Program Director Survey: Insights | Match A Resident


Well-prepared residency candidates are those who apply with a strong, cohesive ERAS Application. To do this, it’s crucial to know what elements of the application Program Directors are most concerned with. The NRMP’s 2021-22 Program Director Survey provides a wealth of information that can point you in the right direction.

The NRMP® conducts a bi-annual Program Director Survey, compiling data in the Results of the NRMP Program Director Survey. In previous years, Program Directors were asked to cite factors they used to select candidates for interviews and to rate each factor.  The rating scale was from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important). This year, these factors were broken down into objective and subjective categories:

  • Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics
  • Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants

Below are the top 5 most important factors in each category according to the percentage of Program Directors citing them as well as each factor’s importance rating. We’ve included this data for the 18 most IMG-friendly specialties. Be sure to review the specialties you are interested in carefully.

Program Director Survey Results: All Specialties Combined

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 Score86.23.7
2MSPE85.94.0
3USMLE Step 2 CK Score78.83.8
4Grades in required clerkships74.63.9
5Any failed attempt at USMLE74.14.4

Top 5 Most Important Factors in Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors as rated by Program Directors

#FactorImportance Rating (out of 5)% of PDs citing
1Any failed attempt at USMLE4.474.1
2Medical school accreditation status4.244.2
3Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty4.165.2
4MSPE4.085.9
5Consistency in grades3.958.5

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Letters of recommendation in specialty85.14.2
2Personal statement (overall)83.83.9
3Diversity characteristics80.94.1
4Perceived commitment to specialty79.54.3
5Having overcome significant obstacles75.54.1

Top 5 Most Important Factors in Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants as rated by Program Directors

#FactorImportance Rating (out of 5)% of PDs citing
1NRMP flag for match violation4.727.8
2Professionalism and ethics4.573.9
3Letters of recommendation in specialty4.285.1
Perceived interest in program4.272.3
Leadership qualities4.270.1
Audition elective/rotation in PD’s dept4.244.8
Ability to work legally w/o visa4.235.5
4Diversity characteristics4.180.9
Having overcome significant obstacles4.175.5
Personal prior knowledge of applicant4.163.6
5Personal statement (overall)3.983.8
Volunteer/extracurricular experience3.964.8
Other life experience3.962.8
Visa status3.933.4

 

Anesthesiology

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 Score95.23.8
2MSPE90.54.3
3USMLE Step 2 CK Score88.13.7
4Class ranking/quartile85.74.0
5Any failed attempt at USMLE83.34.0
Grades in required clerkships83.33.7

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Having overcome significant obstacles85.74.1
Perceived interest in program85.74.2
2Personal Statement83.33.9
3Diversity characteristics81.04.0
4Perceived commitment to specialty78.64.3
Leadership qualities78.64.2
Letters of recommendation in specialty78.64.0
5Professionalism and ethics76.24.5
Other life experience76.23.7

 

Child Neurology

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE92.34.5
Grades in required clerkships92.34.2
2Grades in required clerkship in preferred specialty84.64.2
Consistency of grades84.64.0
USMLE Step 2 CK score84.63.6
USMLE Step 1 score84.63.5
3Any failed attempt at USMLE76.94.1
Awards/honors, clerkship in preferred specialty76.93.9
4Awards/honors in clinical clerkships69.23.9
5Medical school accreditation status61.54.3
Class ranking/quartile61.54.0

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived commitment to specialty1004.3
2Having overcome significant obstacles92.34.3
Personal Statement (overall)92.33.8
3Letters of recommendation in specialty84.64.3
4Other life experience76.23.6
5Professionalism and ethics69.24.8
Leadership qualities69.24.3
Perceived interest in program69.24.0
Diversity characteristics69.23.8

 

Dermatology

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE94.14.1
USMLE Step 1 score94.13.3
2Grades in required clerkships88.24.4
3Consistency of grades76.54.1
Awards/honors in clinical clerkships76.54.0
Class ranking/quartile76.53.8
4Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty64.74.4
GHHS membership64.73.9
AOA membership64.73.7
5Any failed attempt at USMLE58.84.5

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Letters of recommendation in specialty1004.6
Personal statement (overall)1004.5
2Volunteer/extracurricular experience94.14.0
3Having overcome significant obstacles88.24.6
Diversity characteristics88.24.5
4Professionalism and ethics82.44.7
Leadership qualities82.44.4
Other life experience82.44.1
Personal prior knowledge of applicant82.43.9
5Perceived commitment to specialty76.54.5

 

Emergency Medicine

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score83.83.5
2Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty79.74.5
3MSPE77.03.8
USMLE Step 2 CK score77.03.8
4Any failed attempt at USMLE74.34.6
5Grades in required clerkships70.33.9

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Letters of recommendation in specialty90.54.8
2Diversity characteristics82.44.0
3Perceived commitment to specialty81.14.3
4Having overcome significant obstacles74.34.0
5Perceived interest in program73.04.2

 

Family Medicine

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE86.83.8
2Any failed attempt at USMLE79.23.9
3USMLE Step 2 CK score75.53.6
USMLE Step 1 score75.53.3
4Grades in required clerkships64.23.6
5Continuous medical education without gaps59.13.8

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived commitment to specialty95.64.8
2Personal statement (overall)89.94.0
3Letters of recommendation in specialty84.34.3
4Having overcome significant obstacles76.14.0
5Perceived interest in program75.54.2
Diversity characteristics75.54.1

 

Internal Medicine

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 2 CK score93.74.0
2USMLE Step 1 score90.53.7
3MSPE85.74.2
4Any failed attempt at USMLE82.54.5
5Class ranking/quartile76.24.1

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Diversity characteristics81.04.2
2Professionalism and ethics73.04.5
Personal statement (overall)73.03.6
3Perceived interest in program70.64.1
4Letters of recommendation in specialty68.33.7
5Having overcome significant obstacles67.53.9

 

Med/Peds

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE1004.0
2USMLE Step 1 score95.03.7
3Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty90.04.2
4Any failed attempt at USMLE85.04.3
Grades in required clerkships85.04.1
Class ranking/quartile85.03.9
USMLE Step 2 CK score85.03.4
5Awards/honors, clerkship in preferred specialty803.7

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Volunteer/extracurricular experience95.04.2
2Personal statement (overall)95.04.5
Leadership90.04.8
Diversity characteristics90.04.4
Having overcome significant obstacles90.04.2
Letters of recommendation in specialty90.03.8
3Perceived commitment to specialty85.04.1
4Professionalism and ethics80.04.7
5Other life experience75.04.4

 

Neurosurgery

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score89.54.2
2Grades in required clerkships73.74.1
MSPE73.73.6
3USMLE Step 2 CK score68.43.9
4Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty63.24.6
Class ranking/quartile63.24.0
5Awards/honors in clinical clerkships57.93.7

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Letters of recommendation in specialty94.74.8
2Involvement and interest in research73.74.6
3Perceived commitment to specialty68.44.8
Personal statement (overall)68.44.1
Diversity characteristics68.43.9
4Professionalism and ethics63.24.5
5Perceived interest in program57.94.1

 

Neurology

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score96.63.7
2MSPE93.14.5
3USMLE Step 2 score89.73.8
4Any failed attempt at USMLE82.84.4
5Class ranking/quartile75.94.1
Grades in clerkships in preferred specialty75.93.9

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived commitment to specialty93.14.3
Letters of recommendation in specialty93.14.2
2Personal statement (overall)86.24.8
3Professionalism and ethics79.34.6
Having overcome significant obstacles79.33.9
4Letters of recommendation in specialty75.93.8
3Personal prior knowledge of applicant72.44.1
4Volunteer/extracurricular experience72.43.8

 

OBGYN

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE84.34.1
USMLE Step 1 score84.33.6
2Grades in required clerkships79.83.8
3USMLE Step 2 CK score78.74.4
4Grades in clerkships in preferred specialty76.44.1
5Any failed attempt at USMLE71.94.5
Class ranking/quartile71.93.8

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Diversity characteristics88.84.2
Letters of recommendation in specialty88.84.0
2Personal statement (overall)84.34.0
3Leadership qualities79.84.3
4Having overcome significant obstacles78.74.3
Perceived interest in program78.74.0
5Volunteer/extracurricular experience77.54.0

 

Orthopaedic Surgery

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score94.43.9
2Grades in required clerkships86.14.1
3USMLE Step 2 CK score77.83.6
4MSPE69.43.7
AOA membership69.43.7
5Awards/honors in clinical clerkships66.73.5

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Personal statement (overall)91.73.5
2Letters of recommendation in specialty88.94.4
3Diversity Characteristics83.33.7
4Professionalism and ethics80.64.3
5Leadership qualities77.84.3

 

Pathology

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score97.03.8
2USMLE Step 2 CK score93.93.7
3MSPE87.94.0
4Any failed attempt at USMLE87.94.6
5Class ranking/quartile75.83.5

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived commitment to specialty93.94.7
Letters of recommendation in specialty93.94.5
Personal statement (overall)93.93.9
2Diversity characteristics78.83.8
3Professionalism and ethics69.74.5
Having overcome significant obstacles69.73.8
4Perceived interest in program54.54.3
5Personal prior knowledge of applicant51.54.5
Leadership qualities51.54.1

 

Pediatrics

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE91.34.4
2USMLE Step 1 score84.83.6
3Any failed attempt at USMLE78.34.5
4Grades in required clerkships73.94.0
5Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty65.23.9
USMLE Step 2 CK score65.23.8
Class ranking/quartile65.23.4

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Diversity characteristics80.44.2
Personal statement (overall)80.43.6
2Having overcome significant obstacles78.34.0
Letters of recommendation in specialty78.33.9
3Perceived commitment to specialty73.94.1
4Volunteer/extracurricular experience69.63.8
5Professionalism and ethics65.24.3

 

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE96.64.4
2Any failed attempt at USMLE93.14.5
3USMLE Step 1 score89.74.0
4Grades in required clerkships79.33.9
5Consistency of grades75.94.1
Class ranking/quartile75.94.0
GHHS membership75.93.3

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Letters of recommendation in specialty1004.3
2Perceived commitment to specialty96.64.2
3Diversity characteristics89.73.7
4Professionalism and ethics86.24.5
5Having overcome significant obstacles79.34.1

 

Psychiatry

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1MSPE90.24.0
2Any failed attempt at USMLE75.44.3
3Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty73.84.3
4USMLE Step 2 CK score73.83.5
5Grades in required clerkships72.14.0
Class ranking/quartile65.63.7
USMLE Step 1 score65.63.4

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived commitment to specialty90.24.5
Personal statement (overall)90.24.3
2Having overcome significant obstacles80.34.3
3Letters of recommendation in specialty78.74.2
4Perceived interest in program77.04.3
5Professionalism and ethics70.54.7

 

Radiology (Diagnostic)

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score97.14.6
2MSPE88.24.4
3USMLE Step 2 CK score85.34.1
4Class ranking/quartile82.44.2
5Grades in required clerkships73.54.0

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived interest in program94.14.1
2Personal statement (overall)91.23.6
3Perceived commitment to specialty88.24.1
Having overcome significant obstacles88.24.0
Letters of recommendation in specialty88.23.9
4Diversity characteristics85.33.7
5Personal prior knowledge of applicant79.44.2

 

Surgery

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 1 score96.14.0
2MSPE85.53.9
3USMLE Step 2 CK score84.24.0
4Grades in required clerkships76.34.0
5Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty75.04.3

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors 3.9Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Perceived interest in program93.44.2
2Personal statement (overall)84.23.8
3Perceived commitment to specialty82.94.4
4Letters of recommendation in specialty81.64.3
Having overcome significant obstacles81.63.9
5Diversity characteristics75.04.1

 

Transitional Year

Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1USMLE Step 2 CK score96.84.3
2USMLE Step 1 score93.54.3
3Any failed attempt at USMLE90.34.5
4MSPE80.63.8
5Class ranking/quartile67.73.7

Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors 3.9Cited by Program Directors

#Factor% of PDs citingImportance Rating (out of 5)
1Personal statement (overall)87.14.1
2Perceived interest in program71.04.1
3Letters of recommendation in specialty67.73.9
4Professionalism and ethics61.34.4
Diversity characteristics61.34.0
Having overcome significant obstacles61.33.8
5Leadership qualities51.64.3

 

We hope you’ve found value in the data we’ve compiled from the 2021 NRMP Program Directors Survey report. Please reach out with any questions at support@matcharesident.com.









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