Shortlisting for higher surgical training: now and the future

The Modernising Medical Careers changes to higher surgical training are almost upon us. Selection into ST1–3 has begun, but what are the most important selection criteria and how have they changed from the old Calman-system? Applicants are desperate to succeed but when it comes to knowing what specialty programme directors look for in a candidate, they have little to go on. This paper goes some way to answering these questions and perhaps gives applicants some useful insight into the minds of those with the power to say 'yes'.