Introduction
The Northeastern Regional Externship Match (Extern Match) is an application service and matching program that provides an orderly process to help applicants obtain externship positions of their choice, and to help externship sites obtain applicants of their choice.
How It Works
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1. Register for the Extern Match
Applicants and sites must register online in the Extern Match Portal.
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2. Apply to Sites
Using the Extern Match Portal, applicants must apply to sites in which they are interested and sites will evaluate applications. Applicants must be registered for the Extern Match in order to apply to sites.
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3. Interview with Sites
Sites invite acceptable applicants to interview using the Extern Match Portal.
Applicants and sites can evaluate each other fully before the sites must decide on their preferences for applicants, and before applicants must decide on their preferences for sites.
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4. Submit Your Rank Order List of Preferred Placements
After all interviews are completed, each applicant confidentially submits a Rank Order List in the Extern Match Portal on which the applicant lists the tracks they desire in numerical order of preference (first choice, second choice, etc.).
Similarly, each site confidentially submits a Rank Order List in the Extern Match Portal for every track it offers. On this list, the site ranks its preferred applicants for that track in order of preference. The site also specifies the number of positions available in each track.
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5. The Matching Algorithm is Run
The matching algorithm then places individuals into positions based entirely on the preferences stated in the Rank Order Lists.
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6. Get Your Result
On the Match Results Day, each participating applicant is told whether they successfully matched to a position, and if so, to which site they matched. At the same time, each site is told which applicant(s) matched to the site. Results are distributed by email and are also available in the Extern Match Portal.
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7. Post-Match Process
It is possible that some sites will not fill all of their positions through the matching process, and that some applicants will remain unmatched. When results are released, unmatched applicants receive information about positions that are still available, and sites with unfilled positions receive information about unmatched applicants.
After the matching process, registered applicants still seeking a position can apply to sites with available positions through the Extern Match Portal. However, there is no second round of rankings or matching. During the Post-Match Process, applicants and sites communicate directly and may negotiate offers independently of the Extern Match.
Read more about each stage of the Extern Match process:
Benefits of the Extern Match
The Application Service allows applicants to apply to multiple sites using a single user-friendly online application. Sites are able to access a consolidated online portal to collect, review, and evaluate all of their applications.
The matching process allows sites and applicants to evaluate each other fully before determining preferences, so there is no pressure to make premature decisions based on incomplete information. Applicants and sites do not receive information about the rankings submitted by other applicants and sites. Applicants and sites can list their desired placements in order of their true preference, without worrying about how they will be ranked by the other party.
The matching process simplifies the process of making and accepting offers. Since all offers, acceptances, rejections and final placements occur simultaneously, the matching process is an effective and fair means of implementing a standardized acceptance date. The objective of the matching algorithm is that each applicant and site will get the best possible result that is available to them.
Governance
NYNJADOT & PENDELDOT are responsible for establishing the Extern Match Guidelines and for monitoring the implementation of the Extern Match. The administration and conduct of the Extern Match is carried out by National Matching Services Inc. (NMS), on behalf of NYNJADOT & PENDELDOT.