| The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP®) | | | | Remember an applicant may apply to a maximum of |
| Scramble is an oftentimes confusing process that | | | | thirty new programs in addition to fifteen |
| tends to generate a lot of questions. The Scramble is | | | | “old” programs (residencies to which s/he |
| a system used to fill unfilled residency positions. Some | | | | applied during the regular ERAS season). There is no |
| medical residency programs will have available | | | | charge for applying to programs during the Scramble. |
| residency slots even after the NRMP has completed | | | | 6. |
| the Match; these positions become available during | | | | Soon after selecting the programs to which you |
| the Scramble period so that those applicants who did | | | | want to apply through ERAS, you begin calling your |
| not get a residency position can vie for them. Please | | | | top choices, while trying to send out your PDF to |
| see my article entitled, “What is the | | | | those programs. This is the chaotic part of the |
| Scramble” for a complete calendar of the | | | | Scramble. Knowing someone at a program can make |
| Scramble 2010 | | | | a difference. |
| Here’s a step-by-step plan for the Scramble: | | | | 7. |
| 1. | | | | Hopefully, at the point you will connect with someone |
| In the weeks before, consider reworking your | | | | at a residency program who will offer you a phone |
| personal statement for a second field if you think | | | | interview. With luck, you will be offered a spot. |
| you might Scramble into a second specialty. For | | | | The Scramble system currently is rather turbulent. |
| example, if you are applying in Emergency Medicine | | | | The best plan for the Scramble, of course, is to |
| and think you may not match, it might be worth | | | | avoid it altogether. To improve your residency |
| reworking your personal statement for Family | | | | candidacy fully and thus improve your chances of |
| Medicine, if you would be happy in that field as well, | | | | matching, consider working with a professional. |
| as Family Medicine is less competitive. (Of course the | | | | Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their |
| problem with scrambling into another field is that your | | | | chances of success with poorly compiled application |
| application as a whole will be focused toward the first | | | | materials and underdeveloped residency personal |
| specialty; however, it still might be worth a try, | | | | statements, a qualified, personalized residency |
| especially for a less competitive field.) You can upload | | | | admissions consultant provides a great advantage. |
| the new personal statement to My ERAS before the | | | | Residency consulting companies come in a variety of |
| Scramble without assigning it to a residency program. | | | | forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on |
| 2. | | | | admissions to several types of graduate programs |
| On Monday, March 15, 2010 applicant matched and | | | | – not just medicine. Others are smaller and |
| unmatched information is posted to the NRMP web | | | | provide a medical focus, but have a pool of |
| site at 12:00 noon EST. If you find out then that you | | | | consultants of varying quality. Finally, elite companies |
| have not matched, plan to take the next day off. | | | | offer both the medical focus and a highly |
| 3. | | | | experienced consultant who works one-on-one with |
| Create a PDF file of your entire application for | | | | clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers |
| emailing and also have copies available for faxing. | | | | from highly respected medical institutions. They have |
| 4. | | | | the inside knowledge of how residency admissions |
| Because, unfortunately, the Scramble occurs through | | | | work, providing individualized guidance to optimize |
| two means – the official one, which is ERAS | | | | applicants’ personal essays, ERAS® and |
| – and the informal one, which is faxing and phone | | | | interview skills. |
| calls to programs - it helps to organize a few friends | | | | When choosing a residency admissions consulting |
| and some supplies, including a phone line, a fax line | | | | company, a candidate should verify the |
| and a computer, for March 16, 2010. | | | | company’s references and research its |
| 5. | | | | consultants. It is best if the company does not assign |
| On Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at noon the NRMP's | | | | written materials to outside editors who cannot be |
| Dynamic List of Unfilled Programs is released. This list | | | | evaluated. Elite companies that offer both the medical |
| includes all of the residencies that have unfilled slots. | | | | focus and a highly experienced consultant who works |
| Thus, after looking at the list, you select the | | | | one-on-one with clients offer a large advantage for |
| programs to which you want to apply through ERAS. | | | | applicants, especially during these competitive times. |