Roadmap to Residency: - AAMC

Roadmap to Residency: FromApplication to the Match and BeyondX. Residency Application OutcomesThis section addresses applicants’ responsibilitiesand opportunities based on theoutcome of their match participation.A. Obligations of matchedapplicantsIt is the policy of every matchingprogram that the match between theapplicant and the program is a bindingcommitment for both sides. Failure tohonor that commitment is a violation ofthe contract signed during the registrationprocess. Penalties for violations varyamong the different matching programs.Some matches allow applicants to seek awaiver of the match commitment, eitherby mutual agreement of the applicantand program or by contacting the matchoffice directly. The “rules” are availableon each match’s Web site.B. “Early match” outcomesApplicants participating in some “earlymatches”—the San Francisco MatchingProgram and the Urology Match—receive their match results in January orearly February. In some cases, a preliminaryposition will be “held” by the sameinstitution to which the applicantmatched. In other cases, applicants whoobtain residency positions through theearly matches will be required to registerfor the NRMP’s Main Residency Matchto secure preliminary training. (U.S.allopathic medical school seniors mustparticipate in the NRMP for theirpreliminary positions.) Applicants whoobtain positions in the AOA Intern andResident Registration Program have acommitment for their first postgraduateyear and need not participate in theNRMP Main Residency Match for apreliminary position.Applicants who do not match in one ofthe early matches may seek residencypositions after that match concludes,using the list of available positions thattypically is posted on the match’s Website. The San Francisco MatchingProgram uses a Vacancy InformationSystem that lists post-Match positions, aswell as positions that have become vacantthroughout the year. Applicants mustcomplete the Applying to Post MatchVacancies form that is posted on the SanFrancisco Match Web site to participatein post-Match searches for vacantpositions.The Urology Match posts vacancies onits Web site after the match hasconcluded and throughout the year.Applicants must contact those programswith vacant positions directly.At the conclusion of the AOA Intern andResident Registration Program (IRRP)Match, the procedures to be followed byunmatched applicants and institutionswith available positions are posted onthe IRRP Web site.The NRMP begins to release the resultsof the Main Residency Match onMonday of Match Week, when applicantsare informed whether, but not to whichprograms, they have matched. At noonon Tuesday of Match Week, when theNRMP releases the list of unfilledprograms, “the Scramble” begins.Information is posted on the NRMPWeb site in a “dynamic” format, so thatpositions can be deleted from the list asthey are filled. The list indicates theformat in which the programs willreceive applications: via ERAS or bye-mail or by fax.C. “The Scramble”On Monday of Match Week, the NRMPnotifies applicants whether they havebeen matched to a residency trainingprogram. The following day, the NRMPnotifies programs whether they haveunfilled positions and, if so, how many.Two days later, full details of the resultsof the Main Match are released, andmost U.S. schools hold Match Dayceremonies.“The Scramble” takes place during twodays between Noon on Tuesday andNoon on Thursday of Match Week. Thisperiod is designed to permit unmatchedapplicants to locate residency positionsin programs that have unfilled positionsso they can begin planning for thetransition from medical school toresidency and participate in Match Dayceremonies.Typically, residency training programsreceive Scramble applications after aninitial telephone call from the applicant.The application can be faxed, e-mailed,or sent via ERAS or FindAResident (seebelow). Many programs prefer to receivean initial exploratory phone call, as itmakes the application more personal andtangible. Programs continue to seek thesame caliber of applicants during theScramble as they did prior to the Match.Applicants may now consider programswhich they had not previously considered.Most programs at this stage of theScramble process do not have the timefor a leisurely review of an ERAS applicationor a faxed application. They areprimarily seeking applicants who displaya good attitude, a strong work ethic, andsufficient skills to complete residencytraining and the relevant specialty board22Association of American Medical Colleges, 2005