NRMP Program Director Survey Results 2022


​Candidates who apply with a strong ERAS Application are well-prepared for residency. To do so, it's critical to understand which aspects of the application are most important to Program Directors. The 2021-22 Program Director Survey from the NRMP contains a wealth of information that can point you in the right direction.

The NRMP® conducts a bi-annual Program Director Survey, with data compiled in the NRMP Program Director Survey Results. In previous years, Program Directors were asked to list and rate the factors they used to select candidates for interviews. The rating scale ranged from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important). This year, these factors were classified as objective or subjective:
  • Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics
  • Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants
The top five most important factors in each category, as determined by the percentage of Program Directors who cited them, are listed below, along with the importance rating for each factor. This information is provided for the top 5 most IMG-friendly specialties. Make a thorough examination of the specialties in which you are interested.
​​
Program Directors: All Specialties Combined
The Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors.
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
95.2 ​
3.8
​MSPE*
​90.5
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
88.1
3.7
​Grades in required clerkships
83.3
​3.7
Any failed attempt at USMLE
​83.3
​4.7
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
78.6​
4.0
Personal statement (overall)
83.3
3.9
Diversity characteristics*
81.0
4.0
Perceived commitment to specialty
78.6
4.3
Having overcome significant obstacles
85.7
4.1
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Internal Medicine

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - Internal Medicine
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
90.5​
3.7
Personal statement (overall)
85.7
4.2
Diversity characteristics*
93.7
4.0
Perceived commitment to specialty
73.8
3.9
Having overcome significant obstacles
82.5
4.5
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
68.3​
3.7
​MSPE​*
73.0
3.6
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
81.0
4.2
​Grades in required clerkships
64.3
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
67.5
3.9
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Internal Medicine

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
77.0​
3.9
MSPE*
72.2
4.2
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
87.3
4.1
Class ranking/quartile
69.0
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
65.1
4.5
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
88.9​
4.8
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
86.5
4.8
Feedback from current residents
70.6
4.5
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
65.1
4.7
Diversity characteristics
74.6
4.3
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Family Medicine​

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - Family Medicine
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top 5 Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
75.5​
3.3
Personal statement (overall)
86.8
3.8
Diversity characteristics*
75.5
3.6
Perceived commitment to specialty
64.2
3.6
Having overcome significant obstacles
79.2
3.9
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
84.3​
3.9
​MSPE​*
89.9
4.1
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.5
4.1
​Grades in required clerkships
95.6
4.4
Any failed attempt at USMLE
76.1
4.0
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Family Medicine

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
51.6​
3.4
MSPE*
61.0
3.7
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
57.2
3.6
Class ranking/quartile
31.4
3.6
Any failed attempt at USMLE
52.2
3.8
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
87.1​
4.7
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
84.9
4.7
Feedback from current residents
79.5
4.6
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
77.5
4.7
Diversity characteristics*
65.4
4.0
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Pediatrics

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - Pediatrics​
​
Top 5 Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
95.0
3.4
Personal statement (overall)
100.0
4.1
Diversity characteristics*
85.0
3.4
Perceived commitment to specialty
85.0
4.1
Having overcome significant obstacles
85.0
4.3
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
84.3​
3.9
​MSPE​*
89.9
4.1
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.5
4.1
​Grades in required clerkships
95.6
4.4
Any failed attempt at USMLE
76.1
4.0
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Pediatrics

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
67.4​
3.9
MSPE*
76.1
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
65.2
3.8
Class ranking/quartile
54.3
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
56.5
4.3
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
87.1​
4.9
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
84.9
4.8
Feedback from current residents
79.5
4.6
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
77.5
4.8
Diversity characteristics
65.4
4.3
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Pathology

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - Pathology​
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
97.0
3.3
Personal statement (overall)
87.9
3.8
Diversity characteristics*
93.9
3.6
Perceived commitment to specialty
63.6
3.6
Having overcome significant obstacles
87.9
3.9
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
93.9​
3.9
​MSPE​*
93.9
4.1
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
78.8
4.1
​Grades in required clerkships
93.9
4.4
Any failed attempt at USMLE
69.7
4.0
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Pathology

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
67.4​
3.9
MSPE
76.1
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
65.2
3.8
Class ranking/quartile
54.3
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
56.5
4.3
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
87.1​
4.9
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
84.9
4.8
Feedback from current residents
79.5
4.6
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
77.5
4.8
Diversity characteristics*
65.4
4.3
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Neurology

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - ​Neurology
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
96.6
3.7
Personal statement (overall)
93.1
4.5
Diversity characteristics*
89.7
3.8
Perceived commitment to specialty
72.4
3.9
Having overcome significant obstacles
82.8
4.4
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
93.1​
4.2
​MSPE​
86.2
3.9
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.9
3.8
​Grades in required clerkships
93.1
4.3
Any failed attempt at USMLE
79.3
3.9
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Neurology 

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
79.3​
3.7
MSPE*
82.8
4.4
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
72.4
3.7
Class ranking/quartile
69.0
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
58.6
4.6
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
93.1​
4.8 
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
89.7
4.9
Feedback from current residents
82.8
4.5
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
86.2
4.8
Diversity characteristics*
58.6
4.4
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Psychiatry

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - ​Psychiatry ​
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
65.6
3.4
Personal statement (overall)
90.2
4.0
Diversity characteristics*
73.8
3.5
Perceived commitment to specialty
72.1
4.0
Having overcome significant obstacles
75.4
4.3
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
93.1​
4.2
​MSPE​*
86.2
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.9
4.4
​Grades in required clerkships
93.1
4.5
Any failed attempt at USMLE
79.3
4.3
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Psychiatry ​

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
50.8
3.6
MSPE
62.3
4.1
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
59.0
3.8
Class ranking/quartile
55.7
3.6
Any failed attempt at USMLE
54.1
4.3
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
85.2
4.9​
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
90.2
4.9
Feedback from current residents
78.7
4.6
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
78.7
4.8
Diversity characteristics*
82.0
4.4
​* Not Applicable for IMGs.
​
We hope you found the data from the 2021 NRMP Program Directors Survey report useful!

The residency application process frequently leaves applicants feeling lost, confused, and overwhelmed. This is where USMLESarthi can help. We have successfully matched hundreds of applicants. Whether you require assistance with your personal statement, an interview strategy, in terms of rotations, research, or any other aspect of the residency match, contact us today! 
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