Class of 2025: You might be asking, "What happens if I don't match? What is this SOAP thing I've heard about?"
SOAP stands for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program. Check out this video explaining SOAP in more detail.
At 10 am ET on March 17, applicants receive an email from NRMP (or can access in the NRMP R3 system) learning if they matched, but not where they matched. This is also the point at which SOAP begins.
SOAP has four rapid-fire rounds of applications/interviews/offers for unfilled programs to connect with applicants who did not match. SOAP concludes the Thursday of Match Week.
Remember: all Class of 2025 students are welcome to participate in the March 21 Match Day festivities!
Things to consider... Just in case
If you're concerned you didn't receive enough interviews to have a high probability of matching, consider taking the following steps to ensure you're ready to participate in SOAP if you are unmatched or only partially matched on Monday of Match Week.
- Make sure your MyERAS application is complete. The ERAS application must be certified before you can apply to SOAP programs. If you certified it for the Match, it is still approved for SOAP.
- Keep your personal information (including your NRMP ID) updated in MyERAS.
- You can update or add new personal statement(s). Many residency specialties will have very few—if any—positions available. Consider a parallel plan for SOAP! Is there a less competitive specialty you would consider? You should have additional specialty-specific personal statements for your parallel plans.
- Consider obtaining additional letters of recommendation before Match Week. Try to get letters specific to your parallel plan. You can request letters from new writers or ask old letter writers to update and make them specialty non-specific. It is acceptable to use your old letters if you choose to or can't secure new ones.
Everyone in Medical Student Education—including the lead advisors and Student Affairs deans and directors—is here to support students in navigating the NMRP SOAP process to secure a Match. Contact Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Debra Rusk, MD, if you have any questions.
