SOAP matches are binding:
“Key Policy Reminder: Positions offered and accepted during SOAP establish a binding commitment enforced by the Match Participation Agreement.”
I think this article does a good job describing all the angst. https://news.brown.edu/articles/2017/03/match
And this one gives a pretty good idea of your chances of matching. http://www.mdmag.com/physicians-money-digest/contributor/heidi-moawad-md/2017/03/understand-your-odds-of-getting-into-residency
This one has suggestions as to what you can do to improve your chances of matching the second time around.https://wire.ama-assn.org/education/what-if-you-don-t-match-3-things-you-should-do
I didn’t hear anything yesterday but am assuming that all went ok – my FDIL is entering a specialty that historically has always had enough space to accommodate all US Med school grads. Plus I have been told that her exam scores and grades are good, and I know that she would have made a very favorable impression on interviews. Still just keeping my fingers crossed for choice #1.
D matched and 3 of her friends matched. Whew. One acquaintance may not have.
A few years ago a candidate we know did not match. After the SOAp she landed at an outstanding program–one of the top for her specialty.
@abasket - this sounds more and more like sorority recruitment at a SEC school. SOAP sounds like the snap bids girls get when they don’t get any of their preferences and other houses have spaces to fill.
I am glad the snowstorm came today instead of Friday! All moms who wear makeup, don’t forget to put on waterproof mascara. 
Sorority rush and girls not matching…yep, right on.
Just to make things really interesting and intense D’s BF asked us to lunch tomorrow
without her. I believe he has been waiting match to be over before popping
the big question. And we meet his parents Friday night.
If I posted this before…well…yes…just stress.
Well, @oregon101 – congratulations in advance. As the parent of a BF to a soon-to-be doctor, I think that is the most likely reason for the lunch invitation. My son hasn’t really asked me my opinion, but I have also given the issue some thought and felt that post-match would be the appropriate time for a proposal. (Before match is really unfair as it is impossible to make realistic plans without knowing where the residency will be- so it just would add more stress.)
Is your daughter’s BF also a graduating medical student in the process of matching?
No, BF is established in his own career. They are in their 30’s. So it is a big deal for him to commit to moving but he has agreed. I thinks he wants their own proposal event to stand alone out of the stress of match day. He is a romantic.
Taking us to lunch and meeting his parents now is a matter of logistics as we live on opposite coasts.
I am the mom of a D with a FSIL that are going through couples match. Luckily they are both high honors, step scores, etc. They are in different specialties, so applying to different programs was a challenge. Keeping our fingers crossed for Friday.
Good luck to all others!
My son is also in his 30’s with established employment --but he is not free to relocate – so any match other than choice #1 is going to be tough for them.
At least with couples match there is an effort being made by the system to allow them to stay together. For the other students there doesn’t seem to be any way at all to get consideration for family needs. It’s just the luck of the draw.
I guess the downside of couples match is it increases the likelihood of no match being made.
I think couples match would be difficult if they were not equal in their apps. Thankfully D and FSIL are both equally qualified. Their list was thoughtfully made to ensure they will be together.
No matter what it is a stressful process. The computerized match system is probably the best possible solution to a difficult problem, given that there are a limited number of spots overall to accommodate the many thousands of graduating students, but definitely puts a heavy burden on the students who have to travel to all the different locales for interviews.
@Jugulator20
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Congratulations and good luck to S on Friday with his number one choice.
While obviously the focus Friday is on the student, I don’t think people realize how much time, money, and behind the scenes effort parents can put into process. It can really be a family team effort to get to Match Day. So congratulations to you as well @mom2collegekids.
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Thank you. Since you’re a physician who also has a physician child, you know how the premed to med school to residency process can sometimes feel like a team effort with family keeping the bench warm with water ready. There are bumps and missteps along the way and the family just keeps cheering on the sidelines.
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this sounds more and more like sorority recruitment at a SEC school. SOAP sounds like the snap bids girls get when they don’t get any of their preferences and other houses have spaces to fill.
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I’m no expert at how it all works, but there are just some specialties that have fewer positions available. Someone who wants peds will probably not have a problem as long as he/she interviewed broadly and according to his/her stats. Someone who wants derm, but may not have those tippy top stats, may not match. There’s a link somewhere that shows how many spots are available per specialty.
I know this sounds sexist, but I’m still surprised to see how many males still apply for OB/Gyn. I know that for decades, most were male, but it seems in recent years, many women prefer female OB/Gyns. (Don’t flame me, I know this sounds and is sexist).
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For the other students there doesn’t seem to be any way at all to get consideration for family needs. It’s just the luck of the draw.
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It’s not really luck of the draw. You do realize that the student CHOSE to apply to any programs scattered elsewhere.
If a student has a family situation that needs consideration (i.e. partner can’t relocate), then the student should only apply to residency programs in the appropriate city/county. If the student applies for residencies across the state or country and gets match there, then it’s the student’s fault…not the luck of the draw.
For example, my son didn’t apply to any programs in Hawaii or Alaska, so he couldn’t possibly be matched there. If he had a spouse who couldn’t leave central Alabama, he would have limited his apps to probably a 100 mile radius.
My niece and her BF both chose as their 1st choices programs in SF and both were selected by their 1st choices, back when they were matching. They were overjoyed and have since become engaged and will be married this summer. It does seem very stressful and we can hardly wait to see where our nephew matches. He did apply quite broadly, including two trips to DC, near where S lives, so who knows whether he may end up there? He also applied in LA, near D, so maybe there? I guess we will find out on Friday–fingers crossed for everyone!
And then if they want to do a fellowship, they get to do it all over again. with less protection for physician couples.
@mom2collegekids - there aren’t that many programs. My FDIL is going into emergency medicine – there is ONE EM residency in the state where she and my son live. And that is a new program, only established within the past 4 years or so. There are 12 spots in that program. Obviously she applied to that ONE as her top choice.
The next closest residency is 180 miles away in a neighboring state. That his her #2 choice. But of course under your suggested “100 mile radius” rule, that wouldn’t even be an option.
Everything else is even farther.
Unless you think that a person who has spent 4 years in medical school and taken on several hundred thousand dollars in debt ought to just apply to one program and give up if they don’t get in … or forget becoming a doctor entirely if there doesn’t happen to be a program in their specialty at a local hospital – then the student is going to have to apply to programs located in distant cities. About the best that the student can do is take in consideration transportation issues and focus on programs in cities where airline connections are good.
My son did not ask her to pick the nearest program - he told her to apply to programs that she would feel proud to be part of and to have on her resume. That’s because he loves her and wants the best for her. But it is also financially best for her and for the both of them as a couple if she can get one of those 12 spots in their home city, where they can continue to share a single household.
I’m sorry but your post seems to be totally ignorant of the realities of the system, as well as callous and unfeeling at a time that is very stressful for our family.