It’s the race between the tortoise and the hare. The hare in this scenario is not losing out on finishing the “match” but just taking a diverted route to get to where it needs to be. Pre-match in the medical residency realm is just that scenario!
The Importance of Pre-Match in Medical Residency
Pre-match is essentially residency programs that are not part of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and do their work outside of the algorithm-heavy Match system which takes place around March. They don’t rank the candidates that they interview, which gives them more control over who joins their medical residency program.
Pre-match comes across as more of a straightforward approach to applying for medical residency. Candidates still apply through Electronic Resident Application Service (ERAS). If the program likes you so much, they might just immediately offer you a contract after your interview on the spot! These will either be for categorical or preliminary positions.
FMGs (Foreign Medical Graduates) and IMGs (International Medical Graduates) get their foot in the door quicker into residency with the Pre-match. Most Pre-match programs love hiring FMGs and IMGs because 1st year US grads both MD and DO must apply in the match only the first year.
NRMP Match Program
With the NRMP Match program, residencies under this umbrella must use the algorithm in order to select their prime applicants. This algorithm was developed by none other than Lloyd Shapely and Alvin Roth and received a Nobel Prize in Economics for their work in 2012. Interviews are conducted from October to January. In February resident applicants are required to submit their rank list as well as the programs. It is in March that the algorithm punches the numbers out and sees who successfully matched together based on both the program’s ranking and the applicant’s ranking.
Having a small rank list works against residency applicants. For one, you are less likely to get matched if you have a smaller rank list, and you are narrowing your options. Secondly, competitive applicants are offered more interviews and therefore have longer rank lists. Not only is having a long list of programs helpful in your ranking but it also keeps your options flexible for the specialty you want.
Residents Medical has helped thousands of candidates match with a medical residency. Go here to learn more on How Our Candidates Found Their Match.
Whether you apply for residency through Pre-Match or the Match, you will find yourself matching in. If all else fails there are always other options. Residents Medical facilitates in helping medical residents match into a program of their specialty choice. Residents Medical also knows the ‘ball game’ of the match process and can guide you through your medicine residency journey! Their expert counselors will also tell you the quality of interviews far out shadows the number of interviews. This is true of many doctors who have numerous interviews but fail to match in. Call us today at 310-444-9700 or speak with a specialist here.
