For those interested in a comprehensive explanation of the NRMP’s process for unmatched candidates,here is an article I wrote for Student Doctor Network with a step-by-step approach to the
Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Most residency applicants are hopeful about their Match prospects, but if you are not a strong candidate, it’s not a bad idea to understand SOAP early.
Blog Archives
Compared to the Old Scramble, NRMP’s SOAP Cleans Up the Match
For IMGs Participating in the 2014 Match
International Medical Graduates who are planning to participate in this coming year’s match should note that the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) ERAS Support Services will not longer accept paper documents. All of an applicant’s supporting documents must be submitted electronically. For more information about how different documents (transcripts, photographs, letters of recommendation) should be submitted, click here.
The Nobel Prize and the Match
Some of you may have heard about last week’s economics Nobel Prize announcements, but you may not know that one of the Nobel winners created the current Match algorithm. Previously, residency applicants would try to game the Match because of an algorithm flaw, but now the system is much fairer. See this interesting NYT article for details.
Every Emergency Medicine Spot Filled in the 2012 Match
In the 2012 NRMP Match, all 1668 of the available Match positions in Emergency Medicine were filled. The fierce competition likely stems from a variety of factors – popularity of the field and the fact that currently, medical students apply to more residency spots than they had in years past. Either way medical students need to understand that matching into EM is not easy. Having an early strategy, submitting optimal written materials, and interviewing well are critical.
Here‘s is an article in the Annals of Emergency Medicine regarding last year’s Emergency match.
Tags: Match, Medical Students, Medicine, Written Materials
Pre-Match Offers
I received an urgent request from an applicant last week. He wanted to discuss a pre-match offer he had received that had a Friday deadline. The pre-match program was an academic institution, which was appealing, but the interview day had left the applicant underwhelmed for a number of reasons.
On the one hand, this offer was a sure thing. On the other, the applicant had noted what he considered to be red flags. He asked me what to do.
As usual, in life there is no right answer. But here are a few suggestions if offered a pre-match:
1. Ask for more time. In the worst case scenario, the program director says no. Nothing lost.
2. Try to move up any interviews you have not yet attended.
3. Contact the other program directors and let them know you have a pre-match offer and give them the deadline date. They may offer you a pre-match in return. Or – on the contrary – they may let you know they are not interested. Either would be helpful in making your decision.
4. Speak to residents who are at the pre-match program. Trainees will often readily tell you the weaknesses of their institution :). This information will help you make an informed decision.
5. Assess a) your risk-taking comfort zone and b) the strength of your candidacy. This step is probably the hardest, yet most important.
In the end, the applicant did not accept the pre-match offer and is crossing his fingers he’ll end up at another program he likes better. He is so relieved that – with the information he has now – the decision seems to have been the right one for him.
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
