The hot topic this interview season (2017-2018) seems to be how programs are coordinating their new IR residency interviews with their ongoing DR interviews. The fact that most IR-interested students are applying to both IR and DR programs (at the APDR's recommendation) makes this issue quite relevant. I can say as a DR program director, screening applications got a lot more confusing this year with so many DR applicants clearly preferring IR.

As I speak with PDs from around the country, programs are taking vastly different approaches to recruitment. Some departments are merging their IR and DR recruitment committees and conducting joint interviews of all applicants, even interviewing IR and DR applicants on the same day. This would seem to save time & money rather than inviting the same applicant to separate IR and DR interviews.

Other programs are keeping IR and DR recruitment strictly separated. Some DR programs are screening out applications from students who are also applying to their IR residency! These DR program directors feel that they are "wasting" an interview spot on someone who is likely to match in IR.

Does the unified approach to recruitment offer advantages to PDs and trainees? What are the optics of the unified approach to applicants? Will those institutions be more appealing? What are you doing at your institution for recruitment?