Journal of graduate medical education
Standardized Letters of Recommendation and Match Success Among Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Applicants
By Gallo MC, Hernandez F, Ball JR and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Standardized letters of recommendation (SLORs) aim to make applicant letters more comparable, but score inflation raises concerns about their usefulness. In orthopaedic surgery, the 2023 SLOR was similarly affected.
Objective
To evaluate the 2023 SLOR's association with orthopaedic surgery residency Match success and the association between below-average scores and Match outcomes.
Methods
We reviewed all applications to our orthopaedic surgery residency program during the 2023-2024 cycle, including demographics, objective applicant metrics, and 2023 SLOR scores (7 criteria, 10-point scale). SLORs are optional, and applicants may submit 0 to 4 at our program. Match success was defined as matching into an orthopaedic surgery residency program by the start of the next academic year, confirmed via internet search. Univariate testing and multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations between objective metrics, SLOR scores, and Match success. Effect estimates are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).