Participating in the Post-Match Scramble
- Beginning at noon Tuesday EST of Match week (check the
www.nrmp.org
Web site for specific dates for this year), unmatched
applicants can contact unfilled programs to secure a position.
This is commonly called the "Scramble" and is somewhat like a
game of musical chairs.
- Unmatched applicants can enter the NRMP web site [or NRMP
Voice Response System at (202) 828-0566] after noon on Tuesday
of Match week to get a list of programs which did not fill.
This is the basic information you need to participate in the
"Scramble." The interactive systems allow you to narrow your
search by locations or specialties. Check the AMA-FREIDA system
accessed through the www.nrmp.org Web site for specific program
information.
- If you want to participate in the Scramble, you must be
prepared! Immediately visit the www.ecfmg.org Web site and subscribe to
their free ECFMG newsletter, which will provide very specific
directions for how to prepare your ERAS application packet so
that ERAS can quickly send it out to unfilled programs that you
will be calling. They guarantee to have the application
materials to programs within 2-3 hours, so this is the easiest
and the fastest way to get your application to programs during
the scramble period. Faxing takes too long and should only be
used as a last resort!
- When calling a program, ask how you should proceed to
submit an application for the position. Follow the instructions
you receive exactly. Repeat the instructions back to the
program person whom you are speaking with to make sure that you
have written down the correct information and numbers.
- Ask for a telephone interview. Avoid personal interviews
unless the program seems really promising because the time
spent there will use up many valuable hours you could be using
to contact other programs with positions still open. In the
Scramble, the luxury of an in-person interview is most
frequently abandoned and each side takes the other sight unseen
(except for the application).
- Do not assume that you have a position and quit calling
just because a program has shown some interest. In the scramble
game, no position is secure until you have a commitment
(contract offer) in writing.
- During the scramble process, look for both categorical
and preliminary unfilled positions. Often
preliminary positions (available in both internal medicine and
surgery) are the last ones to fill, or do not get filled. These
one-year positions are a way to establish yourself at that
institution and position yourself to match in your desired
specialty at the same site next year. At minimum, you may get
strong letters of recommendation, strengthening your chances of
matching next year.
- Hospital contracts / letters of appointment will be sent by
the program or hospitals after a position is offered to you.
This can sometimes take a few weeks so do not become anxious.
If you are concerned, you can call the program secretary for
further information. Be sure to return a copy of the
contract/letter of appointment to the hospital within the
required time frame. The hospital will also send you other
documents which you must review, sign and return in a timely
manner. This is also the time to take care of any final issues
concerning your visa. The program/hospital can help you with
getting the necessary forms completed or direct you to a
competent attorney.
- Usually all positions are filled within 2 weeks after the
match. After that, there may be some movement in the number and
availability of positions, but it is minimal. If a hospital has
several unfilled programs and the phone number given is the
hospital's education office number, do not continue calling
that number after being told that all positions are filled.
This wastes your valuable time and that of the hospital
personnel. After the second call, secretaries are unlikely to
help you, even if they could. Once you are beyond that two to
three week period after the Match, the scramble is effectively
over.
- If you did not enroll in the most recent match, this
presents a problem for you in the scramble process, because you
need an NRMP access code and PIN number to quickly access the
online posting of programs with unfilled positions. Obtaining
unfilled position information online is much faster than
waiting for delivery of the paper version of the unfilled list,
which can be ordered directly from the NRMP Web site.
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