SOAP Monday Survival Plan: What to Do in the First 12 Hours

The most dangerous hours of SOAP Monday are the ones you waste pretending you still have time.

You do not. The first 12 hours set the ceiling on how well your SOAP week can go. At this point you need a survival plan, not vibes.

I’m going to walk you through SOAP Monday from the moment you wake up to late evening. Hour by hour, block by block. What you say. What you write. Who you email. What you absolutely do not do.

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Big Picture: Your First 12 Hours at a Glance

SOAP Monday 12-Hour Timeline

Period	Event
Early Morning - 7	00-9
Mid Morning - 9	00-11
Late Morning - 11	00-13
Early Afternoon - 13	00-15
Late Afternoon - 15	00-19

We’ll zoom into each block with concrete action lists.

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7:00–9:00 AM: Impact Zone – Reality, Regroup, Rapid Triage

At this point you should be:

• Confirming your status
• Calming your nervous system, fast
• Starting a hard, honest triage

7:00–7:30 – Confirm, Breathe, Contain the Chaos

You open your email / NRMP portal. You see it:

• “We are sorry to inform you…”
• “You did not match.”

Here is your job in the first 30 minutes:

1. Confirm the facts

   • Verify:
     • You are eligible for SOAP.
     • Your status in NRMP is “Unmatched” or “Partially Matched” and SOAP-eligible.
   • Screenshot your status for yourself and your advisor later. No drama. Just documentation.

2. Control the collapse

   • You’re allowed 15 minutes to feel awful. Cry, swear, stare at the wall.
   • Then:
     • Drink water.
     • Eat something (toast, yogurt, whatever you tolerate under stress).
     • Take a 3–5 minute walk or shower. You need your frontal lobe online, not your amygdala.

3. Set your battlefield

   • Clear a workspace:
     • Laptop + charger
     • Headphones
     • Notepad or OneNote/Google Doc open
   • Turn off:
     • Random group chats that are spiraling
     • Social media doomscrolling
   • Keep on:
     • One channel where trusted people (advisor, mentor, close friend) can reach you

At this stage, do not:

• Email 20 programs begging for a spot
• Post on social media about not matching
• Argue with classmates about who deserved what

You’re in survival mode, not public relations mode.

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7:30–8:30 – Quick Autopsy and Target Direction

At this point you should be doing a brutally fast self-assessment. Not a memoir.

Answer these questions in a single page:

• Specialty you applied to?
• Total number of programs?
• Step/Level scores?
• Any red flags? (failed exam, LOA, poor clerkship eval, professionalism issue)
• US-IMG/Non-US IMG vs US grad?
• Any interviews you had? How many? Where?

Then, immediately pivot to: What can I realistically SOAP into?

Typical reality check I’ve seen play out:

• Didn’t match into derm with 240s and 3 interviews? You’re not SOAPing back into derm.
• Didn’t match into ortho with 5 interviews? SOAP into prelim surgery, transitional year, or IM.
• IMG with low Step 1 and no interviews? Likely targets: prelim spots, FM, IM in less competitive locations if they appear.

Use a rough competitiveness sense:

Original Goal	Typical SOAP Targets
Derm, Ortho, ENT, Plastics	Prelim Surgery, TY, IM prelim
Radiology, Anesthesia	TY, IM prelim, FM
EM	IM, FM, TY
OB/GYN, Gen Surg categorical	Prelim Surgery, IM, FM
Competitive IM	Community IM, FM

You’re not closing doors forever; you’re buying 1 year of training and US experience. Get that straight in your head now.

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8:30–9:00 – Assemble Your Micro-Team

At this point you should not be solo.

Make 3–4 intentional contacts. Not 30.

Contact, in order:

1. Home institution advising

   • Dean of students, career advising, or the “SOAP person” your school has designated.
   • Message template:
     • “I’m SOAP-eligible and would really value 15–20 minutes today to review my target strategy. Here are my stats and original specialty. Can we talk between 10–12 or 1–3?”

2. One faculty mentor who actually knows you

   • Preferably from your original specialty or IM/FM if you’re pivoting.
   • Ask for:
     • Honest take on realistic SOAP targets
     • Willingness to take a quick call later
     • Any personal connections in IM/FM/surgery prelim programs

3. Optional: trusted resident / recent SOAP survivor

   • Someone 1–3 years ahead of you who has seen SOAP up close.
   • Keep it short. “What’s the one thing you wish you’d done differently on SOAP Monday?”

Do not form a “we didn’t match” group therapy room on Zoom right now. You’ll lose 2–3 critical hours.

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9:00–11:00 AM: Analysis and Document Prep

Now the emotional dust is settling. This is your planning window.

At this point you should be:

• Analyzing potential SOAP-eligible programs (as lists become clearer)
• Prepping or updating documents you can still influence
• Designing a specialty/track fallback tree

9:00–10:00 – Clarify Your Target Ladder

Picture a ladder with rungs. You’ll apply from top to bottom of what’s realistic.

Create three tiers:

1. Tier 1 – Most realistic goal
   Example:

   • Categorical IM in community programs
   • Family medicine in less popular states
   • Prelim IM at academic centers

2. Tier 2 – Safety / placeholder options

   • Prelim surgery
   • Transitional year (if any available)
   • TY/IM prelim in tougher geographic locations

3. Tier 3 – Truly last resort

   • Any prelim spot you’d still be willing to show up for
   • Programs in locations or settings you’d previously ruled out but can tolerate for one year

Map your profile to these tiers. Be unsentimental.

Example SOAP Target Distribution by Tier

Category	Value
Tier 1 - Main Target	50
Tier 2 - Backup	30
Tier 3 - Last Resort	20

Your goal: when the list of unfilled programs becomes available, you already know how you’ll categorize each one into these tiers.

10:00–11:00 – Documents You Can Still Fix

You cannot rewrite your whole life story on SOAP Monday, but you can tweak and sharpen.

Focus on these:

1. Personal Statement – Short, SOAP-specific version

   • You may need:
     • One IM/FM version
     • One prelim/TY version
   • Cut the fluff. 3–4 tight paragraphs max.
   • Template for a prelim/TY PS:
     • Para 1: One sentence acknowledging your path, then focus on clinical strengths.
     • Para 2: Concrete examples of being reliable, hard-working, good teammate.
     • Para 3: Specific reasons you’ll be an asset to any program (teaching interest, procedures, underserved care).
     • Para 4: Clear statement you understand the prelim year role and intend to excel.

2. CV / ERAS updates

   • Make sure:
     • No obvious typos.
     • Experiences are up to date.
     • Any recent rotations or publications are entered.
   • Skip adding every minor volunteer activity from last month. Too late to matter.

3. Red flag framing (if needed)

   • If you have:
     • Step failure
     • LOA
     • Major professionalism issue
   • Draft a 3–5 sentence non-defensive explanation you can use in emails or calls:
     • Own what happened.
     • One sentence on what changed.
     • One sentence on current consistent performance.

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11:00 AM–1:00 PM: Customize, Get Feedback, Lock Strategy

This is the refinement and commit phase.

At this point you should:

• Lock in your primary SOAP direction.
• Customize your messaging for your main target area.
• Get at least one human to sanity-check your plan.

11:00–12:00 – Finalize Your Primary Track

You cannot SOAP into 5 different lives at once. You need a primary story.

Pick one of these archetypes and lean into it:

• “Future internist temporarily derailed”
• “Surgical-minded, needs a prelim foothold”
• “Flexible, strong generalist aiming for IM/FM/TY”
• “Rebuilding year – focused on growth and clinical strength”

Then, align:

• Personal statement content
• How you’ll answer “why this specialty?” on any call
• Any email to PDs/programs

If you’re waffling between two tracks (e.g., IM vs FM), decide which is your priority and which is backup. Your time is limited; dilution kills.

12:00–13:00 – Advisor/Mentor Check-in

By now, at least one of your morning outreach attempts should convert into a quick call or email response.

Use that time like a professional, not a panicked student:

Have this ready before the call:

• One-page snapshot of:
  • Scores, school, IMG vs US
  • Original specialty + interview count
  • Red flags in one line
  • Your proposed SOAP tiers and target strategy

Ask specific questions:

• “Given my scores and original specialty, is categorical IM in my reach or should I prioritize prelim spots?”
• “If I can only tailor one personal statement type today, should it be IM or prelim?”
• “Are there 2–3 programs you think I should prioritize if they appear unfilled?”

Have them:

• Glance at your revised personal statement
• Confirm your primary SOAP track choice
• Reality-check your expectations

Once this hour ends, your strategic direction is fixed for Monday. You can tweak details later, but no more big pivots.

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1:00–3:00 PM: Execution – Submissions and Initial Outreach

Different years have slightly different exact times, but functionally, early afternoon is go-time. This is when you shift from planning to doing.

At this point you should:

• Be ready to move as soon as programs are visible and applications are allowed.
• Execute quickly, but not sloppily.
• Start controlled, targeted communication when appropriate and allowed.

1:00–2:00 – Build and Prioritize Your Program List

As the unfilled program list becomes available (via ERAS/NRMP/your school channels), it’s game on.

Your workflow:

1. Rapid screen for eligibility

   • Use:
     • US vs IMG status
     • Required scores
     • Visa policy (if relevant)
   • Eliminate programs that clearly won’t rank you because of hard filters.

2. Sort into your 3 tiers from earlier

   • Tier 1: Core target programs (most reasonable fit)
   • Tier 2: Solid backup
   • Tier 3: Only-if-necessary options

3. Check for obvious fit signals

   • Your school has sent grads there before.
   • They take DO/IMG regularly (if that’s you).
   • Mission or population you have real experience with.

Use a simple table to track:

Program	Specialty	Tier	Applied?	Contacted?
Program A	IM categorical	1	Yes	Yes
Program B	Prelim IM	1	Yes	No
Program C	FM	2	Yes	Yes
Program D	Prelim Surgery	2	No	No

Your brain will be mush by late afternoon. This table keeps you from double-sending awkward emails.

2:00–3:00 – Submit and Start Strategic Communication

You’re constrained by SOAP rules and your institution’s guidance, so always follow your school’s specific instructions. But in general:

1. Submit through ERAS first

   • Apply to your highest-priority programs early.
   • Do not blow all your applications on fantasy targets.
   • Double-check:
     • Correct personal statement is attached.
     • Correct documents are uploaded.

2. Targeted communication (if allowed and appropriate)

   • Short, focused email to PD or coordinator:
     • Subject: “SOAP Applicant – [Your Name], [School], [Specialty/Track]”
     • 3–4 sentence body:
       • Who you are (school, original specialty).
       • Why you’re interested in their specific program (1–2 real reasons).
       • One line on your strengths.
       • Statement you’ve applied via SOAP and would be grateful for consideration.

Example skeleton:

Dear Dr [Name],
My name is [X], a graduating student from [School]. I initially applied in [Original Specialty] and am now participating in SOAP for [IM categorical/prelim IM] positions.
I’m particularly interested in [Program] because of [specific feature: community focus, teaching structure, prior connection]. My strengths are [brief strengths], supported by strong evaluations on [relevant rotations].
I’ve submitted my application to your program through SOAP and would be very grateful for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name, AAMC ID, contact info]

Time Allocation in First 12 SOAP Monday Hours

Category	Value
Emotional + Setup	90
Analysis	120
Doc Prep	90
Advisor Calls	60
Applications	90
Communication	60

You are not writing novels. You’re trying to get on a very overwhelmed PD’s radar without annoying them.

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3:00–7:00 PM: Monitor, Respond, Reset – Without Losing Your Mind

The temptation after 3 pm is to either completely melt down or sit staring at your inbox in a panic trance. Both are useless.

At this point you should:

• Be reachable and responsive.
• Keep refining, but stop rewriting your entire life story.
• Protect your brain for the rest of SOAP week.

3:00–5:00 – Availability and Micro-Adjustments

Stay in ready mode:

• Phone on loud
• Email notifications on (for the accounts programs have)
• Zoom / phone quiet space available for sudden calls

Use this block for:

• Light program research on your top targets so you can sound semi-coherent if they call.
• Minor tweaks:
  • If you realize a PS is mismatched to a group of programs, fix going forward. Do not constantly re-edit for the same programs.

Do not:

• Send “just following up” emails every 2 hours.
• Spam-call program coordinators.

If you get a call:

• Step into a quiet space.
• Pull up your quick notes on the program (location, type, strengths).
• Hit three points:
  • Grateful for the opportunity.
  • Why you’re seriously interested.
  • What you bring as an intern (reliability, work ethic, teachability).

5:00–7:00 – Structured Shutdown, Not Collapse

You’re not done for the week, but you’re done for this phase. The goal is to not burn out by Tuesday.

End-of-day checklist:

• Update your program tracking table:
  • Where you applied
  • Who you contacted
  • Any responses or interview invitations
• Jot down:
  • What went well today
  • What felt chaotic you want to fix tomorrow (e.g., need a dedicated note page for each program that contacts you)

Then:

• Eat an actual meal.
• Move your body for 15–20 minutes (walk, stretch, something).
• Set a firm cutoff time for SOAP-related work for the night unless programs are actively contacting you.

You’ll need mental bandwidth for the rest of the SOAP process. The students who completely unravel Monday evening make worse decisions on Tuesday.

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FAQ (Exactly 4 Questions)

1. Should I tell programs explicitly that I went unmatched?

In SOAP, they already know you’re in the unmatched pool. You don’t need to open every interaction with “I didn’t match.” Instead, frame it as: you initially applied in X, are now seeking Y through SOAP, and are strongly interested in their program. If a program asks directly what happened, answer briefly and honestly, then pivot to why you’re ready to succeed now.

2. How many programs should I apply to during SOAP Monday?

There’s no universal number, but scattering applications everywhere usually backfires. Within your ERAS/SOAP limits, prioritize breadth in realistic targets (Tier 1 and Tier 2) over chasing longshots. For many applicants, that means focusing primarily on 20–40 genuinely plausible programs rather than 60+ mostly fantasy choices. Let your advisor help bound this for your specific profile.

3. Should I rewrite my personal statement for every single program?

No. You don’t have time, and PDs don’t have time to care about tiny custom tweaks. Create 1–2 strong, generic-but-honest versions: one for categorical IM/FM, one for prelim/TY. If you have a deep, specific tie to a particular program (home hospital, did rotations there), you can add a short customized line in an email or a slightly tailored version—but don’t build your day around PS micro-customization.

4. What if my school’s advising is slow or unhelpful on SOAP Monday?

Then you build a makeshift team. Lean on: a trusted faculty member who liked you on rotation, an upper-level resident who recently matched, and any mentor from research or clinical work. Send them a short, organized summary (scores, specialty, red flags, proposed SOAP strategy) and ask 2–3 focused questions. It’s not ideal, but I’ve seen plenty of students salvage SOAP with a scrappy, improvised support network when formal advising was asleep at the wheel.

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Key points:

1. The first 12 hours of SOAP Monday are about speed with structure: confirm, triage, plan, then execute.
2. Pick a primary SOAP direction early, align your documents and story, and stop pivoting every hour.
3. Use your energy where it moves the needle: smart targeting, clean applications, and calm, concise communication—not panic and noise.