Prematch & Match..ie having my cake and eating it too

[DontTaseMeBro]

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Okay can someone give me some insight on the legality/possible consequences of taking a prematch now and going through the match. I know morally its wrong but just wanted more info. If I end up matching at any of the 5 places im ranking i will be happy. Is it possible to accept a prematch from the 6th place now and if I match go ahead and fulfill my match contract and break my prematch (which is outside of the match) This assuming they didnt ask for documentation i withdrew from the match??

 

[yaah]

If you take a prematch, generally part of the agreement is that you withdraw from the match. If you go through the match, you are bound to accept the program you match at. Whether it is morally wrong is beside the point - you could be prevented from doing any residency, theoretically, if you do that. I don't have specific experience with anyone trying this (I'm sure people have tried), but in part that's because no one actually does this.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Taking a spot outside the match and then staying in the match is a match violation. From the match agreement:

2.4.1 Withdrawal by the Applicant

Independent applicants may withdraw from the Matching Program, but only if the NRMP receives their withdrawal request prior to the rank order list certification deadline through the Match Site Withdrawal screen for the Matching Program. Applicants who have accepted a residency position through any other national matching service or by agreement outside the Matching Program shall withdraw from the Matching Program prior to the rank order list certification deadline. Failure to withdraw from the Matching Program prior to the rank order list certification deadline shall be a breach of this Agreement and may subject the applicant to the penalties described in Section 7.0. Applicants in the Matching Program are prohibited from accepting a position through any other national matching service or by agreement outside the Matching Program after the rank order list certification deadline.

What does this mean? It's unclear. If you were to try to do this and then match, you would be a match violator. The program you matched to could drop you and you'd be barred from the match in the future. Would they do this? Not clear, since then they would be short someone. Would the program you jilted do this? Maybe, they have nothing to lose. Would they notice -- esp if you simply sent them a love note on March 21st and said "Iv'e changed my mind"? Maybe, as a simple phone call to the NRMP would confirm their suscpicions.

Basically -- choose your poison. Take the sure #6 outside the match, or stay in for something better. trying to do both can get you in big trouble.

 

[DontTaseMeBro]

Thanks for your feedback. Picked my posion..gonna take my chances with the match.

 

[buffalomoose]

FYI; I know someone who did this. They signed a prematch, then actually matched at their real "#1."

There either is some clearinghouse on ERAS where programs can see where students are actually matched to, or the PD found out from another one, but either way......

He was dropped from both programs. He wound up doing research and reapplying to residencies in a different field. We live in a small world and when something like this happens the word spreads REALLY Fast!


don't even think about doing this- it reflects poorly on your school and even poorer on your own character

 

[Winged Scapula]

FYI; I know someone who did this. They signed a prematch, then actually matched at their real "#1."

There either is some clearinghouse on ERAS where programs can see where students are actually matched to, or the PD found out from another one, but either way......

No clearing house...the information about where applicants matched is available to programs. So if you ever signed up for the match, the program will know where you end up...which is why doing the above is not very smart nor is lying to programs that they are your "number 1" (when they really aren't).