couples match and scrambling

[shortbread9]

---

Members do not see this ad.

anyone have any advice on a good way to make a rank list with the least chance of scrambling? NRMP has an examle up on their website and to simplify it goes something like this

Program A- Chicago Program X- Chicago
Program B- chicago Program y -Chicago
Program C- Chicago Program z- chicago

this continues for a long list of corresponding cities then they have this at the end

Program A Chicago No match
Program B Chicago No match
no match program x- Chicago
no match program y- chicago

does anyone have some insite on exactly how this works? does this mean that if i put in program A and my partner puts in no match...and i match into it. (and obviously he doesnt)..does that equal him scrambling? or does it mean it automatically goes to down to program x for him??

 

[dpmd]

The reason to put down pairs with no match in them is to minimize the possibility that both of you will have to scramble. This is especially true if one of you is a less competitive candidate, or is applying to a competitive specialty. If you only put down combinations of programs and one of you is not high enough on any of the program's wait lists, neither of you will match. If you put program x, no match then only one of you has to scramble (which would probably be easiest to deal with). Bottom line, I think they recommend that you put down as many combinations as possible including ones where someone has to scramble to maximize the chance of at least one person matching.