Couples Match

[medicinehopeful]

Heyl all,
Sorry for starting yet another couples match thread, but I have a few questions that i could not find answers to on the nrmp site.

1. On the ROL list...if my SO and I did not match at any of our "couples ranks", do we have the choice of setting up individual lists at the bottom? we are quite flexible with this since we are applying to the midwest and are willing to have a long distance relationship

2. when we sign up for the match, do we specify that we are doing couples match? or do we specify that when we set up our ROL list?

3. if we say that we are couples matching when we sign up, can we go back to individual matching when we set up our ROL list if we change our mind? (highly unlikely...just curious)

4. i read that after a certain number of ranks, there is an additional fee. will we be asked to pay that when we set up our ROL list? or do we just guestimate how many ranks we will have and sign up for that many now?

thanks in advance.

~mh

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[drbetty]

1. On the ROL list...if my SO and I did not match at any of our "couples ranks", do we have the choice of setting up individual lists at the bottom? we are quite flexible with this since we are applying to the midwest and are willing to have a long distance relationship

• from the NRMP couples match section, yes, you can decided to rank "unmatched" programs at the bottom of your ROL:

"Couples Rank Order List
​

Each partner must have the same number of ranks. Each program ranked must be paired with an active program or by an indication of "No Match" (NRMP Program Code = 999999999) by the other partner, which means that one partner is willing to go unmatched if the other matches to a position in the program designated at that rank."
​

2. when we sign up for the match, do we specify that we are doing couples match? or do we specify that when we set up our ROL list?

• after you register & pay the fee for NRMP, you can register & pay $15 couples fee (need to enter your S.O.'s name and AAMC ID#) - see "update my profile"

3. if we say that we are couples matching when we sign up, can we go back to individual matching when we set up our ROL list if we change our mind? (highly unlikely...just curious)

• from the applicant user guide: yes, you can update your couple status in your profile: "If at any time in the Match process, prior to the rank order list deadline, an applicant chooses not to participate as a member of a couple, both partners must complete the process of uncoupling...Both couples must uncouple to complete this process....fees will not be refunded"

4. i read that after a certain number of ranks, there is an additional fee. will we be asked to pay that when we set up our ROL list? or do we just guestimate how many ranks we will have and sign up for that many now?

• from the NRMP website:
  "Is there a limit to the number of ranks I can submit via the Web?
  
  Technically, there is no limit. Remember, however, there is a $30 charge per program ranked for each program over the first 20. For example, a list of 50 would cost an additional $900.
  For each partner of a couple, there is $30 charge for each additional program ranked over the first 30."

and...
​

"Each partner of a couple may rank up to 30 different programs on their primary rank order lists, and up to 30 different programs on all supplemental rank order lists combined before incurring an additional fee of $30 per program."
​

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/special_part/us_seniors/couples.html

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/userguide/2009_applicant.pdf

hope this helps!

 

[medicinehopeful]

hi. thank you for the reply. that was very helpful.

i still have a question for the first question that i asked. you said that one of us would have to go unmatched. is there a way where we can both set up individual lists at the very bottom? that way both of us still match.

 

[medicinehopeful]

hi. thank you for the reply. that was very helpful.

i still have a question for the first question that i asked. you said that one of us would have to go unmatched. is there a way where we can both set up individual lists at the very bottom? that way both of us still match.

to make this question clearer...can we unlink our last nine responses and match as individuals?

 

[CaMD]

My understanding is that you cannot "unlink."

However you can rank any and every combination of programs, so at the top of your list list all the combos of you in the same cities, then further down the list you can list say, you chicago/him milwakee. If you do that, you can both still match, even if not together.

 

[medicinehopeful]

wow...that can become really expensive

 

[drbetty]

the cost of the total of permutations (matched or unmatched) that each couple ranks should be the same, as long as it is various combinations of 30 programs or less...so it should "only" be $30...right?

 

[medicinehopeful]

from what i understand -
there is a flat fee for 30 ranks or less.
then, for every rank over 30, it is $30 per rank.

now my question -
by "rank", do they mean that if i rank one program 4 times over the 30 included ranks, it will cost me $120? or is it still $30 for just that one program, despite how many times i rank it?

the cost of the total of permutations (matched or unmatched) that each couple ranks should be the same, as long as it is various combinations of 30 programs or less...so it should "only" be $30...right?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

from what i understand -
there is a flat fee for 30 ranks or less.
then, for every rank over 30, it is $30 per rank.

now my question -
by "rank", do they mean that if i rank one program 4 times over the 30 included ranks, it will cost me $120? or is it still $30 for just that one program, despite how many times i rank it?

I asked the NRMP this exact question last year. It's a flat fee for 30 programs, no matter how many times you rank them.

So if you applied to 30 programs and your SO applied to 30 programs, and you ranked all combinations, you'd have a rank list that was (31 * 31) -1 = 960 ranks long, and it would still cost the flat fee.

 

[drbetty]

from what i understand -
there is a flat fee for 30 ranks or less.
then, for every rank over 30, it is $30 per rank.

now my question -
by "rank", do they mean that if i rank one program 4 times over the 30 included ranks, it will cost me $120? or is it still $30 for just that one program, despite how many times i rank it?

# of ranks may not equal (and is usually more than) # of programs
thus, the $30 is applies to # of programs (the first 30 programs)
(otherwise i would freak out about the costs, too!)

 

[medicinehopeful]

thank you all for the clear up in the fee. i am feeling much better about this now. i guess i just misunderstood how payment works for the couples. they really need to put up more info about couples matching on the nrmp website.

 

[medicinehopeful]

sorry for all the questions...but one more.

when we register for the NRMP do we have to say that we are couples matching? or can we decide that later and change it?

 

[drbetty]

sorry for all the questions...but one more.

when we register for the NRMP do we have to say that we are couples matching? or can we decide that later and change it?

2. when we sign up for the match, do we specify that we are doing couples match? or do we specify that when we set up our ROL list?

• after you register & pay the fee for NRMP, you can register & pay $15 couples fee (need to enter your S.O.'s name and AAMC ID#) - see "update my profile"

3. if we say that we are couples matching when we sign up, can we go back to individual matching when we set up our ROL list if we change our mind? (highly unlikely...just curious)

• from the applicant user guide: yes, you can update your couple status in your profile: "If at any time in the Match process, prior to the rank order list deadline, an applicant chooses not to participate as a member of a couple, both partners must complete the process of uncoupling...Both couples must uncouple to complete this process....fees will not be refunded"

 

[waxedapathetic]

bump.

is there a deadline on WHEN you decide to couples match?

for example, could you interview at your programs, meet with your SO, and make a decision regarding whether or not to couples match AS LATE AS february?

just asking if it is possible. (and not asking for people to weigh-in on whether or not it is a good idea 🙂 )

 

[Ludicolo]

bump.

is there a deadline on WHEN you decide to couples match?

for example, could you interview at your programs, meet with your SO, and make a decision regarding whether or not to couples match AS LATE AS february?

just asking if it is possible. (and not asking for people to weigh-in on whether or not it is a good idea 🙂 )

You don't have to commit until you certify your ROL, usually mid-late February.