Financial and educational costs of the residency interview process for urology applicants

OBJECTIVES To investigate the financial and educational costs of the urology residency interview process, we performed a survey of the applicants to the 2006 urology match. METHODS All applicants registered for the 2006 urology match were invited to participate. In January 2006 prior to the match, an anonymous online survey containing 8 questions on the financial and educational costs of the interview process was distributed via email. RESULTS Survey response rate was 61% (287/468). The median educational debt of the applicants was $125,000 (IQR 65,000 to 160,000). Respondents reported having a median 12 interviews (IQR 8 to 15) with urology residencies and spending a median 20 days (IQR 14 to 30) on the interview trail. The total cost of the interview process was a median $4000 (IQR 2000 to 5200) with a median expense per interview of $330 (IQR 211 to 455). Applicants reported that travel expenses accounted for a median 60% of overall interview expenses, whereas the remainder of the expense was accounted for by lodging (25%), food (10%) and clothing (5%). The money to cover these interview-related expenses was obtained primarily by loans. Forty-six percent of the applicants reported that skipping medical school clerkships and classes for urology interviews was "not at all detrimental" to their medical education, whereas 1% reported that it was "greatly detrimental." CONCLUSIONS The financial cost of the interview process for urology applicants is substantial, although the educational cost appears to be limited. Efforts to reduce the financial impact of the interview process should be initiated at both a regional and national level.