputation from Internet forums, accessibility of program coordinator, opportunity for laboratory research, and fellowship positions available at the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applicants value personal contact and time spent in general surgery when selecting residency programs. As the number of integrated programs continues to grow, programs will benefit from learning what factors their applicants value most.
authors.affiliation: From the *Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University, New York, NY; †Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; ‡Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and §Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY.
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinno
authors.forename: Karan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Squitieri
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Koeckert
authors.forename: Ashit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Pierre B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Saadeh
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thanik
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008824:Michigan; D009518:New York; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires