Match Resource Center

celebrate the match graphic

This page offers DO students a wide range of resources on Match basics, exploring residency programs, developing a unique and competitive application, successful interview tips and more. 

What Is the Match?

"The match" can mean any of the sessions that are a part of the current system by which students obtain a residency position, including the military match, the urology match and the San Francisco match (which includes ophthalmology and plastic surgery), but usually refers to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match, the largest residency match for medical students trained both in the US and internationally. The match is run by the NRMP, a private, non-profit organization established in 1952.

The NRMP uses a computer algorithm to align the preferences of both residency program directors and applicants for placing into residency. Under this system, all participants follow the same rules, and adhere to the same deadlines, and both applicants and program directors can consider all their options before making any decisions.

The 2025 Match Week begins March 17 and culminates on Match Day, March 21.

 


Match Basics

These links to outside resources provide match statistics and information on the match qualifications, characteristics and preferences of program directors and previous match applicants.

PCOM students holding posters of the residencies they matched to. Smiling PCOM medical students hold "I matched!" signs for the camera.


magnifying glass

Find Residency Programs

The following links provide opportunities to get more information about and from residency programs.

For information on selecting a specialty, please visit Careers in Medicine.

Doctors in white coats and scrubs smiling

Check out these webinars for essential and wide-ranging advice for medical students transitioning to residency.
Topics include these and more!

  • Post-Interview Tips for the Match & Program Rank List Strategies
  • What to Do After the Match
  • Transition from Medical School into Day 1 of Residency


Application & Interview Tips

Letters of Recommendation

Tools from AACOM’s Council on Residency Placement’s Letters of Recommendation Working Group


Visiting Student (Away) Rotations

Information on scheduling your away rotations

If you are experiencing unfairness in scheduling your Visiting Student Rotations, please notify VSLO@aacom.org.

Match Day Support

  • I Successfully Matched, Now What?

    Congratulations! You’re about to take your first steps into the much larger world of residency training. Here are three key steps you can take to prepare.

  • I Didn't Match, What Do I Do?

    It can be very daunting if you find yourself without a residency placement. But you still have options available to you after Match Day. Here’s where to start.

Guillermo and Jesse Alfonso at their white coat ceremonyThe Perfect Match

In this blog, doctors Guillermo and Jesse Alfonso share insights on how they balanced the extreme pressures that came with the journey to becoming physicians while still finding time for their relationship and successfully navigating the couples match into residency.

Questions?

Contact your COM's representative for questions about the NRMP Match.

Overcoming Challenges, a Record-Setting 92.3 Percent of DO Students Match into Residency

A record number of osteopathic medical students successfully complete the 2024 Match Week.

Read more