Virtual Interviews for General Surgery Residency Applicants: Saving Time and Money, But Limiting Exposure

The study evaluates the impact of virtual recruitment and interviewing platforms on general surgery residency applicants. The results show that more than half of the applicants applied to more programs and accepted more interviews due to the virtual format, citing advantages such as saving money, time, and avoiding travel risks. However, limitations of virtual interviews included less exposure to current residents and faculty, difficulty comparing programs, and limited knowledge of the city or location. The supplemental application did not improve most applicants’ overall applications. Future efforts must balance the benefits of virtual interviews with the importance of human interaction and observing program culture.