Student Characteristics Associated with Successful Matching to a PGY1 Residency Program

Abstract

Objective. To identify predictors for postgraduate matching success. Methods. In April 2014, a survey was distributed to students at five schools of pharmacy in the United States assessing organizational involvement, research and work experience, postgraduation plans, match status, and demographics. Results. Five hundred seventy-seven students (82%) completed the survey. Applicants who matched had a higher median number of interview offers compared to those who did not match. Significantly more females than males applied for a residency program. Those who matched had a higher median pharmacy school grade point average (GPA) compared to those who did not. No differences were observed in the rates of matching when leadership positions, student organizational membership, or previous work experience were considered. Conclusion. For pharmacy students in this study, number of applications and interviews, pharmacy school GPA, and female gender were associated with a higher likelihood of matching.

Relationship between pharmacy residency examination rank and specialty choice for French pharmacy residency-admitted students

“…The examination rank, which can be assumed to reflect background pharmacy academic level, appears thus as a major contributing factor to the choice of pharmacy residency specialty for French pharmacy students. Similarly, the background academic level, exemplified by pharmacy school grade point average (GPA), was higher for postulants who matched to the residency program in USA compared to those who did not 14. This implication of the examination rank/academic level of postulants for the choice of specialty likely results in an implicit hierarchy of French pharmacy residency specialties.…”

“…Beyond the examination rank, the exact nature of the motivations of French pharmacy students to do residency pharmacy and to prefer one residency specialty comparatively to the others, remain therefore to be clarified. This may likely be performed through a survey addressing these issues with pharmacy residency candidates, as already done for identifying predictors for postgraduate matching success in USA14 or factors motivating students to pursue a hospital residency in Canada 19. With respect to our tentative ranking of university hospitals and affiliated faculties of pharmacy, it is noteworthy that such a ranking is based on only one criteria, i.e., pharmacy residency selectivity; it has therefore rather a limited value and has to be improved in a major manner by considering various other criteria as already done in USA 34.…”

“…Various factors have been shown to contribute or predict the success to the resident matching program in the USA 14,15,16,17. Reasons for which pharmacist students decide to pursue a hospital pharmacy residency have also been investigated in North America 18,19.…”

Grade point average is an inappropriate measure of a residency candidate's knowledge and skills

“…Because it is such a common factor in the pre‐interview screening process, it is not surprising that students with higher GPAs are 40% more likely to garner interview invitations for residency programs . Despite this, evidence is conflicting as to whether a student's GPA has a strong correlation with positive performance on an interview, matching with a residency program, or performance during the residency year . In a single center study conducted at Indiana University Health, no significant relationship was found between applicant GPA and performance during onsite interviews .…”

Outcomes of Student-Driven, Faculty-Mentored Research and Impact on Postgraduate Training and Career Selection

“…Others have failed to show a significant difference in successful residency matching between those with research experience and those without, although the authors acknowledged the homogeneity of the sample as a limitation to establishing a relationship between the two. 19 Professional networking and relationships built during the research process are also likely to play a pivotal role providing the student with additional mentorship for post-graduate training and a potentially strong reference. 6,20 At our institution, students participating in research, including those outside of the pre-residency track, are typically highly motivated and mentored by faculty members who have a strong commitment to furthering the profession through research.…”