Specialty Factors

In March 2022, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted its survey of directors of programs participating in the Main Residency Match ® with the primary purpose of characterizing the factors that Program Directors use to (1) select applicants to interview, and (2) rank applicants for the Main Residency Match. See results of the Program Director Survey for Psychiatry below:

The Top 5 Most Important Psychiatry Application Factors

Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor

1. MSPE/Dean’s Letter (90.2%)
2. Any failed attempt at USMLE (75.4%)
3. USMLE Step 2 CK score (73.8%)
4. Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty (73.8%)
5. Grades in required clerkships (72.1%)

Average Importance Rating for Each Factor (scale of 1 to 5)

1. Applicant was flagged with Match violation by the NRMP (4.8)
2. Professionalism and ethics (4.7)
3. Perceived commitment to specialty (4.5)
4. Diversity characteristics (4.4)
5. Personal statement (overall), Having overcome significant obstacles, Perceived interest in program (4.3)