Getting your dream match begins with facing the realities of the NRMP list.
Fourth year medical students across the country started the process of immortalizing their rank lists on the NRMP Match website on January 15th, 2016.
I remember starting the anxiety-provoking rank list process this time last year and thought it would be helpful to share some tips to help medical students ensure the best possible Match outcome.
Tips for National Residency Match Programs (NRMP)
After interviewing at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), I knew that it had stolen the top spot on my list. However, deciding on how to rank the rest of my NRMP options was the struggle.
Here are the factors I prioritized in creating my NRMP list:
- Geography: I either wanted to be in the Midwest or a city that made it easy to get home.
- Quality of training/career opportunities: I knew I wanted to train at an academic medical center and do a fellowship.
- Gut feeling: I considered how I felt while interviewing at each program and whether I got along with the residents.
Make sure to identify the factors that are most important to you, and decide on your match list based on those considerations.
Main Rank Order List Limit
I interviewed at a total of 16 anesthesiology programs and 12 transitional year/preliminary medicine programs. Since many anesthesiology programs have both categorical and advanced positions, I ranked many of the programs twice on my main NRMP list (e.g. I ranked MGH – Advanced in my first position, then MGH – Categorical for my second position, etc).
As a result, I went over the limit of 20 programs on the main match list and had to pay a small fee for every additional NMRP I ranked.
Supplemental list
Since I interviewed at and wished to rank advanced anesthesia programs, I had to create a supplemental list of transitional/preliminary medicine programs. Luckily, I’m a Michigan-native and there are a surplus of transitional year programs within the metro-Detroit. I wanted to stay close to home for my intern year then move once.
Keep in mind that when you create your supplemental list, you can customize it for each advanced program.
Match algorithm
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to rank programs in the order that you want. The match algorithm is designed to work in the applicant’s favor, so it is in your best interest to rank your dream program #1. The computer considers each applicant’s list first then refers to the program’s NRMP list. This allows for all medical students to obtain the best possible match.
Don’t fall into the trap of ranking a program that sends you a “ranked to match” communication higher. The most important deciding factor in how to rank your programs is how much you want to be there.
Of course, the first thing on your list for residency should be excelling on the USMLE. Ensure a good match with Kaplan—the world leader in test prep!
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