Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Applicant Experiences with Virtual Interviewing: A Qualitative Analysis of Social Media Posts 

Project Team: Elise Cowley, Corrine Hale, Shanaya Hebgen, Ryan Spencer, Laura Jacques 

Applying for an Obstetrics and Gynecology (ObGyn) residency position has become an increasingly challenging and competitive venture. Traditionally, the application process consists of completing a standardized online application which is then reviewed by residency programs. Competitive applicants are invited by the programs for an interview. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews were done in-person and usually involved a combination of social events and formal interviews. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to this format and forced applicants and programs to pivot to virtual interview formats.

Many medical students utilize an online community of support on Reddit, a social media platform, during the residency application cycle. Reddit is a widely popular site composed of over 100,000 communities each with their own user-generated content. Reddit has many sub-communities, called sub-Reddits, including one called “r/medicalschool” where medical students post questions and ask for advice.  Open-access Google Spreadsheets are maintained and updated by users within this sub-reddit. Many residency specialties, including ObGyn, have spreadsheets containing user generated information about various residency programs. The spreadsheet combines message board function and has tabs for applicants to report their own USMLE board scores, review away programs, document and compare interview experiences and provide general details about residency programs. Students have reported difficulty in evaluating program culture and “fit” during interviewing. This anonymous online community provides its users unfiltered and real-time student advice, opinions and information about residency programs that may help students fill in the “fit and culture” gap they perceive due to the virtual nature of program interviews. We will document and analyze ObGyn applicant experiences with virtual interviewing during the 2020-2021 application cycle through posts on Reddit.