Match Week Timeline: What Happens Monday Through Friday in Detail

The most chaotic week of medical school is completely predictable—if you know the timeline hour by hour.

Most students do not. They know “Monday you find out if you matched” and “Friday is Match Day.” Everything between is a blur of rumors, panic, and bad advice. That is how people waste hours, miss SOAP windows, and send unhinged emails to program directors.

Let’s walk the week properly. Day by day, and inside each day, what actually happens, what the screens look like, and what you should be doing at each point.

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Overview: The Match Week Structure

Match Week (for NRMP Main Residency Match) follows the same skeleton every year:

• Monday: Do you have a spot? Yes/No only.
• Tuesday–Thursday: SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) in four offer rounds.
• Friday: Match Day – final results and celebrations.

Underneath that simple outline is a very tight schedule with hard deadlines.

Here is the high-level pattern:

Day	Main Outcome	Who Is Active
Monday	Match status (Matched / Unmatched)	Everyone
Tuesday	SOAP: List prep + Round 1 offers	Unmatched / SOAP-eligible only
Wednesday	SOAP: Rounds 2–3	Unmatched / SOAP-eligible only
Thursday	SOAP: Round 4 + final outcomes	Unmatched / SOAP-eligible only
Friday	Match results + celebrations	Everyone

I will assume:

• You are in the NRMP Main Residency Match.
• You may or may not be SOAP-eligible, so I will call that out when it matters.
• Your school follows the standard U.S. pattern.

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Monday: “Did You Match?” Day – Hour by Hour

Monday is binary. You do not get your program list. You get one message:

• “Congratulations, you have matched!”
• Or: “You did not match to any position.”

There are four important windows on Monday.

1. Early Morning: Before 11:00 a.m. ET

At this point you should:

• Stay off social media. It will just wind you up.
• Be somewhere you can:
  • Sit down.
  • Take a call from your dean.
  • Open your laptop with a decent connection.

If you are at risk of not matching (low Step scores, limited interviews, applied to a very competitive specialty), you should already have:

• An updated CV in PDF.
• A generic personal statement ready for your backup specialty and/or preliminary year.
• A short list of:
  • Programs you interviewed with.
  • Geographic areas you can realistically move to.

If you did not do this earlier, you are starting Match Week handicapped.

2. 11:00 a.m. ET: Status Release on NRMP/Email

At 11:00 a.m. Eastern, NRMP releases match status only.

You log into your NRMP account or check email and see one of a few options:

• “You have matched.”

  • You matched to a categorical, preliminary, or advanced position somewhere on your rank list.
  • You will learn where on Friday at noon ET.
  • You do not participate in SOAP.

• “You are partially matched.”

  • Typical scenarios:
    • You matched to an advanced position (e.g., Derm, Rad Onc, Neuro) but did not match to a PGY-1 preliminary year.
    • Or the reverse: prelim year but no advanced spot.
  • If SOAP-eligible, you can use SOAP to fill the missing piece.

• “You are unmatched.”

  • You did not match to any program on your rank list.
  • If SOAP-eligible, you may participate in SOAP.

If you are SOAP-ineligible, the message will state that; you cannot access the SOAP system.

At this point you should:

• Take 15–20 minutes to react. Cry, scream, whatever you need. Then shift into task mode if you are unmatched or partially matched.

3. 11:00 a.m.–Noon ET: Regroup and Meet with Your School

Between 11:00 and about 12:00:

• Deans and advisors mobilize. Most schools schedule immediate meetings (individual or small groups) for unmatched students.
• You will likely:
  • Confirm your SOAP eligibility.
  • Review your specialty options (switch specialties vs pursue prelim-only).
  • Start refining your CV and personal statement(s).

At this point you should:

If you matched:

• Communicate with:
  • Family.
  • Close friends.
  • Class group chat (briefly).
• Confirm if your school has any:
  • Friday ceremony planning.
  • Photo or media requirements.
• Then go live your day. The anxiety is over for you.

If you are unmatched / partially matched + SOAP-eligible:

• Get in front of:
  • Your dean of students.
  • Career advising office.
  • Specialty advisor (if supportive and realistic).
• Decide quickly:
  • Are you pursuing:
    • A different categorical specialty via SOAP?
    • Or just a prelim year with a plan to reapply next cycle?

4. Noon ET onward: SOAP List and Documents

Shortly after noon ET:

• The NRMP releases the List of Unfilled Programs (to schools and SOAP-eligible applicants via ERAS/NRMP).
• You do not “see” it as a public PDF; you see it through your ERAS account if SOAP-eligible.

At this point you should (SOAP-eligible):

1. Sit down with the unfilled list.
   Filter by:

   • Specialty.
   • Geography.
   • Program type (categorical vs prelim vs advanced).

2. Triage programs into tiers:

   • Tier 1: Reasonable reach and realistic fit.
   • Tier 2: Less ideal but acceptable.
   • Tier 3: Absolute fallback.

3. Align with ERAS rules:

   • You can apply to a limited number of programs in SOAP (historically up to 45, but confirm current cycle).
   • No direct contact with programs before they contact you. NRMP is strict about this.

4. Update your ERAS:

   • Upload or assign:
     • SOAP-specific personal statements (e.g., for Internal Medicine, Family Med, Transitional Year).
     • Updated CV if needed.
   • Check:
     • Letters of recommendation assigned appropriately for each specialty.

Your advisors will often sit in a classroom or conference room with all unmatched students and walk through this live.

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Tuesday: SOAP Round 1 – Application and First Offers

Tuesday is where people either execute or implode. The schedule is precise.

SOAP Process Flow

Step	Description
Step 1	Unmatched Monday
Step 2	See Unfilled List
Step 3	Submit SOAP Apps in ERAS
Step 4	Programs Review Apps
Step 5	SOAP Round 1 Offers
Step 6	Matched via SOAP
Step 7	Eligible for Later Rounds
Step 8	Accept Offer?

Morning: Finalizing and Submitting SOAP Applications

By Tuesday morning:

• The unfilled list is known.
• You must have your SOAP applications submitted early enough for programs to review before Round 1 offers.

Time specifics shift slightly year to year, but pattern is consistent:

• Applications open Monday afternoon for SOAP-eligible applicants.
• Programs start reviewing Monday–Tuesday.

At this point you should:

• Ensure:
  • All target programs are selected in ERAS.
  • Correct documents (PS, LoRs, USMLE scores) are assigned.
• Double-check:
  • No glaring typos in personal statements.
  • No specialty mismatches (e.g., a Radiology PS going to a Family Med program).

You do not send emails or call. Programs reach out via ERAS or phone if they want to interview.

Late Morning to Early Afternoon: SOAP Interviews

Between late morning and the first offer round:

• Programs may:
  • Send interview invitations via ERAS/phone/email.
  • Conduct very short interviews:
    • 10–20 minute Zoom calls.
    • Phone screens.
    • Quick panels.

Common pattern I have seen:

• “Hi, this is Dr. X from Y Program. We saw your SOAP application and would like to talk for 10–15 minutes this afternoon. Are you available at 2:30 p.m. Eastern?”

At this point you should:

• Be by your phone and laptop all day.
• Have:
  • A short, clear explanation ready for:
    • Why you are interested in their specialty/program.
    • Why you did not match (if asked) without oversharing or blaming.
  • 3–4 questions prepared for each program.

Afternoon: SOAP Round 1 Offers

SOAP Round 1 offers are released at a specific time block (historically around noon ET, but always verify for your year).

Mechanics:

• Programs submit a list of applicants they are willing to offer positions to.
• NRMP system processes and sends out offers.
• You may get:
  • Zero offers.
  • One offer.
  • Multiple offers (if multiple programs ranked you).

Critical rule:

• If you accept an offer:
  • You are done with SOAP.
  • You are committed to that position.
• If you do not accept any offer by the deadline for that round:
  • Those offers expire.
  • You stay in SOAP for later rounds.

At this point you should:

If you receive an offer:

• Decide fast:
  • Discuss with:
    • Dean.
    • Trusted mentor (if immediately reachable).
  • Consider:
    • Location.
    • Program type (prelim vs categorical).
    • Realistic alternative options in later rounds (usually weaker).
• If acceptable:
  • Accept in NRMP before the round’s deadline.
  • Notify your dean.
  • Stop all SOAP activity. You have matched.

If you receive no offers:

• Decompress briefly.
• Meet with advisors:
  • Reassess list and strategy for Round 2.
  • Consider expanding geographic tolerance or less competitive specialties if still open.

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Wednesday: SOAP Rounds 2 and 3 – Rapid Adjustments

Wednesday is usually two offer rounds. The tension ratchets up because the number of open positions drops with each round.

Morning: Between Rounds – Recalibration

By Wednesday morning:

• Some unmatched students have already accepted Round 1 offers.
• The unfilled list is updated as programs fill spots.

At this point you should:

• Review:
  • Updated unfilled positions in ERAS.
• Adjust:
  • Program list if the system permits new applications between rounds (depending on year’s rules and remaining app allotment).
• Stay glued to:
  • Email.
  • Phone.
  • ERAS notifications.

You may get additional very short interviews as programs scramble to fill remaining positions.

Midday: SOAP Round 2 Offers

Round 2 works like Round 1 but with:

• Fewer positions.
• Often more desperate candidates and programs.

At this point you should:

If you receive a first offer of the week:

• Same logic as Round 1:
  • Carefully but quickly weigh it.
  • Accept if it is acceptable and you do not have realistic hopes for something clearly better.

If you receive multiple offers:

• Rank them instantly by:
  • Program reputation and vibe (from interviews).
  • Location and support system.
  • Categorical vs prelim (categorical almost always wins unless very problematic).

If you receive no offers again:

• This is a warning sign. Not a death sentence, but serious.
• Talk frankly with your dean:
  • How likely is an offer in Round 3–4?
  • Do you need to mentally prepare for post-SOAP scramble (non-accredited, research years, etc.)?

Afternoon: SOAP Round 3 Offers

By Round 3:

• Many positions left are:
  • Less desirable geographies.
  • Programs with known challenges (high attrition, rough call schedules, marginal support).

That does not mean they are bad training. It does mean you have to be honest with yourself.

At this point you should:

• Treat any reasonable categorical offer as likely your best shot this cycle.
• For prelim-only offers:
  • Accept if:
    • You need a guaranteed PGY-1 to stay on track for advanced specialties.
    • Or you realistically plan to strengthen your application and reapply.

Rejecting a prelim in Round 3 hoping for a categorical in Round 4 is often magical thinking.

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Thursday: SOAP Round 4 and Final Outcomes

Thursday is the last official day of SOAP. After Round 4, the NRMP-controlled process is over.

Morning: Last Interviews and Check-ins

By Thursday morning:

• There are very few positions left.
• Programs know they must fill now or risk going unfilled entirely.

You may get:

• Last-minute interview requests.
• Very frank conversations:
  • “We have one spot. We are talking to three candidates. If we rank you, would you accept if offered?”

At this point you should:

• Be extremely clear with yourself:
  • Are you prepared to move anywhere?
  • Is any accredited program in your specialty better than no position?
• Coordinate messaging:
  • Do not over-promise different programs.
  • But you can say, “If offered a position, I would be very likely to accept.”

Midday: SOAP Round 4 Offers

Round 4 is the final pass.

Mechanics are the same:

• Offers appear in the system.
• You have a limited window to accept.
• Acceptance ends your SOAP participation with a committed spot.

At this point you should:

• Treat any acceptable offer as final.
• Do not decline hoping for some mythical off-the-books position. After SOAP, everything is more chaotic and less regulated.

Afternoon: Post-SOAP Reality

After Round 4 closes:

• Any unfilled NRMP-participating positions are released from SOAP.
• Programs are allowed to:
  • Directly communicate with applicants.
  • Offer positions outside of SOAP (within rules and contracts).

If you are still unmatched:

At this point you should:

1. Meet with your dean immediately:

   • Discuss:
     • Research years.
     • Preliminary year outside the match.
     • Non-NRMP programs (e.g., some prelim surgical year slots).
     • Reapplication strategy.

2. Prepare for:

   • Emailing and calling programs that:
     • Historically take off-cycle residents.
     • Have known mid-year openings occasionally.

3. Clarify:

   • Visa issues (for IMGs).
   • Financial plan for a research/fellowship year if that is the path.

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Friday: Match Day – Results and Aftermath

Friday is straightforward for matched students and emotionally complex for those who did not land a position.

11:30 a.m.–Noon Local Time: Pre-Ceremony Jitters

Most schools run a Match Day ceremony with envelopes or a projected reveal.

At this point you should (if matched earlier in the week or during SOAP):

• Arrive early.
• Have:
  • Family/friends with you if possible.
  • Your phone ready for calls and photos.

If you are unmatched after SOAP:

• Decide with your dean whether attending the ceremony makes emotional sense.
• Some students go to support friends. Others skip it. Both choices are valid.

Noon ET / Local Ceremony Time: Results Release

At noon ET:

• NRMP officially releases Match results.
• You see:
  • Exact program.
  • Track (categorical vs prelim vs advanced).
  • Start date and details.

At this point you should:

• Confirm:
  • That the result matches what you expected (especially if SOAP-placed).
• Quickly:
  • Text/call family.
  • Acknowledge the program if they reach out with a welcome email or call.

Afternoon and Weekend: Post-Match Logistics

Once the confetti settles, there is actual work.

At this point you should:

Within 24–72 hours:

• Contact your program if they have not contacted you:

  • Brief, professional email:
    • Thank them.
    • Express enthusiasm.
    • Confirm receipt of any onboarding instructions.

• Start basic logistics:

  • Timeline for background checks, drug screens, onboarding.
  • Housing research in the new city.
  • Budget for moving.

For those without a position:

At this point you should:

• Set a one- to two-week plan with your dean:
  • Identify research or non-match PGY-1 options.
  • Update your ERAS and CV for future cycles.
  • Make a hard, honest assessment:
    • Was it test scores?
    • Specialty choice?
    • Application strategy?
  • Create a concrete remediation plan.

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Emotional Timeline: How Your Energy Should Shift

Match Week is not just structural; your mindset has to move with each day.

Stress Level Across Match Week

Category	Value
Sunday	60
Monday	95
Tuesday	90
Wednesday	85
Thursday	80
Friday	50

At this point you should:

• Sunday night: Organize documents, sleep as well as you can.
• Monday: React, then either relax (matched) or flip into execution mode (unmatched).
• Tuesday–Thursday: Treat this like a 72-hour job. Phone on, laptop open, advisors looped in.
• Friday: Celebrate or regroup. But do not stay in limbo; make a plan for the next 3–6 months.

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Three Things To Remember About Match Week

1. Monday is not the verdict on your career. It is only the verdict on your original rank list. SOAP and post-SOAP pathways are real, and many physicians had non-linear Match stories.

2. SOAP is a regimented, timed process. At each round you must be ready—documents cleaned up, priorities clear, and decision-making fast. Hesitation and magical thinking lose positions.

3. By Friday evening, you need a realistic next step. Whether that is onboarding paperwork for your new residency or a concrete reapplication and gap-year plan, do not let the week end without a timeline for what you will do next.