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The NRMP is Considering a Two-phase Residency Match

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Recently the NRMP requested public comment on the concept of a two-phase residency Match. In part, the plan would mitigate weaknesses in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), which provides the opportunity of unfilled positions to eligible unmatched residency candidates. SOAP replaced the Scramble, an inferior system from years ago. SOAP still has its weaknesses, however, including an expedited timeline for decision-making by candidates and programs.

See a full description of the proposed two-phase residency Match here. Of note, the first Match Day, which would be analogous to the current Match Day, would occur a month earlier in February. Accordingly, interview season would be shorter. 

The plan has many benefits, but it would require some adjustments in candidates’ and residency directors’ calendars and thinking.

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Evidence-Based Decision Making Regarding Your Planned Specialty

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For those first-, second-, and third-year medical students who are trying to pick a specialty, remember to start with the facts: The NRMP published Charting Outcomes of the MatchResidency Applicant to give applicants an idea of what characteristics successful 2014 Main Residency Match candidates had. While sobering (the mean Step 2 score for successful radiology U.S. senior applicants was 249), the information is valuable as you approach the decision-making process.

If you’re early in the process, you can strategically plan your candidacy for success. If you’re later in the process, you can decide whether you have the characteristics necessary to pursue a successful Match process.

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Match Ranking may be emotionally hard, but it’s strategically easy

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For those of you who are starting to think about your Match rank lists, please remember that you simply rank your first choice first, your second second, etc. The Match algorithm is mathematically quite complicated, but because the process always begins with an attempt to match an applicant to the program most preferred on the applicant’s rank list, your best bet is not to try to “game” the system.

For example, I’ve had applicants tell me that they plan to rank a less preferred institution higher because that program has more residency slots. That’s a no-no. The applicant will actually be harming him/herself with that strategy.

Here’s a less-than-one-minute Guru on the Go© video “NRMP Ranking to Avoid a Spanking” to emphasize your optimal ranking strategy.

 

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2014 NRMP Program Director Survey is Now Available

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Every two years the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP) publishes a current program director (PD) survey which focuses on two main questions: 1) What factors do PDs use in deciding whom to interview? 2) What factors do PDs use in deciding whom to rank? Results of the 2014 Program Director Survey is available here.

So, as you approach interviews, if you’re wondering what PDs want, here are your answers.

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Residency Match Data

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The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) has recently updated their website. It’s still easy to navigate, but some web pages have been replaced with newer ones. Here is the NRMP data page, which includes some current reports on the 2013 residency Match.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

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

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