ADVICE NEEDED: Dual CaRMS/NRMP Predicament

[deepjockey]

Hey all,

Canadian medical student, Canadian citizen. Applied to both US and Canadian residency through NRMP and CaRMS, respectively.

This year, the CaRMS match (March 4, 2025) is before the NRMP match (March 21, 2025). My match preference is: first-choice specialty in US > first-choice in Canada > backup. However, I am only backing up in CaRMS, and so the fact that the NRMP (US) match occurs second troubles me.

Does anyone have insight as to any way to have the US match result take precedence else than withdrawing from CaRMS? Is there any way to retain participation in the NRMP match even after the CaRMS match?

Thank you all so very much.

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[Highlander455]

My understanding is if you match through CaRMS, you will automatically be withdrawn from US Match. No flexibility about this. If you don't match in the first iteration of CaRMS, you will participate in the US Match (and their SOAP program if you so choose). If you don't match in the US, you can participate in the second iteration of CaRMS. The only way to do US first is to withdraw from CaRMS.

Out of curiosity, what specialty are you wanting in the US that makes you want to prioritize US over CaRMS?

 

[deepjockey]

My understanding is if you match through CaRMS, you will automatically be withdrawn from US Match. No flexibility about this. If you don't match in the first iteration of CaRMS, you will participate in the US Match (and their SOAP program if you so choose). If you don't match in the US, you can participate in the second iteration of CaRMS. The only way to do US first is to withdraw from CaRMS.

Out of curiosity, what specialty are you wanting in the US that makes you want to prioritize US over CaRMS?

Thank you kindly for the input. Applying to plastic and reconstructive surgery. The preference stems more so from program-related than specialty-related reasons, though.

 

[Highlander455]

For what it's worth, I believe you can still participate in the CaRMS second iteration even if you don't participate in the first. That woukd effectively make the US Match first for you. Double check that with CaRMS. Of course you would only be left with any plastic surgery positions that were unfilled after the first iteration. From what I can see, there were no unfilled plastic surgery positions after the first iteration in the 2024 CaRMS Match, so likely not a viable option.