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Match Week 2018: What to Expect

Posted by VISTA Staffing on Mar 12, 2018 2:11:00 PM

Editor's note: This post was originally published March 13, 2017, and has been updated for Match Week 2018.

The Match is something every doctor remembers. Years of school, intense study and preparation lead to this moment when medical students learn where they will spend their next three to eight years or more in specialty training.

Match Week 2018 is around the corner, with Match Day on Friday, March 16th. To all medical students heading into Match Week — congratulations! No matter what happens, you’ve worked hard to get here and should be proud of your accomplishments.

What to Expect from Match Week

You’ve probably heard your share of stories about The National Resident Matching Program (better known as The Match). It’s a week of excitement and nerves, culminating in celebrations as med students find out if they were matched to a residency program (or programs)— and make critical decisions about their futures.

  • On Monday of Match Week, applicants will find out if they were matched during the Main Residency Match.
  • If there isn’t a match then, there’s still a chance to match to a program through SOAP — the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program — from Monday through Thursday.
  • All matches are announced on Friday — Match Day! This includes SOAP matches along with applicants matched in the Main Residency Match.

Click here for a detailed timeline of Match Week from NRMP.

Getting Through the Scramble…

Many students will not match to a position immediately, which is why SOAP takes place during Match Week. SOAP participants assess programs with open positions through eight rounds of offers, and it’s likely there will be several desirable positions still available. It’s simply untrue that only “bad programs” have positions left after the Main Residency Match. 

Keep in mind that positions fill up quickly at this time. However, accepted offers create binding commitments—so try to avoid making a hasty decision. Be thorough in your consideration before accepting any program offer. 

Decisions, Decisions…

You may find yourself faced with some tough decisions after you rip open your envelope. The Match could mean accepting a position in a specialty other than your first choice. For many graduating students, matching means relocating. Be sure to talk to your dean’s office if you need counseling on any specifics of The Match.

Best of luck to all medical students! Happy Match Week!

Learn more about The Match here, or contact VISTA today.

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About VISTA Staffing Solutions

VISTA Staffing Solutions has over thirty years of experience providing award-winning customer service to clients and providers alike. Headquartered in Salt Lake City with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston, and employs approximately 1,000 people between corporate staff and field clinicians and contracts with over 2,500 physicians across 60+ specialties and subspecialties. VISTA helps U.S. hospitals, medical practices, and government agencies optimize their physician staffing, ensure quality and continuity of care for patients, and maintain financial stability. As a leading provider of U.S. Locum Tenens and Permanent Physician Search Services, VISTA also operates VISTA Select, a first-of-its-kind technology and services solution utilizing advanced data and analytics to provide healthcare organizations with customizable workforce optimization solutions.