Every year after residency rank order lists have been submitted, and before match day, program directors from all residency specialties are sent a survey “to shed light on the factors that program directors use to (1) select applicants to interview and (2) rank applicants for the match.”*
In 2016, program directors listed these factors as their top considerations when inviting residency applicants for an interview.
1) USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 score
2) Letters of recommendation in the specialty
3) Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean’s Letter)
4) USMLE Step 2 CK/COMLEX Level 2 CE score
6) Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school
7) Grades in required clerkships
8) Gaps in medical education
9) Honors in clinical clerkships
10) Perceived commitment to specialty
* http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Charting-Outcomes-US-Allopathic-Seniors-2016.pdf
