Comparative Assessment of Grit, Conscientiousness, and Self-Control in Applicants Interviewing for Residency Positions and Current Orthopaedic Surgery Residents

The similar and above average levels of conscientiousness and self-control demonstrate the persevering nature of the individual who elects to pursue an orthopaedic residency program. Although the grit levels were different between medical school student and residents, they were above average for both groups, again demonstrating the type of individual willing to pursue an orthopaedic residency program. This study was the first to demonstrate varying degrees of grit for high-performing students versus residents in a competitive program, which seems to suggest that grit can vary over time. Future studies will investigate the validity of these non-cognitive variables in predicting achievement prospectively in a residency program.