Things to Know
- The list of preferred applicants you submit to the Match is called a Rank Order List.
- You must enter and certify a Rank Order List in the NMS Match System by the Rank Order List deadline for each track offered by your program in the Match.
- If you have no acceptable applicants to rank for a track, you should certify a Rank Order List with no ranks.
- If a track no longer has positions available, you must withdraw the track from the Match.
Key Dates
| NMS Match System Opens For Rankings | June 10, 2024 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | July 8, 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 applicant.
Rank all applicants that would be acceptable. Submitting a longer list of applicants may reduce your chances of being left with unfilled positions.
Do not rank any applicant that you consider unacceptable (i.e., you would not want to be matched with that applicant, even if you may not fill a position). You can only be matched with applicants that appear on your Rank Order List.
Certify Your Rank Order List
You must certify a 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 it is ready to be used in the Match.
You can make changes to a list even after it is certified, until the Rank Order List deadline. If you make changes after a list is certified, the list will become uncertified and you simply have to certify the list again before the Rank Order List deadline in order for it to be used in the Match.
Special Cases
No Applicants to Rank
If a track has position(s) available that you would like to fill but you have no acceptable applicants to rank for the track, you should certify a Rank Order List with no ranks using the NMS Match System. This indicates to NMS that the track is still active and you want your position(s) to be shown as available in the Post-Match Process.
Other Special Requirements
If your program has other special requirements, and you are uncertain about whether or how these requirements can be accommodated in the Match, please contact NMS as soon as possible to discuss your particular situation.
Rankings User Guide
Consult the Rankings User Guide for detailed instructions for submitting Rank Order Lists.
