Clik here to view.
If you don’t match to a residency program, be sure you are eligible for SOAP. Then, review possible reasons why you didn’t match and get prepared for next year’s Match Day.
As Match Day approaches, many residency hopefuls are haunted by one thought: “What if I don’t match?” The words hover in mind during the nerve-racking wait to find out. If the student’s worst fears come true, the disappointment can be almost overwhelming.
There’s no sugarcoating it—not matching is a painful experience. You have every right to grieve if it happens to you. We want to encourage you though. Once you’ve processed your feelings, there are steps you can take to move forward if you don’t match.
Reach for the SOAP if you don’t match
As a more immediate response to not matching, make sure you’re eligible for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). SOAP is made up of a series of rounds in which participating programs seek to fill their unfilled residency positions. If you’re eligible for SOAP, you can see the List of Unfilled Programs in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) system starting at 12 p.m. EST on Match Day, which is the Monday of Match Week. During this process, stay active and be patient.
Review the possible reasons you didn’t match
Before moving ahead, it’s important to take a look back and assess your reasons for not matching. How were your scores on the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE)? Did you follow guidance from your faculty advisor or dean’s office? Are your interviewing and interpersonal skills as strong as possible? Most likely, you didn’t do anything significantly wrong. Still, it’s always wise to reflect on what can be improved for next time.
Think about your application, skill set, CV, scores, relationships, and rotations—everything associated with the Match Day process. Reach out to the people who interviewed you for the internships you applied for and get feedback from them (or ask your director of clinical training to call those places to see if they’ll offer some insights). And since you’re seeking feedback, have your advisors look over your application again to see if you can do something differently next time.
Rework for next year’s Match Day
If you’re planning to reapply for Match next year, take this coming year to be strategic about your application and site selections. You may want to revise some essays, completely rewrite others, and include any valuable feedback from the professionals you’ve talked with.
When it comes to your site selection strategy, consider a different set of sites to apply to. Experts agree that one of the main reasons students don’t match is that they apply for highly competitive residencies instead of creating a balanced list. The other reason is that they place too few schools on their ranking list. Now is a good time to think about applying to less competitive sites or broadening the range of areas where you’re willing to relocate.
Refocus and Re-energize
In spite of this tough experience, try not to count the year ahead as a loss. Think of it as a time to set new goals, map out important dates, and get your papers and files in order for reapplying. Consider it a vital year to refocus and reenergize and to move forward. By next year, you’ll know what to expect from the process and that you can handle whatever comes your way. You can feel confident that you’re well-prepared to hear, “You’ve matched!”
Preparation is key for Match Day. Learn how Kaplan can help you score higher on the USMLE to get the residency you want.
The post What If I Don’t Match? appeared first on Residency Secrets.