What “Unmatched” Means, and What to Do in SOAP Match Week
Being unmatched can be stressful for every applicant. If you open your email on Monday and the news is not what you hoped for, take a breath. You still have options, and the most important one is SOAP.
What does “unmatched” really mean?
Being unmatched means you did not secure a residency position through the main NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) algorithm during Match Week. Being partially matched means you matched into only one part of your plan. For example, you may have matched into a preliminary or transitional year (PGY-1) but not the advanced position (PGY-2) in your target specialty, or the other way around. In both cases, you may be able to use SOAP.
What is SOAP?
The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) is run by the NRMP during Match Week. It helps unmatched and partially matched applicants apply to residency programs that still have open positions. Think of it as a fast, structured second chance, usually over a few days.
Step-by-step: what to do in SOAP
1. Check your eligibility on Monday
- On Monday of Match Week, you find out whether you matched through the NRMP R3 system or by email.
- If you are unmatched or partially matched, registered for the Main Residency Match, and eligible to start graduate medical education on July 1, a SOAP tab will open in your R3 account.
2. Review the List of Unfilled Programs
- Open the SOAP tab in R3 to see the official List of Unfilled Programs. It only shows programs you are eligible for.
- Use ERAS to see full details of each open position.
- IMGs: check whether a program sponsors your visa type before you spend an application on it.
3. Apply through ERAS (up to 45 programs)
- You can apply to a maximum of 45 programs during SOAP, across all specialties combined.
- If you are pivoting to a backup or preliminary specialty, tailor your personal statement and letters of recommendation.
- Important rule: do not contact programs outside the official ERAS and NRMP SOAP channels. Calling or emailing programs directly during SOAP is prohibited and can lead to serious penalties.
4. Take part in the offer rounds
- Programs review applications and send offers in structured rounds, typically from Tuesday through Thursday.
- In each round, you usually have a short window (about two hours) to accept or reject an offer.
- Offers are binding. Once you accept, you are removed from further SOAP rounds and committed to that position. You can hold only one offer at a time.
5. If SOAP ends without an offer
- Once SOAP officially ends, the restriction on direct contact lifts.
- You can then look at the list of remaining unfilled positions and contact programs yourself to ask whether any spots are still open.
Tips to stay ready
- Prepare before Match Week. Have a backup plan and a rough list of alternative specialties, so you are not starting from zero on Monday. For ideas on which specialties are harder to match into, see competitive specialties for IMGs.
- Keep your documents flexible. A second personal statement for a backup specialty can save precious hours.
- Move quickly but carefully. The time windows are short, so read each position’s details before you apply.
- Lean on your mentors. Advisors and deans have guided many applicants through SOAP and can help you decide fast.
The bottom line
Not matching is painful, but it does not end your path to residency. Understand what unmatched and partially matched mean, know how SOAP works, follow the rules, and act quickly. Many applicants find a position through SOAP, and with the right preparation, you could be one of them.