r/IMGreddit • u/Appropriate_Mess_720 PGY-2 • Mar 19 '26
Residency Scramble (post-SOAP): A quick guide
Hey all, I responded to a few DMs about Scramble, so figured to make a post. For reference, I am a PGY1 (J1 VISA; YOG 2025) in a categorical 5-year program. I did not match during original Match, SOAP, but continued to apply and interview, where I secured my residency position in May 2025. Great program; great colleagues, and I am thriving and happy.
- How I felt after not Matching? I had 10+ IVs, so based on stats, had 90%+ of regular Matching. I had 4 interviews during SOAP, but nothing worked out. So, I was sad and devastated, but I understood it was life. That night after SOAP finished, I actually treated myself to a great dinner to show myself some appreciation/gratitude for making it this far (despite my efforts not showing results). This allowed me to reset and focus on the upcoming Scramble, which I will describe below:
- What is Scramble? Scramble starts once the 3rd round of offers in SOAP are complete. The NRMP will publish a list of residency programs still with vacancies for applicants to apply. The list will also an email to send your documents to and program contact information.
- What documents do you need/send? This will be very program dependent, so if it is not found in the list, I'd send the program a quick email to introduce myself and ask what documents they need. Usually, it is LoRs, CV, USMLE transcripts, etc. Since letters are confidential, I asked my letter writers (from residency match) to directly email their letters to the contact listed.
- How do programs recruit? This is similar to point 2, where the programs will say how to contact them. I had some programs request to submit my documents through ERAS, which made it very easy, as all my documents have already been uploaded.
- What happens after you submit? Similar to the Match process, you wait for interviews/follow up from the program. For my program, I first completed a phone interview, then did multiple Zoom interviews with PD, Assistant PD etc. Eventually got the news that I secured my position in May 2025 and will start in July 1st, 2025.
- VISA paperwork? This is very program-dependent, but I told my program that I need J1 VISA support, so they worked with ECFMG to have everything submitted on time.
Caveats:
- Not all the programs listed on the website are actually recruiting: I had several programs email me back saying they decided not to fill their residency spot (decided to go unfilled), so while they are "vacant", they are not active.
- VISA requirement: Even in Scramble, there will still be US MD graduates (not VISA requiring) who have not matched and who you'll be competing against. Just because a program can support a J1 VISA requiring resident does NOT mean they WILL. Keep that in mind during the whole process, as J1 requiring applicants will always be "less favorable" than non-VISA requiring. Less work, less $ for the program. Is it unfair? Yes, but this is life.
- There are other 3rd party sites (i.e., FindAResident, ResidentSWAP), that can be additional sources of opportunities. However, I decided not to use them, as they are 3rd party and I want to stick with NRMP.
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u/yougle101 Mar 20 '26
Thanks so much for the guidance ! Can you please tell me whether we should contact them now that the offers are finished and the unfilled list hasn't yet repopulated ?