The Financial Burden of the Urology Match: Room for improvement

Abstract Introduction/ Background – The Urology match remains highly competitive, but there is limited published data on the costs of the application process for contemporary applicants. This study aims to determine the financial burden of the Urological match and the effect it has on applicants. Methods/ Materials – All applicants to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Urology Residency in the 2019 Urology match were invited to complete an anonymous, IRB approved online survey containing 16 questions on interview travel and costs, financial aid, and debt burden. Results – Thirty-nine out of 183 (21%) applicants responded to the survey. The median number of programs applied to was 87 (range 26 - 100). The median number of interviews offered was 17 (range 0 - 51) and the median number of interviews attended was 14 (range 0 - 27). The median interview expense was $6,0000 (range 0 – 10,000). Applicants reported the money came from a combination of medical student loans (43$57,500. Conclusions – At UNMC, applicants for the 2019 Urology interview cycle incurred a median monetary cost of $6,000. With 18Abstract Introduction/ Background – The Urology match remains highly competitive, but there is limited published data on the costs of the application process for contemporary applicants. This study aims to determine the financial burden of the U[A1] rological match and the effect it has on applicants. Methods/ Materials – All applicants to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Urology Residency in the 2019 Urology match were invited to complete an anonymous, IRB approved online survey containing 16 questions on interview travel and costs, financial aid, and debt burden. Results – Thirty-nine out of 183 (21$6,0000 (range 0 – 10,000). Applicants reported the money came from a combination of medical student loans (43%), family and friends (43%), or from personal savings (41%). To save money, 64% of applicants reported staying with family and friends on at least 1 interview and about 43% [A2] of applicants reported sharing a room with another applicant. Notably, 18%[A3] of applicants surveyed stated that they declined interviews due to cost. The median medical school debt of those surveyed was $57,500[A4] . Conclusions – At UNMC, applicants for the 2019 Urology interview cycle incurred a median monetary cost of$6,000 . With 18% of applicants stating that they declined interviews due to financial cost, there should be reform to the interview process to help lower costs to applicants and promote a successful match. Limiting total applications or coordinating same city interviews are two[A5] options to reduce cost. [A1]Check throughout – sometimes you capitalize Urology or Urological and other times you do not. Be consistent throughout entire paper. Either way is fine. [A2]Don’t start a sentence with a numeral – either spell it out or add to the previous sentence. [A3]Change – you can also start a sentence with a transition like “Notably, 18%...” [A4]This seems low. Double check [A5]Typically spell out numbers one-nine and then use numerals for 10 and up (except for measurements, dollar amounts, and others)