As we near the end of the 2024 Match season, you may be tempted to relax a bit. You have worked tirelessly for months, and you deserve to feel proud. However, there are still a few important steps and deadlines you must remember to finish out the season strong! In this blog, we will discuss the final steps for the 2024 Match that you don’t want to miss!
Registering for the NRMP® Deadline and Post Match SOAP
It is very important you have registered for the 2024 Main Residency Match and paid your fee by January 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. This will ensure that you are among the first round of applicants released to programs on February 1, 2024. If you have not registered by January 31, programs will not be able to rank you. You can still register with the NRMP by the Rank Order List deadline of February 28, 2024 at 9 pm ET. However, you will have to pay an extra $50 (for the Main Residency Match only) and run the risk of a programs submitting their rank list before you have registered.
The fees are currently:
- Standard Registration Fee: $70
- Includes the listing of up to 20 unique NRMP program codes on the primary rank order list and up to 20 unique NRMP codes on all supplemental rank order lists combined for the Main Residency Match.
- Extra Rank Fee: For each NRMP program code ranked over 20, NRMP charges an extra rank fee of $30 per program code up to the maximum of 300 ranks.
- Late Registration Fee (Main Residency Match only): $50 additional after January 31
- Couples’ Fee: Applicants who wish to participate in the Match as a couple must pay an additional $45 per applicant.
- Length of Rank Order List Fee: For rank order lists with 100 or more ranks, the following additional charges apply:
- 100-150 ranks: $50
- 151-200 ranks: $100
- 201-250 ranks: $150
- 251-300 ranks: $200
- It is important to note that all of these fees are non-refundable. You MUST pay any outstanding fees to be eligible for the Main Residency Match and Post Match SOAP.
Preparing your Rank Order List
Once you have registered for the Main Residency Match, it is time to determine your Rank Order list. The Ranking opens on February 1st at 12 pm EST. You should take the time to carefully consider how your interviews went, what you like about each program and what is most important about a program for you to prefer Matching into. This must be submitted by March 1, 2023 at 9 pm ET to be eligible for the Main Residency Match.
To help you make your decisions, below are some tips to keep in mind as you create, change and certify Rank Order Lists:
- Rank all of the programs you interviewed with, but only the programs you interviewed with (You can rank programs you did not interview with, but there is virtually no chance these programs will rank you back without an interview.)
- According to NRMP®, the most successful candidates rank an average of 10 programs– but remember you can rank up to 20 unique programs before you are charged any extra fees
- All sources and official services agree, rank according to preference, not where you think you have the best chance
- You lose nothing for ranking according to preference, but you may lose if you only rank “safe” programs
- For example, if you rank a “safe” program higher than a program you really wanted, and you Match to both– you will lose your chance to be in the program you preferred
- Do not assume a program is guaranteed to rank you based on a promise from any of the faculty
- They may have liked you, but you must remember programs interview far more applicants than they rank. You don’t know who they interviewed after you.
- You can include a program’s perceived impression of you in your considerations, but it should not be your only reason to rank a program higher than others
- If possible, get someone qualified to look over your list (mentor, current physician, etc.)
- Approach Letters of Intent with caution:
- According to NRMP, programs cannot ask information about how or who you are ranking
- You are allowed to express your genuine interest but do not create any pressure for them to respond
- You also do not want to make the program uncomfortable or put them in a position where they may violate NRMP’s policies with regards to confidentiality
When you have all of the programs you want and like added to your Rank Order List, the decision is down to the program order. To help you think objectively about how to rank programs you are listing, below is a list of things to think about with each program.
- How much you liked the program
- How well you did in the interview
- Your competitiveness as a residency candidate such as:
- USMLE Scores
- Gap in medical education
- Visa status
- Competitiveness of the specialty and/or program
- Happiness of the current residents/faculty
- Your Personal Preferences
- Geographic location
- Benefits (salary, hours, vacation/sick time, day care, etc.)
- Further career opportunities (Fellowships, research, etc.)
- Prestige of the program (if this matters to you)
- Community vs. University based programs
- Opposed vs. Unopposed Programs (if the hospital has programs for multiple specialties or not)
If you were not able to secure any interviews and cannot make a Rank Order List, do not panic. Your season is not over. As long as you qualify, and you have registered an NRMP account by the Rank Order Deadline which is February 28, 2024, at 9 p.m. (EST), you will be able to participate in the Post Match/SOAP.
If you need more information or help creating your Rank Order list, please contact us today! You can call (858)-221-8580 or send an email to support@residencyexperts.com.
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