2017-18 Post-Match SOAP Season

Welcome to the 2018-19 Post-Match SOAP Season

With Rank Order Lists looming and Match Week a few short months away, it may be time for some residency candidates to begin thinking about the next step in the residency application process: Match Week and the Post-Match SOAP. While even considering the possibility of not matching into a residency program might seem painful, and maybe even a little scary, the most prepared residency candidates know that they should be ready to face whatever may happen on the Monday morning of Match Week. And, part of being the most prepared is to learn about the Post-Match SOAP.

The Post-Match Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) hosted by NRMP® gives residency candidates who are either:

  1. Unmatched – Did not receive any residency program positions.
  2. Partially Matched – Matched into a preliminary (one year) program or an advanced program (starting at the PGY-2).

The chance to compete for the residency positions that went unfilled during the Main Residency Match®. Typically, +13,000 residency candidates apply for +1,000 positions across a variety of medical specialties. It is one of the final steps in the residency application cycle and can be overwhelming to face alone, especially if you are already in shock after learning your match results.  

It is important to understand that the Post-Match SOAP moves at lightning speed and condenses an entire application season into only a few short days. In fact, most of the action happens on the Monday of Match Week. The Post-Match SOAP takes place throughout Match Week and generally follows this timeline:

  • Monday: Learn Match status, (if SOAP eligible) receive List of Unfilled Programs from NRMP, research and choose 45 residency programs to apply to, log in to your ERAS account, and between 12 and 3 pm (EST) apply to the programs you have chosen.
  • Tuesday: Wait to hear from residency programs. Programs you applied to may contact you to hold short phone or Skype interviews to get to know you.
  • Wednesday: Offer Rounds 1 and 2 are held. The Offer Rounds are 2-hour windows where programs may submit residency position offers through NRMP. Once an offer round has concluded, any existing offers will expire.
  • Thursday: Offer Round 3 and SOAP concludes. After the final Offer Round ends, NRMP will release an updated List of Unfilled Programs that will also include unfilled residency programs that did not participate in SOAP. At that time, any residency candidate is allowed to contact the leftover programs to ask if they are still accepting applications.

As you can see, the Post-Match moves quickly, so understanding the process and preparing in advance can be crucial to successful participation.

As the Post-Match SOAP approaches, Electronic Residency will be updating existing articles or posting more informational articles to help residency candidates learn what they need to know about the Post-Match. There are additional Resources pages for more tips on how to prepare, more details about the SOAP process, and SOAP statistics available on the Electronic Residency website.

You are also welcome to reach out by sending an email to support@electronicresidency.com or calling (858) 299-2003.

Post-Match Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) preparation starts with residency candidates asking themselves a few simple questions.

Post-Match SOAP 2017 Results per Medical Specialty

Post-Match Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) preparation starts with residency candidates asking themselves a few simple questions. One of the most important questions is: Are you prepared to apply to additional specialties beyond what you applied to in the regular residency application season?

To prepare for the Main Residency Match® season, most residency candidates know they need to gather specialty specific documents such as Letters of Recommendation or Personal Statements while applying to programs. However, this simple principle tends to get forgotten in the mad rush of applications at the start of the Post-Match as residency candidates end up applying to any available programs in any medical specialty using their supporting documents meant for a different specialty.

For example, a residency candidate prepared for and applied to Family Medicine and Psychiatry residency programs during the regular residency application season. Then, during the Post-Match SOAP, after they used as many of their 45 SOAP applications as they could in those two specialties, they still had a number of applications left. In their hurry to apply to more programs, they ended up having to use their Family Medicine and Psychiatry documents to apply to specialties like preliminary General Surgery or Internal Medicine programs which did not make the best impression on those programs.

By reviewing the data from NRMP’s® Results and Data 2017 Main Residency Match®, those looking to participate in the Post-Match can see which specialties generally have more positions available and which do not, allowing them to better prepare for the Post-Match with more supporting documents in a variety of specialties.

Results of the 2017 Post-Match SOAP per Specialty

Anesthesiology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 16

Filled Programs – 15

Positions Available – 53

Positions Filled – 52

 

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 8

Filled Programs – 7

Positions Available – 18

Positions Filled – 17

 

Child Neurology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 6

Filled Programs – 6

Positions Available – 6

Positions Filled – 6

 

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 2

Filled Programs – 1

Positions Available – 2

Positions Filled – 1

 

Combined Medpeds

Participating Programs – 13

Filled Programs – 10

Positions Available – 25

Positions Filled – 22

 

Emergency Medicine

Participating Programs – 0

Filled Programs – 0

Positions Available – 0

Positions Filled – 0

 

Family Medicine

Participating Programs – 67

Filled Programs – 64

Positions Available – 141

Positions Filled – 138

 

Internal Medicine

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 35

Filled Programs – 30

Positions Available – 128

Positions Filled – 122

 

Medicine-Prelim

Participating Programs – 28

Filled Programs – 23

Positions Available – 35

Positions Filled – 30

 

Neurological Surgery

Participating Programs – 0

Filled Programs – 0

Positions Available – 0

Positions Filled – 0

 

Neurology

Participating Programs – 7

Filled Programs – 7

Positions Available – 12

Positions Filled – 12

 

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 6

Filled Programs – 6

Positions Available – 9

Positions Filled – 9

 

Obstetrics-Gynecology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 8

Filled Programs – 7

Positions Available – 9

Positions Filled – 8

 

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 0

Filled Programs – 0

Positions Available – 0

Positions Filled – 0

 

Orthopedic Surgery

Participating Programs – 1

Filled Programs – 1

Positions Available – 1

Positions Filled – 1

 

Pathology

Participating Programs – 31

Filled Programs – 22

Positions Available – 54

Positions Filled – 45

 

Pediatrics

Participating Programs – 12

Filled Programs – 12

Positions Available – 24

Positions Filled – 24

 

Physical Medicine & Rehab

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 1

Filled Programs – 1

Positions Available – 1

Positions Filled – 1

 

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 0

Filled Programs – 0

Positions Available – 0

Positions Filled – 0

 

Psychiatry

Participating Programs – 2

Filled Programs – 2

Positions Available – 3

Positions Filled – 3

 

Radiology-Diagnostic

Participating Programs – 1

Filled Programs – 1

Positions Available – 1

Positions Filled – 1

 

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 5

Filled Programs – 5

Positions Available – 12

Positions Filled – 12

 

Radiation Oncology

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 4

Filled Programs – 4

Positions Available – 4

Positions Filled – 4

 

Surgery

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 3

Filled Programs – 3

Positions Available – 5

Positions Filled – 5

 

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 138

Filled Programs – 105

Positions Available – 486

Positions Filled – 402

 

Transitional Year

Participating Programs – 11

Filled Programs – 10

Positions Available – 31

Positions Filled – 30

Post-Match SOAP 2017

What You Should Know Before the Post-Match SOAP

The Post-Match SOAP begins with a whirlwind of activity followed by long periods of waiting. It can be a very confusing and overwhelming time for residency candidates, especially if they were not anticipating being a part of the SOAP to begin with. There are small things residency candidate can take care of and keep in mind to make the SOAP process go more smoothly. Below are some final suggestions candidates can do in the days before the Post-Match to improve the process.

Last Minute Post-Match Tips

  • You might need to be prepared to apply to more than one specialty as the number of unfilled positions per medical specialty varies every year. For example, you may be prepared to apply to Pediatrics, but there were only 12 unfilled programs in Pediatrics last year which would leave you with 33 out of your 45 SOAP applications left to apply to. So, what do you do?
    • Make sure you have dedicated Personal Statements for at least two, if not three or more, specialties to ensure you can properly utilize all of your SOAP applications. You REALLY do not want to end up in a position of applying to General Surgery with a Family Medicine Personal Statement or vice versa. See an analysis of the unfilled positions per specialty at: http://blog.electronicresidency.com/…cal-specialty/
    • Additional, specialty-specific Letters of Recommendation are ideal, but difficult to get on short notice. If you cannot get a hold of more LoRs, at least try to use LoRs that are similar to the specialty. For example, using Internal Medicine letters for Pediatrics since they are both primary care specialties

 

  • Be sure to set aside time for the Post-Match SOAP
    • Ask for time off work well in advance
    • Take care of anything that might get in the way such as laundry, work, or grocery shopping
    • At an absolute minimum, you will want to be available Monday, but ideally, it is best to be free through the Thursday of Match Week

 

  • Make sure your contact information is correct
    • Your voicemail should be professionally appropriate and set up. Without a voicemail, programs that try to call you may immediately move on
    • Use a professional email address

 

  • Be prepared for a phone or Skype interview
    • Have Skype downloaded
    • Have a clear, clean, and quiet area set aside
    • Have an interview outfit picked out
    • Read more about SOAP interviews at: http://blog.electronicresidency.com/post-match-soap-interviews/

 

  • Choose the programs you apply to very carefully. Programs still have minimum requirements during SOAP, so you will need to review the requirements for each program to make the right choices.
    • For example, if you are an International Medical Graduate (IMG), you do not want to waste any of the 45 maximum SOAP applications on a program that does not accept IMGs. Or, if you need a visa, you will not want to apply to a program that does not accept J-1 or sponsor H1-B visas.

 

  • Do not rush you initial SOAP applications. The NRMP Unfilled List of Programs will become available at 11 a.m. (EST) to start researching programs. Then, you will have from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST) to continue researching, selecting programs and applying. It makes no difference whether you apply at 12 p.m. or wait until 2:45 p.m. as ALL submitted SOAP applications will be released to programs at the same time (3 p.m.). So, take enough time to ensure you are applying to the right programs with the correct supporting documents.

 

  • If you get an offer, don’t let it go. The Post-Match SOAP is not a good time to be picky, and you might not get a second opportunity. Since an application is binding, do not apply to any programs you absolutely cannot see yourself being a part of.

 

  • Get a support system in place. This is a good time to call in any favors and get all hands on deck to help you this week.

 

  • (Optional) Leave one slot for potential opportunities.
    • If you know you have connections within a residency program (family, friend, or colleague), contact that person to keep an eye out for vacancies for you and hold an application for that program just in case

 

  • In this last few days, take care of yourself. Try to do stress-relieving activities such as reading, watching TV, or whatever you do to relax.

Of course, in the last days before the Post-Match SOAP, the absolute best thing you can do to prepare yourself is to gather as much knowledge about the SOAP as you can.

(Content updated March 7, 2018.)

 

Changes to the Post-Match SOAP

Changes to the Post-Match SOAP 2017

While the Post-Match SOAP® has been established since 2012, each year NRMP® and ERAS® make changes to the policies and procedures to ensure the SOAP continues running more smoothly with optimal results for residency candidates and residency programs.

This year was no exception.

The 2017 Post-Match SOAP will see a big change.

There will only be three Offer Rounds.

By far the biggest change residency applicants will encounter this year is the reduction from five total Offer Rounds to three.

Traditionally, NRMP has held six Offer Rounds. This number was reduced to five for the 2014 Post-Match SOAP. However, with a majority of positions being offered during the first two Offer Rounds, NRMP decided to eliminate the final two Offer Rounds.

How does this affect SOAP timing and residency candidates?

While the change is big, the impact is fairly minimal. The Post-Match SOAP will now conclude earlier at 11 a.m. (EST) Thursday, March 16, 2017. The final update for the List of Unfilled Programs will follow at 12 p.m. (EST).

In case any candidates are worried that less Offer Rounds means less offers, as long as there are positions to be filled, programs can easily adapt to less offer rounds. Therefore, there shouldn’t be any difference in the amount of offers.

 

Tackling the First 4 Hours of Match Week

Tackling the First 4 Hours of Match Week

While you can click to view the full timeline for the Post-Match SOAP® here, it’s truly important residency candidates understand the tricky timing and limited nature of the Monday of Match Week.

One of two things with happen, Monday, March 12, 2018. Either you will be Fully Matched, or you will remain Unmatched/Partially Matched. If the first option happens, you can pop open a bottle of champagne and kick back until Match Day on Friday, March 16th. However, if the second option happens, you will be thrown into the Post-Match SOAP without a life vest. (Remember, unmatched means you did not obtain any residency position and partially matched means you matched into either a preliminary position or advanced position.)

Summarizing the First Four Hours

Time

What Residency Candidates Should Be Doing
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST)

Research Time

  • Check your Match Status
  • If not Fully Matched: Review the List of Unfilled Programs on NRMP’s® R3 System® and decide which programs to pick based on personal preferences and fulfillment of program’s criteria requirements
12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST)

The Golden Hours
  • Search the programs you have chosen from the List of Unfilled Programs within ERAS when it opens at 12 p.m. (EST)
  • Assign documents to your chosen programs
  • Review your 45 program application choices and make sure they are STRONG**
  • Apply to programs when you are sure you’re ready (While you can technically apply to programs from 12 p.m. to the end of SOAP, it is highly suggested that you apply before 3 p.m. to be among the first group of applicants). 
3 p.m. (EST)

Application Release
  • Continue applying to the 45 programs that you assigned documents (ERAS® will release the prepared applications at 3 p.m.)
  • Continue checking your phone, email, NRMP, and ERAS accounts throughout Match Week


**STRONG program choices are those in specialties you have the right, specialty specific documents for (Personal Statement, Letters of Recommendation, etc.) and you fulfill the program’s application requirements.

As you can see, the first four hours of the first day of Match Week are time sensitive and limited. Unlike the Regular Match Season with unlimited program applications, you are only allowed a maximum of 45 applications. You will need to squeeze a month’s worth of research into the first three hours in order to make the most of those 45 applications.

SOAP Case Scenarios 

Applicant A is an IMG who did not Match in the Main Residency Match®. They are prepared to apply to preliminary Internal Medicine programs and Family Medicine programs by having the right, specialty specific documents. Hypothetically, there are 40 programs in Internal Medicine and 60 programs in Family Medicine. This is far more than they are allowed to apply to so Applicant A must make their choices wisely. Applicant A wants to focus on IMG friendly programs that they have the right credentials to apply. But, there is NO WAY for Applicant A to visit 100 program websites and assign documents to their program choices in the time allotted. Applicant A ran out of time to research and applied randomly. They were immediately filtered out of 10 of their program choices and their SOAP chances were hurt very badly.

Applicant B is also an IMG participating in SOAP and aiming for preliminary Internal Medicine programs and Family Medicine programs. However, Applicant B was aware of the time sensitivity and decided to seek professional research help. Applicant B registered for Electronic Residency and activated the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine specialties. By simply searching with the 10-digit ACGME code or surfing by specialty, Applicant B was able to identify 45 strong, compatible programs to apply to in plenty of time.

With a limited amount of program applications you can send out, each program choice you make must be golden. But, it is almost impossible to make well-informed choices in the time allowed and many applicants end up applying blindly to incompatible programs. Fortunately, services exist to help you complete your program research instantly.

Check out Electronic Residency to learn more about the SOAP, and see what the power of the right help can do to relieve stress and strengthen your Post-Match chances.

(Content Updated: February 9, 2018)

 

Letters of Recommendation for SOAP

Letters of Recommendation for SOAP

If you are reflecting on your Residency Application Season so far and you’re dissatisfied with the results, it may be possible that your application supporting documents were not doing you justice.

While preparing for the Post-Match SOAP®, there are some aspects of your residency application that are worth revisiting to ensure your application is as strong as it can be. Two of the most important documents you can refresh, rewrite or replace are your Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendation.

Supporting Documents for the Post-Match SOAP: Letters of Recommendation

Of course, the first step is to review data from last year’s SOAP to get an idea of which medical specialties are more likely to have vacancies and which specialties probably won’t. This way, if you have the specialty specific documents already, you can just edit or revise them. Or, if you don’t have the documents, you can put them together.

For example, the medical specialties with the most vacancies in 2017:

  1. Preliminary General Surgery (486 positions)
  2. Family Medicine (141 positions)
  3. Internal Medicine (128 positions)

Be sure to carefully compare the documents you have in-hand to the specialties you are considering applying to in the Post-Match. It is especially important you start thinking about your Letters of Recommendation now because these can take time to ask new letter writers and for the writers to craft their letters.  

Almost every specialty likes to see at least one specialty specific Letter of Recommendation. If you do not have a Letter of Recommendation in the specialties you have identified from the previous SOAP year’s data, you should be sure to secure at least one per specialty. This will give you a great advantage over those who come into the Post-Match unprepared for the contingencies.  

Even if you already have Letters of Recommendation in your chosen specialties, it is most certainly worth the effort to refresh them. When it comes to Matching in the Post-Match, residency candidates cannot afford to leave any stones left unturned.

Addressing your Letters of Recommendation now will not only strengthen your overall application but also give you an edge over other residency applicants who are not as prepared.

(Content Updated: February 1, 2018)  

 

Post-Match SOAP Results Match 2016

Post-Match SOAP Results Match 2016

Now is a good time to begin reflecting on your season, and start making hard decisions based on the number of interviews you have (or have not) received. Depending on how well you perceive your residency application season to be going, you may want to start learning about the Post-Match Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®). The Post-Match SOAP allows eligible candidates to apply to programs with unfilled positions.

Post-Match preparation starts with a few simple questions. One of which is: Are you prepared for any additional specialties you might be interested in applying to?

Wise residency candidates know they need specialty specific documents such as Letters of Recommendation or Personal Statements while applying to programs for the Main Residency Match®. However, this simple principle tends to get forgotten in the mad Post-Match rush. It is very important to assess the resources you have now and compare what you have to what you may need in order to successfully approach the Post-Match.

For example, a residency candidate prepared for and applied to Emergency Medicine programs for the Main Match. Unfortunately, the candidate only received one interview, so they think they may have to go through the Post-Match. The problem is there were no unfilled positions during the 2016 Post-Match SOAP. As an alternative, the candidate may want to consider applying to preliminary Internal Medicine unfilled positions which had 94 positions. That means, this candidate will want to prepare a fresh, Internal Medicine specific Personal Statement and try to get specialty specific Letters of Recommendation.

By reviewing the data from NRMP’s® Results and Data 2016 Main Residency Match®, those looking to participate in the Post-Match can better prepare to make the most out of the Post-Match.

Anesthesiology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 20

Positions Available – 51

Filled Programs – 17

Filled Positions – 48

(PGY-2)Participating Programs – 11

Positions Available -34

Filled Programs – 10

Filled Positions – 43

 

Child Neurology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 4

Positions Available – 5

Filled Programs -2

Filled Positions – 3

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 10

Positions Available -11

Filled Programs – 1

Filled Positions – 1

 

Emergency Medicine

Participating Programs – 0

Positions Available -0

Filled Programs – 0

Filled Positions – 0

 

Family Medicine

Participating Programs -73

Positions Available -155

Filled Programs – 69

Filled Positions -150

 

Internal Medicine

(Categorical) Participating Programs -25

Positions Available -88

Filled Programs -23

Filled Positions -67

 

Medicine-Prelim

Participating Programs -43

Positions Available -94

Filled Programs -41

Filled Positions -92

 

Neurological Surgery

Participating Programs -1

Positions Available -2

Filled Programs -0

Filled Positions -1

 

Neurology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 2

Positions Available – 3

Filled Programs – 2

Filled Positions – 3

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 4

Positions Available -5

Filled Programs – 2

Filled Positions – 3

 

Obstetrics-Gynecology

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 8

Positions Available – 11

Filled Programs – 8

Filled Positions – 11

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 5

Positions Available -6

Filled Programs – 5

Filled Positions – 6

 

Pathology

Participating Programs -14

Positions Available -24

Filled Programs – 14

Filled Positions -24

 

Pediatrics

Participating Programs -8

Positions Available -14

Filled Programs – 8

Filled Positions -14

 

Physical Medicine & Rehab

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 1

Positions Available – 2

Filled Programs – 1

Filled Positions – 2

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 4

Positions Available -5

Filled Programs – 4

Filled Positions – 5

 

Psychiatry

Participating Programs -5

Positions Available -7

Filled Programs – 5

Filled Positions -7

 

Radiology-Diagnostic

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 6

Positions Available – 10

Filled Programs – 6

Filled Positions – 10

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 22

Positions Available -33

Filled Programs – 22

Filled Positions – 33

 

Radiation Oncology

(PGY-2) Participating Programs – 1

Positions Available -1

Filled Programs – 0

Filled Positions – 0

 

Surgery

(Categorical) Participating Programs – 2

Positions Available – 2

Filled Programs – 2

Filled Positions – 2

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 132

Positions Available -448

Filled Programs – 117

Filled Positions – 431

 

Transitional Year

(PGY-1) Participating Programs – 11

Positions Available – 42

Filled Programs – 10

Filled Positions -41

 

What is Post-Match SOAP?

What is the Post-Match SOAP?

The Post-Match Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) is a service offered by NRMP®, with applications transmitted through ERAS®. The Post-Match is an opportunity for residency programs to fill any vacant spots they may have after the Main Residency Match® and for residency candidates to fill those empty positions.

Simply put, the SOAP takes the whole residency application process and condenses it down to a mere few days.

For those who are unable to Match, or only partially Match to a preliminary or advanced position, the Post-Match SOAP can act as the next step to completing the Match Season and your requirements for full medical licensure in the US.

A Brief Overview:

The Post-Match SOAP takes place during Match Week from Monday until Thursday. You will receive an email the Friday prior to Match Week letting you know whether or not you are Post-Match SOAP eligible (this email does not indicate if you have Matched or not). Those who have conducted less than 10 interviews or have any other concerns about their chances to Match should make sure they fulfill the requirements for SOAP eligibility.

On Monday morning of Match Week, SOAP-eligible applicants will first learn their Match Status on NRMP. Then, they will be given the chance to view the List of Unfilled Positions provided by NRMP and select a maximum of 45 programs after researching each program for greatest compatibility. Finally, SOAP applicants will go to ERAS to prepare and submit their 45 applications for the programs they choose from the Unfilled List.

After candidates have had a chance to apply, programs will have the remainder of Monday and Tuesday to review applications and contact applicants. (Please note: Applicants are not allowed to initiate first contact with programs beyond submitting their ERAS application.) Starting Wednesday, NRMP will begin conducting a series of 2-hour long Offer Rounds where candidates will have a chance to Accept or Deny possible offers from programs.

The Post-Match SOAP will end at 11 a.m. (EST) Thursday, March 16th. NRMP will release a final, updated version of the List of Unfilled Programs to include non-SOAP participating programs.

The Road Ahead:

The Post-Match SOAP can be the most stressful part of the residency application process– especially if you are overwhelmed by the confusion of the SOAP process. You will need to prepare yourself in advance to have the best chance of Matching during the Post Match.

Electronic Residency is dedicated to answering your questions and helping you make the most of the Post-Match. Follow our info blog for tutorials, tips, and in-depth explanations.

If you have any questions about the Post-Match SOAP, be sure to contact the Post-Match experts at Electronic Residency by calling 858-299-2003 ex. 1 or emailing support@electronicresidency.com.