. 2021 Aug 9;6(3):e21.00034. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.21.00034

TABLE II.

Selected Commentary from Candidate Respondents

Candidate Commentary
Pro in-person • Top candidates are able to undergo significantly more interviews since they do not have to travel. • The lower tier applicants received less opportunities. • Something to prevent hoarding (should be done). It is unfair that a top 5 program for me would rather interview someone who will not even rank them. • After being sent home from clinical rotations for 2 months, I decided to apply to a back-up program other than orthopaedics. I couldn't imagine the thought of not matching/sitting at home for a year. • Interviewed at same program virtually and in-person. More awkward virtually for that program. • The biggest con is the inability to meet the residents and faculty in-person and get a literal feel. • Virtual socials (“meet and greets”) seem minimally effective from an applicant perspective. • I think programs are going to have more positions unfilled. Neutral • Should be optional for applicants going forward (have a virtual interview day option) to save money. • There are definitely pros and cons to the virtual interview format Pro virtual • I felt the virtual rotations provided insight to candidates about a given program. • I think virtual interviews offer a lot of benefits that I believe will continue even after the pandemic. • I would implore the leadership to keep interviews virtual in subsequent years. A strong application cap would limit the total number of applications crossing the desks of selection committees.

Candidate Commentary

Pro in-person
• Top candidates are able to undergo significantly more interviews since they do not have to travel.
• The lower tier applicants received less opportunities.
• Something to prevent hoarding (should be done). It is unfair that a top 5 program for me would rather interview someone who will not even rank them.
• After being sent home from clinical rotations for 2 months, I decided to apply to a back-up program other than orthopaedics. I couldn't imagine the thought of not matching/sitting at home for a year.
• Interviewed at same program virtually and in-person. More awkward virtually for that program.
• The biggest con is the inability to meet the residents and faculty in-person and get a literal feel.
• Virtual socials (“meet and greets”) seem minimally effective from an applicant perspective.
• I think programs are going to have more positions unfilled.
Neutral
• Should be optional for applicants going forward (have a virtual interview day option) to save money.
• There are definitely pros and cons to the virtual interview format
Pro virtual
• I felt the virtual rotations provided insight to candidates about a given program.
• I think virtual interviews offer a lot of benefits that I believe will continue even after the pandemic.
• I would implore the leadership to keep interviews virtual in subsequent years. A strong application cap would limit the total number of applications crossing the desks of selection committees.