What is the “Scramble” and the “SOAP”?

WHAT IS THE “SCRAMBLE” AND THE “SOAP”?

The old “DO” match was called NMS and had a period post-match that was called the scramble. During this time programs that participate in NMS match would get applications from all over the country and offer positions real time. It was quite a stressful experience for both participating sides. This scramble period would last until the last day to withdraw from NRMP. The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) is an “organized scramble” for applicants who participated in NRMP but did not “match” into a participating NRMP residency program on day 1 of results release. The overview of the SOAP process consists of submitting applications to remaining programs and waiting for an interview over the phone or virtually. There are usually 4 rounds of the SOAP which concludes on a Thursday with Match celebration and release of all matched locations being the next day (Friday). It is a sophisticated process and participants of the NRMP match should be familiar with the process at NRMP.org prior to submitting a rank order list with the NRMP. The participants in the SOAP are not allowed to request preceptors or CUSOM faculty to call a program on their behalf. The contact to any reference listed by the participant must be initiated by the program, not the other way around. If you are registered in NRMP, even if you opted out of SOAP, you are not allowed to accept a contract from any other program until after SOAP concludes on Thursday PM of the NRMP Match week or risk Match violation for yourself, the school, and the program offering the contract out of the context of NRMP match.

**See Figure 3 - Positions Filled during SOAP 2020 - 2021 next page.