Question about the NRMP algorithm..

[napoleondynamite]

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I was having a conversation with a friend today about rank lists and now am a little confused.

My impression has always been that the matching algorithm always favors the APPLICANT. So like, if I ranked 100 programs, and none of the programs between 1 and 99 even ranked me, but program 100 ranked me #1..my thinking is that I am GUARANTEED to match, is this incorrect? I guess a less complex way of asking the question is: If any program ranks an applicant #1, and that applicant also ranks the program (somewhere on their list) is there any concievable scenario where that applicant would go unmatched?

 

[Gfunk6]

If someone ranks you #1, then you will at least match there if you rank them. Some have questioned if this truly favors the applicant, but this is just semantics. The scenario you described is accurate.

 

[stephew]

you are correct. or more accurately: you and bob both rank two hospitals.
you rank A first, then B
Hosptial A likes bob and ranks him number one, but you are good and you are number two.
Bob ranks hospital B first, then A
The algorhythm goes and the computer checks and sees hospital A likes bob first, so they go to bob's rank list. they see bob doesnt have them number one, so they go to number two-you- and see you ranked them first. So you match there.

BUT if hospital B (bob's first choice) doesnt like bob, bob drops down to his number two choice. if this is the case, then since hosptial A is bob's number two, and they ranked him number one, bob moves up into that spot.

hope thats somewhat clear.