Match Day Mailbag: What if I don’t Match?

“What if I don’t Match?” is one of the most common questions I get as residency applicants wait for their Match results. Here’s my advice.

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NOTES:

1. Introduction (0:11)

-If you missed the first Match Day Mailbag, it’s here:
Match Day Mailbag, Part 1: Can I game the Match algorithm?
   • Match Day Mailbag, Part 1: Can I game...  


2. Take care of yourself (1:19)

-It’s hard to be unmatched. If you need real help: https://988lifeline.org

-The graphic on the Match rate by educational background (2:07) is adapted from Table 4 of the NRMP Main Residency Match report:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...

-I’ve also written about the discrepancy between the NRMP Match rate and the proportion of applicants who are unable to find residency positions here:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...


3. Diagnose the problem (4:32)
-The Match rates I quoted all come from the NRMP’s Charting Outcomes in the Match reports.

For MDs:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...

For DO seniors:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...

For international medical graduates:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...


4. SOAP overview (9:50)
-Statistics on the NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) come from their 2022 Match report:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...


5. SOAP strategy (12:47)
-You can review the SOAP traffic rules (15:29) at the NRMP website:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploa...


5. Research (18:36)
-The screenshot on the NRMP’s non-clinical position policy (19:56) is online here:
https://www.nrmp.org/help/item/i-did-...


6. Delay graduation (20:21)
-I pointed out how osteopathic medical schools were cooking the books with their match statistics when I spoke to a group of osteopathic medical school deans a couple of years ago. Jump in at the twenty-four minute, 19 second mark if you want to get straight to it.

Addressing Osteopathic Medicine’s Vulnerabilities: The View through an External Lens
   • Addressing Osteopathic Medicine’s Vul...  


7. Other (24:07)


8. Work your plan (26:08)

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MUSIC CREDIT:
“Clutch,” by Nicolas Major.