Application Service Overview
The Application Service is now closed to applicants for the 2024 Match.
The Application Service is a component of the NMS Match System that allows applicants to send applications to programs, and allows programs to organize and evaluate applications submitted by applicants.
Prior to the release of the Match results, programs must accept and consider only applications submitted by applicants through the Application Service. After the release of the Match results, programs may accept applications submitted from other sources, such as directly from applicants.
The SSO Breast Match application provides a common set of information on applicants.
The Application Service also has a number of tools that you can use to help organize and manage your applications.
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View Tools Available to Programs
- View interested applicants and access their contact information before they submit their application information
- Search and filter applications across a wide set of criteria
- Export applicant information into Excel format
- Define and assign tags to help categorize applications according to criteria important to your program
- Create customized scoring schemes to rate your applications
- Add notes and comments about each application
- Assign statuses to applicants to indicate their progress in your review process
Only applicants who register for the SSO Breast Match can apply to and match to programs that participate in the SSO Breast Match. You should instruct any applicants interested in obtaining a position at your program to register for the SSO Breast Match.
Deadlines
All applications must be submitted by January 19, 2024. Applicants will not be able to submit or update applications after this date. However, any outstanding reference letters can be added to a submitted application until the Rank Order List deadline.
Please ensure that your program's information is up to date and correct in the SSO Breast Fellowship Program Directory.
Application Contents
The standard SSO Breast Match application submitted by applicants includes the components listed below. All of the information submitted by an applicant to your program will be combined into a single downloadable PDF file for the applicant.
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Applicant Information
The Applicant Information section includes:
- Applicant's name and Match Code
- Contact information, including email, phone(s) and mailing address
- Personal information, including date of birth, US citizenship status, interest and hobbies (if any), honors and awards (if any)
- Academic History, including undergraduate, medical school, and residency/fellowship training
- Post-Graduate Employment History (if any)
- US Boards and license information
- ABSITE or ACOS scores (if applicable)
- ECFMG information (if applicable)
- USMLE or COMLEX information (if applicable)
- Information about Professional Liability
You may request that applicants who are granted an interview or are matched to your program provide source documentation not already included in the application directly to your program, to verify any information in their application.
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Personal Statement
Each application will include a Personal Statement uploaded by the applicant. The Personal Statement can be customized for your program if the applicant chooses to do so.
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CV
Each application will include a CV/Resume uploaded by the applicant. The CV can be customized for your program if the applicant chooses to do so.
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Other Documents
Applicants may choose to add the following additional documents to their application:
- Photo
- ECFMG PDF
- USMLE or COMLEX PDF
- ABSITE or ACOS PDF
- MCCQE Part I PDF
- Professional Liability Claims and Discipline PDF
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Letters of Reference
The applicant must include in the application at least one, and no more than five, letters of reference. The applicant may select different reference writers for different programs, and reference writers may customize reference letters for each program if they wish to do so.
The reference writers are notified by email from SSO Breast Match of the request for a reference letter, and instructed to upload the reference letter for the applicant as a PDF document. Applicants cannot see the contents of the reference letters, but they are able to monitor the completion of the reference requests.
Applicants are allowed to submit applications to programs before their chosen reference writers have uploaded their letters. When a reference letter is uploaded for one of your applications, you will be notified by email, and the application that you subsequently download from the NMS Match System will include the newly provided reference letter.
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Supplemental Material
If your program has other information that it would like included as part of its application, you can request that applicants attach this information to their application as Supplemental Material.
Applicants can attach one Supplement Material PDF document to each application. This document can be updated after the submission of an application; you will receive an email notification from SSO Breast Match if a Supplement Material document attached to any of your applications has been updated.
If your program offers multiple tracks in the SSO Breast Match, the applicant will be able to indicate on the application which track(s) they are interested in.
Access Applications
Applications are accessible online via the NMS Match System. Only programs that are registered for the SSO Breast Match can receive applications from the Application Service.
The list of applications to your program will be updated in real time as applicants select your program. You will be notified by email when new applications are received.
Application Service User Guide
View instructions for accessing and managing applications in the NMS Match System.
Interviews
Programs may elect for either virtual or in-person interviews. There should be one declared approach at each institution, either virtual or in-person, and no hybrid combination of both approaches. SSO supports the autonomy of each program to choose the format that best meets their needs and the needs of their fellowship candidates
Programs may invite applicants to interviews starting on February 5, 2024. No interview offers may be made before this date.
Interviews may be conducted starting on February 29, 2024. All your interviews must be completed by June 29, 2024.
Consult SSO's website for the 2024 Interview Calendar:
You are reminded that, according to the SSO Breast Match Rules, you may not make any offers of appointment to, or require any commitments from, any applicant prior to the release of the SSO Breast Match results.
A program may voluntarily inform an applicant that it intends to rank the applicant. Similarly, an applicant may voluntarily inform a program that they intend to rank the program. However, neither the program nor the applicant may ask or prompt the other side for this information.
Furthermore, neither programs nor applicants may solicit or disclose information about rank positioning. For example, it is prohibited to make statements like "I will rank you first" or "You are at the top of my list".
List of Registered Applicants
Programs participating in SSO Breast Match have access to a List of Registered Applicants in the NMS Match System. The list shows the name and unique Applicant Code Number assigned to all applicants who are registered to participate in the SSO Breast Match.
Only applicants who are registered to participate in SSO Breast Match can be included on your Rank Order List. Check that each applicant your program intends to rank is included in the List of Registered Applicants. If you wish to rank an applicant who does not appear in the List, contact the applicant and encourage them to register for SSO Breast Match as soon as possible.
