Phase 1 of the Match

We are joined by Drs. Lauren Butler and Jacob Calahan, both PGY1 residents at Huntsville Hospital.

Once interviews are completed, candidates and programs rank their programs. Program ranking is just putting your preference from greatest to least into the online National Matching Services (NMS) site. Candidates can rank all or none of the programs they interviewed at. They can even rank programs they did not interview at, but that would be pointless as those programs would not be ranking you in return. Programs also can rank all or none of candidates that interviewed. After the ranking deadline, which is usually beginning of March, the NMS runs an algorithm (very simple algorithm) that matches candidates. The Match algorithm is based on candidate preference, but even if it was not, it would usually result the same based on tests the NMS has done. You can see exactly how the algorithm works HERE on the NMS website.

Several years ago, the match went from a single phase process to a multi-phase process. After the initial match, candidates would enter the "Scramble" where there were guidelines, but not real rules to getting a residency position. The thought behind this was change was to give more oversight to the process after the initial phase. Some programs may have also intentionally skipped the match or purposefully ranked no candidates so they could control the interview and hiring process similar to how all other recruitment is done in the real world. There is criticism that the new Multi-phased system is taking advantage of candidates and increasing the amount of money candidates have to pay to participate.

The new Match consists of Phase I, the initial match, where programs and candidates rank each other and go through a matching algorithm.

Phase II is basically an abbreviated version of the initial match, with a very short interview period and matching process.

After Phase II is the "Post-match Phase II match process" which is essentially the Scramble. In the last few years, the new Scramble has not had much to scramble to as the majority of programs are filled between Phase I and Phase II.

You can see the time-line for the Match HERE.

Results are now released on a Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. EST, but have historically released on a Friday. Programs who have unfilled positions are released at 12:00 p.m. EST that day. You can see all the stats on the NMS website.