Things to Know
- The list of preferred programs you submit to the Match is called a Rank Order List.
- You must enter and certify your Rank Order List in the NMS Match System by the Rank Order List deadline for each Phase of the Match.
- If you do not intend to submit a Rank Order List for a Phase of the Match, you must withdraw from that Phase using the NMS Match System.
Key Dates
Phase I
| NMS Match System Opens For Rankings | January 20, 2025 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | February 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time |
Phase II
| System Opens For Phase II Updates | February 26, 2025 |
| NMS Match System Opens For Rankings | February 28, 2025 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | March 19, 2025 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 program.
Rank all programs at training sites where you applied that would be acceptable to you. Submitting a longer list of programs may reduce your chances of being left unmatched.
Do not rank any program that you consider unacceptable (i.e., you would not want to be matched to the program, under any circumstances). You can only be matched to a program that appears on your Rank Order List.
Certify Your Rank Order List
You must certify your Rank Order List in the NMS Match System for it to be used in the Match. Certifying your Rank Order List lets NMS know it 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 to a list that has been certified, you simply have to certify your list again before the deadline for it to be used in the Match.
Couples
Two applicants who wish to coordinate their matches (e.g., obtain positions in the same geographic location) may participate in the Match as a Couple.
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:
