Things to Know
- The list of preferred tracks you submit to the Match is called a Rank Order List.
- You must log into the online NMS Match System to enter and certify your Rank Order List by the Rank Order List deadline, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 9, 2024.
- If you do not intend to submit a Rank Order List for the Match, you must withdraw from the Match using the NMS Match System.
Each program offers one or more tracks in the Match. A track refers to a type of position or stream of training at a program (e.g., positions with different financial support, or positions offered at different locations, may be offered as separate tracks). You must rank, and are matched to, a specific track offered by a program.
Key Dates
| NMS Match System Opens For Rankings | March 27, 2024 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | April 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time |
Strategy
The Matching Algorithm is designed such that it cannot be gamed or manipulated.
The only strategy is to rank your choices in order of your true preferences, without considering how you expect to be ranked by any track.
Rank all tracks at programs to which you applied that would be acceptable. Submitting a longer list of tracks may reduce your chances of being left unmatched.
Do not rank any track that you consider unacceptable (i.e., you would not want to be matched to the track, even if it was the only position available to you in the Match). You can only be matched to tracks that appear on your Rank Order List.
Ranking Programs with Multiple Tracks
If you applied to and intend to rank a program that is offering more than one track in the Match, you should include on your Rank Order List each track that you would accept and for which you are eligible.
For example, if a program you want to rank is offering one track with a scholarship and one track without a scholarship, and you would be willing to accept a position at the program with or without the scholarship, you must include BOTH tracks on your Rank Order List, with the scholarship track ranked as preferred to the non-scholarship track.
You may intermix tracks from different programs on your Rank Order List. For example, you can rank a scholarship track at Program A first, then a scholarship track at Program B next, followed by a non-scholarship track at Program A. If you are uncertain which tracks you may be eligible for at a program, contact the Program Director.
Certify Your Rank Order List
You must certify your Rank Order List in the NMS Match System in order for it to be used in the Match. Certifying your Rank Order List lets NMS know your list is ready to be used in the Match.
You can make changes to your list even after it is certified, until the Rank Order List deadline. If you make changes after your list is certified, the list will become uncertified and you will have to certify your list again before the deadline for it to be used in the Match.
NMS Match System Guides
Consult either the Account User Guide or the Rankings User Guide for detailed instructions for using the NMS Match System.
To jump to the instructions for a specific task within the System Guides, refer to the links below:
