Residency program director’s perception of PGY-1 applicants: Results of the National 35½ Second Survey

PurposeThe purpose of this investigation was to evaluate perceived importance of common applicant characteristics in addition to the type of pharmacy education (traditional versus accelerated) by residency directors when evaluating residency candidates.MethodsA seven-question survey was administered to a convenience sample of residency program directors (RPDs). Directors were asked to evaluate seven residency applicant variables by order of importance in the selection process. Location of residency and type of institution were also collected.ResultsThe survey was distributed to 660 residency directors of American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) accredited PGY-1 residency programs. A total of 335 (52%) completed the survey. Overall, 49 of the 50 states responded. When limiting the analysis to two types of institutions, there were significant differences in importance placed on maturity between health care system and university hospital Residency Directors (p = 0.047). The perceptions of community hospital and VA/military residency directors significantly differed in the importance they place on accelerated three-year programs (p = 0.029) and age (p = 0.04). University Hospital Directors also differed from the VA/military residency directors in terms of the importance placed on an accelerated three-year program (p = 0.041).ConclusionThe most important metrics when selecting a residency candidate include maturity, letters of reference, attainment of a prior degree, and status of licensure. Although the importance placed on type of education was largely neutral or unimportant, there are perceived differences between types of residency programs.