In-Person Second Look During a Residency Virtual Interview Season: An Important Consideration for Radiology Residency Applicants

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: The transition to an all-virtual residency interview process, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen numerous benefits beyond applicant and program safety. These benefits include improvements in equity, access and even lowering the applicant's carbon footprint. However, a significant portion of applicants have concerns with being unable to visit a program and interact with residents and faculty in person. A second look opportunity for radiology residency applicants was developed to address applicant concerns while maintaining an equitable interview process for all. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The second look opportunity took place after our program's final rank list was completed. Second look attendees completed a 10-question online survey after completion of our program's second look to ascertain financial obstacles of attending, the importance of a second look opportunity, and reasons why applicants chose to attend. RESULTS: 24/24 (100%) of attendees completed the survey. The majority of attendees were from >100 miles away (54%). Only 21% felt that the financial burden of the second look was substantial. However, this response was more common among attendees from >100 miles away (p = 0.013). All applicants surveyed chose to attend the second look in order to see the radiology department facilities and to meet the faculty in person. All applicants agreed or strongly agreed that they learned more about the residency program through in-person discussions with residents and faculty than they were able to remotely and that the in-person second look opportunity is a valuable tool to help make an informed rank decision when interviewing virtually. CONCLUSION: The second look opportunity offers multiple benefits for applicants to help make an informed rank list decision during a virtual interview season.