From 5 to 15: The Impact of Increased Program Signals in the 2024 to 2025 General Surgery Application Cycle.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the change from 5 program signals to 15 program signals in General Surgery using data from the 2024 to 2025 cycle using AAMC ERAS® application, Thalamus interview, and NRMP ranking and matching data.

DESIGN

Data collected by the NNBME, AAMC, Thalamus, and NRMP were analyzed to assess the impact of program signals on: interview invitation, placement on a program's rank order list (ROL), ranking in the top quartile of a program's ROL, and applicants matching into programs.

SETTING

The 2024 to 2025 residency application cycle.

PARTICIPANTS

Applicants applying to and ranking programs in General Surgery during the 2024 to 2025 residency application cycle.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in the average number of applications per applicant between the 2024 and the 2025 cycle was noted. Candidates were more likely to get an interview invitation and be placed on a program's ROL at a program they signaled when compared to a program they did not signal. Signaling positively impacted candidate median match rate.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that program signals are being used by both applicants and programs to help place the right applicant in the right program. The shift to large number of signals may have encouraged applicants to submit fewer applications and it did not negatively impact interview or match outcomes. Ongoing research in this area is critical to better understand the impacts of program signaling on residency and resident selection and to assess any unintended negative consequences.