RESUMEN
Introduction: With two cycles of virtual residency interviews, we evaluated applicants' perceptions and behavior. Method(s): All 2021 and 2022 general surgery interviewees at our institution were surveyed. Analyses were conducted using chi-square and t-tests. Result(s): Cumulatively, 134 of 238 interviewees responded (56.3%). Respondents were 50.3% male, 83% white, and 27.2 years old (SD 2.9). Candidates applied to more programs due to interviews being virtual (61%), but this effect decreased in 2022 (38%, p=0.2). Similarly, they endorsed accepting more interviews (54% in 2021 and 45% in 2022, p=0.6) with a median of 17 interviews in 2021 and 15 in 2022 (p=0.18). 27.6% reported expanding their geographic reach. The advantages were consistently saving money (96%), saving time (50%), and avoiding COVID-19 (44%). Top limitations were the inability to observe interpersonal interactions (61.2%), increased difficulty comparing programs (58.2%) and less exposure to current residents and faculty (57.4%). In the 2022 cycle, 84.7% of candidates felt the common supplemental application was not worth their time because it did not improve their application. 95% of respondents 'signaled' their top five programs, from which 20% received no interview offers and only 3% received offers from all. Conclusion(s): Virtual interviews led applicants to expand their geographic range and increase the number of programs to which they applied;however, 2022 saw a dampening of this effect. Perceived limitations did not improve in 2022, and the supplemental application was not valued by applicants. The benefits of virtual interviews must be balanced against the intangible ability to observe program culture.