The Child Neurology Society (CNS) strongly recommends that Child Neurology residency programs adopt a universal interview offer date of October 5, 2026.
On this date, residency programs should release their first round of interview offers, limiting them to the exact number of interview spots available. Applicants should be given at least 72 hours to respond, after which unfilled spots may be extended to other candidates at the program’s discretion.
Universal interview offer dates, also known as coordinated interview release dates, have been successfully implemented in multiple specialties over the past seven years, providing substantial benefits for applicants and residency programs. These benefits include:
- allowing more time for holistic application review,
- reducing applicant stress associated with unpredictable interview timing, and
- enhancing the overall efficiency of the interview and matching processes
Surveys conducted in specialties such as Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Dermatology have shown that applicants and program directors (PDs) strongly support this practice.
Applicants reported reduced stress levels and residency programs experienced improved efficiency in the interview and match processes without compromising the quality of applicants or the percentage of filled positions. Recognizing the success of this approach, the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) has recommended that no interview offers for pediatric residencies be released before October 5, 2026, to facilitate a holistic review process. Following the first recommendation (2024) of a universal interview offer date by the CNS for the 2025 Match, the CNS conducted an anonymous survey of Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities PDs in March 2025.
The survey results revealed nearly 100% adoption of the universal interview offer date for the 2025 Match cycle among those completing the survey (72% per program directors). Programs can indicate their participation through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and while adherence to this date is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as a best practice.
By adopting this universal interview offer date, the CNS aims to maintain the quality of the residency application and selection process, benefiting both programs and candidates and fostering a more efficient and equitable recruitment season.