Third Year Survival Guide

Applying for Residencies

Applying for Residency

The Match: General Information
Obtaining Residency Information/Applications
The Application: General Information
The Curriculum Vitae
The Dean's Letter
Letters of Recommendation
The Personal Statement
Interviewing
Rank List

The Match: General Information

What is the Match?
Although there are several matches, when people refer to “The Match”, what they are really referring to is the NRMP, which stands for the National Residency Matching Program. Through this program, fourth year medical students are offered residency positions in a number of different specialties. It is important to realize that not all specialties are included within the NRMP. Some (neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, urology) use their own match.

How does the Match work?
By the end of January during the fourth year of medical school, most residency programs have finished interviewing applicants for residency positions. These programs then rank the applicants in the order in which they would offer acceptances. This rank list is submitted to the NRMP.

Students prepare their own rank list. On this list, they rank the residency programs they interviewed at in the order in which they would accept offers. This list is then submitted to the NRMP.

After the NRMP has received rank lists from residency programs and students, a computer processes the information. Students are then matched to the highest residency program on their list that offered them a position.

When does the Match occur?
Although the Match usually occurs in February of the fourth year of medical school, “Match Day” does not take place until mid-March. On “Match Day”, results of the Match are disclosed at the same time throughout the country.

How well do US medical students do in the Match?
US medical students do quite well in the Match, with approximately 85% securing one of their top 3 choices every year.

What percentage of US medical students do not match?
Every year, 6 to 7% of US medical students do not match.

How do I find more information about the Match?

Your medical school will provide you information about the Match, usually in the spring of the third year of medical school. If you wish, you can contact the NRMP directly at the following address:

Or call them at the following phone number:

Or visit their website at:

What about specialties not included in NRMP?
Some specialties do not participate in the NRMP. These include neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and urology. These specialties have an early Match (usually January of the 4th year of medical school). You can obtain further information by contacting the Matching Program for the specialty, as shown below:

I have heard that students who apply to specialties (neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, urology) outside the NRMP match also enroll in the NRMP. Is that true?
Even in specialties that have their own match, applicants will often enroll in the NRMP. This is because many of these specialties require their residents to initially train for one or two years in another specialty (e.g., internal medicine or surgery).

Since many of the specialties that have their own match are quite competitive, students also enroll in the NRMP as kind of an insurance policy. If they are not accepted into their specialty of choice, then they have another option. An example is the student who is applying for otolaryngology – if the student does not receive a residency position in otolaryngology through this specialty’s match but the NRMP offers the student a position in general surgery, the student is not left high and dry.

What is the couples match?
The NRMP offers the couples match for partners who wish to be matched with residency programs in the same area. Each partner applies and interviews separately at residency training programs in the same geographic region. After the interview season is over, the couple submits their rank-order list, which lists pairs of programs in the order of their desirability.

Will I be successful in the Match?
Although we hope that all applicants are successful in the Match, there is a chance that all will not go well. Having said that, we are pleased to inform you that medical students in the United States tend to do quite well. Approximately 85% of fourth year medical students in the United States are matched into one of their top three choices.

How do I register for the Match?
For US medical students, in the spring of your third year, you will be given a student agreement form to look over and sign. Make sure your name is correctly spelled. Be sure to use your name as it appears on this form in all application materials. You will also have to pay a nonrefundable registration fee to the NRMP. After you have registered, the NRMP will send you an applicant code. Use this NRMP applicant code on all residency applications.

How do I register for other matches?
For specialties that do not participate in the NRMP match, make inquiries with your Dean's office to see if they have information and registration forms. If the information is not available there, contact the specialty match program directly. Keep in mind that you can also register for the NRMP match - there is no rule that prohibits you from registering with multiple match programs. Remember that many of the specialties require some initial training in another field. You will have to secure a position in these fields through the NRMP match.

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