The Three Match Days: A Timeline

By Lisa Mitchell

For some US medical students, there are three possible match days: military, osteopathic, and main residency match (aka the one you’ve probably heard of). Here are the basics on all three.

Military Match
-Students use ERAS to apply (some branches require a supplemental application as well).
-Only students on military scholarships may apply (and, in fact, are required to do so).
-Applications start in September and are completed by November.
-Selection board meets in late November to decide on everyone’s placement.
Note: Students apply to specialty and not to specific programs (although they can indicate a location preference). Applicants accepted to a particular specialty are then divided up among program locations at a meeting of residency program directors.
-Results released mid-December

American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Match
-Students use ERAS to apply
-Only open to osteopathic medical students
-Students register for the match by November 1st but can start the application in June.
-Results released in mid-February

Main Residency Match
-Students use ERAS to apply
-Open to all medical students
-Students register by September 15, 2012
-Results released in mid-March

Once you are picked up by a program in an earlier match round, you are automatically withdrawn from the later ones. So if you match osteopathic or military, your application is immediately withdrawn from the main residency match, and your contract with the program that chose you is binding. Therefore, osteopathic students who would prefer to match in the main residency match should consider not entering the osteopathic match. Military scholars are encouraged to apply to both military and civilian programs in case the military chooses to defer them (this happens occasionally)

Here’s all the info in a nutshell…

Military Match American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Match Main Residency Match 
Application ERAS ERAS ERAS
Open to: Students on military scholarships Osteopathic medical students All medical students
Registration Applications start in September and are completed by November Students register for the match by November 1st but can start the application in June Students register by September 15, 2012
Results Results released mid-December Results released mid-February Results released mid-March

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