I Didn't Match - What Do I Do?
It can be very daunting if you find yourself without a residency match. But you still have options available to you after Match Day. Here’s where to start.
You still have options
Every residency match creates some degree of anxiety as fourth year medical students wait to learn where they will begin their chosen residency. For students who do not match, this news always comes with disappointment, and it can be a hard pill to swallow. But it's important to remember that matching is not the same as placement, and if you don’t match, you still have several options available to you if you act quickly.
First, clear your schedule
Speak with your current program director and ask to take some time off to plan for your next steps. You'll need some time to speak with your advisor, who may suggest that you get updated letters of recommendation, update your personal statement, or consider new specialties to apply for. You'll also need some time to plan for and participate in SOAP.
Next, get ready for SOAP
The same week of the Match, the NRMP begins the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Developed in partnership with the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), SOAP replaces the post-match "scramble" as the process for placing students.
SOAP is not another match in and of itself, but rather a list of offers put together by graduate medical education programs. Under SOAP, applicants undergo four rounds in which positions are offered to applicants based on a program's preference list. Each round lasts two hours, during which time applicants can accept or reject any offer received.
There is no separate registration for SOAP, and unlike with the match, applicants do not submit a rank order list. To be eligible, applicants must:
- already be registered for NRMP's Main Residency Match
- be able to enter graduate medical education by July 1 of the current year
- be partially matched or fully unmatched on the Monday of match week
NRMP notifies all applicants by email whether they are SOAP-eligible, and an applicant’s SOAP eligibility also will be posted on the applicant’s home page in the NRMP’s R3 system.
After Soap
While SOAP is very competitive, most students are successfully matched after its completion. For those who don't find a program with SOAP, there are still many options for students to consider.
After SOAP, work with your school to identify available positions and research available positions on websites like the Frieda Residency Program Database.
Further resources: