The first virtual integrated interventional radiology residency application experience during COVID-19: 2020-2021 survey of integrated IR/DR applicants and program directors.

Purpose: This study aims to characterize the experiences of integrated IR/DR applicants and program directors (PDs) participating in the first completely virtual application process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Survey questionnaires were distributed to IR/DR applicants and PDs for the 2020-2021 application cycle. Applicants were asked questions regarding social media presence, number of interviews received, preference of the in-person interview process, and descriptive experiences of the process. PDs were surveyed regarding social media presence, applications received, and interview and match results during the virtual 2020-2021 cycle and the in-person 2019-2020 cycle.

Results: 56 (25.3 %) applicants responded to the survey. 44 (78.6 %) students relied on social media to learn about programs. 33 students (58.9 %) applied to more programs than they had planned. Students applied to an average of 47.5 integrated IR/DR programs and 48.8 DR programs and received an average of 18.8 and 17.8 IR and DR interviews, respectively. 98.2 % of students reported "convenience" and "ease and flexibility of interview scheduling" as advantages of virtual interviews. Sixteen PDs (17.3 %) completed the survey. 15 PDs (93.8 %) created a program-specific promotional video. Compared to 172 applications received in the 2019-2020 season, residency programs received 151 this past cycle (p = .24). A similar number of applicants were interviewed and ranked in both cycles.

Conclusion: Medical students created social media accounts and applied to more programs, and overall preferred virtual interviews. There was no significant change in the number of interview invites or the number of ranks submitted by PDs.