Match takes 3 weeks??

[freudianslipp]

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Anybody know why the NRMP takes a full 3 weeks to churn out the match list even though they claim a fancy computer does it all (and would probably take about 60 seconds to do)?

I'm assuming there is no computer there in DC and that in reality it's because the NRMP employs hundreds of leprechauns who have to go through millions of match permutations by hand in order to get everybody's lists out by March 18th. And if it weren't for the leprechauns' tiny agile hands, it would probably take them 3 months to do it. I guess now that I think about it, I'm so happy to pay those large fees to compensate them well! 🙂

I'm guessing it's done on March 16, since they need St. Patrick's day to rest.

 

[Bluejay87]

I was just asking my husband, who is a computer programmer, what he thought about this. His theory was that an algorithm this complex would possibly take several days to run, and they would want to run it several times to make sure the results were the same each time. And if the results did not come out the same, they would need some time to find the error and correct it.

Of course, leprechauns aren't a bad theory either.

 

[clausewitz2]

Simulations that you can watch online suggest that the actual algorithm runs in about 30 minutes.

The rest of the delay is about paperwork and verification, not processing time.

 

[downwithDTB]

The presence of the couple's match means that with the current algorithm, multiple outcomes are possible... Likely affecting rank place of no more than ~10 people. My guess is that they wait until Monday 2/29 to make the lists final just in case. This week the algorithm probably runs two to three times and they pick a best run as the match by the middle / end of this week. The following week they are settings up SOAP and verifying eligibility from schools and doing the leg work of getting stuff ready for send out/making list of unfilled programs. Then the next week is SOAP.

I agree that it's stupid.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I'm kind of appreciating the breather.

 

[withoutface123]

I find it interesting that every step of the way in our medicine careers (MCAT, USMLE, delays) has involved a lengthy delay in finding out results when other healthcare professions receive near-instaneously how they did.

 

[Pursuitofsanity]

I find it somewhat annoying, (and my husband finds it VERY annoying) that there's a two step process for notification. (Email on Monday saying you matched, then having to wait 4 days to find out where.) Does anyone know why the SOAP/scramble isn't just after the match? Is this just historical? Four more days isn't that insane, but there doesn't really seem to be a reason for it, and it's maybe a little paternal and disrespectful to have a system where you tell thousands of adults "A major decision about your life has been made! Now wait four days and we'll tell you what we decided!"

 

[clausewitz2]

I find it somewhat annoying, (and my husband finds it VERY annoying) that there's a two step process for notification. (Email on Monday saying you matched, then having to wait 4 days to find out where.) Does anyone know why the SOAP/scramble isn't just after the match? Is this just historical? Four more days isn't that insane, but there doesn't really seem to be a reason for it, and it's maybe a little paternal and disrespectful to have a system where you tell thousands of adults "A major decision about your life has been made! Now wait four days and we'll tell you what we decided!"

I think the idea is to give people who SOAP a chance to participate in match day with no one else being the wiser. That bit at least seems more humane to me.

 

[downwithDTB]

I think the idea is to give people who SOAP a chance to participate in match day with no one else being the wiser. That bit at least seems more humane to me.

To which I would reply... Get rid of match day! I think the most disrespectful part (even though it's a mere 60 minutes) is that you are made to wait to learn where you are going if you don't want to open a letter in front of the public. Also, it's pretty insulting that programs and schools find out the day before applicants.

 

[Bluejay87]

I did some Googling because that sounded more interesting than studying for Step 3. Apparently they wait a few days after ROLs are submitted before running the algorithm, and then they do indeed run it several times. The presence of the couples' match slows things down a bit. So...I guess that still doesn't really explain why it takes quite so long, but I'm willing to wait if the extra time means they're being careful with my future career.

 

[FlowRate]

I did some Googling because that sounded more interesting than studying for Step 3. Apparently they wait a few days after ROLs are submitted before running the algorithm, and then they do indeed run it several times. The presence of the couples' match slows things down a bit. So...I guess that still doesn't really explain why it takes quite so long, but I'm willing to wait if the extra time means they're being careful with my future career.

I'm really interested in a source for this if you'd be willing to share.

 

[Bluejay87]

This is the NRMP's explanation for why it takes so long: http://www.nrmp.org/faq-questions/w...he-rank-order-list-rol-deadline-to-match-day/

There is also this neat episode of the Freakonomics podcast where they talk with Al Roth: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/make-me-a-match-a-new-freakonomics-radio-episode/

 

[J ROD]

Yeah, I get the 2 step process so others will not look bad on match day and give them a chance to SOAP.

I am just used to the month or so wait. It seems that is the standard in medicine.

In the end, it is all a process and we have to play the game. It will be here in 2 weeks. Waited this long.....so just hang on. It will be here soon.

 

[WalterDonnie]

I like the wait. The uncertainty is fun. Once you know where you are going it's just back to logistical BS.

 

[J ROD]

I like the wait. The uncertainty is fun. Once you know where you are going it's just back to logistical BS.