Tips on How to Prepare for SOAP Residency
Finding out you didn't match is one of the most difficult moments in a medical student's journey. But it's not the end of the road. The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) gives unmatched applicants a second chance to secure a residency position during Match Week. In the 2025 cycle, 91.9% of SOAP positions were filled—proof that preparation and strategy can lead to success even after an initial setback.
Whether you're proactively preparing in case you don't match or you've just received the news and need to act fast, this guide covers everything you need to know about SOAP residency preparation.
Understanding How SOAP Works
Before diving into preparation tips, it's important to understand how the SOAP residency process differs from the regular Match.
The regular Match uses an algorithm that runs applicant and program rank lists against each other over several months. SOAP, on the other hand, compresses everything into four intense days during Match Week. Programs review applications, conduct interviews, and extend offers through four sequential rounds—all on Thursday of Match Week.
Here's how eligibility works: you must be registered with the NRMP for the Main Residency Match by the late deadline, verified as eligible to begin graduate medical education on July 1, and either unmatched or partially matched when results are released on Monday morning. Once eligible, you can apply to any unfilled SOAP program that matches your qualifications.
One critical difference: in SOAP, programs create preference lists and extend offers to applicants. Applicants do not rank programs. When you receive an offer, you have two hours to accept or decline. And here's the rule that trips people up—you cannot contact programs first. You must wait for them to reach out to you, and violating this rule can result in disqualification from the SOAP residency match.
The Match Week Timeline You Need to Know
SOAP operates on a tight schedule where every hour counts. Understanding this timeline is essential for anyone preparing for the SOAP residency match.
On Monday at 10:00 AM ET, you'll learn your match status through the R3 system. If you're SOAP-eligible, you can immediately access the List of Unfilled Programs. At 11:00 AM ET, you can begin submitting applications—but programs won't see them until 8:00 AM ET on Tuesday.
The real action happens Thursday, with four offer rounds:
Round 1: 9:00–11:00 AM ET
Round 2: 12:00–2:00 PM ET
Round 3: 3:00–5:00 PM ET
Round 4: 6:00–8:00 PM ET
Here's what the data tells us: 56% of positions fill in Round 1, and 80% fill by the end of Round 2. This means your preparation before Monday, and your responsiveness Tuesday through Thursday are absolutely critical.
Preparing Your Documents Before Match Day
Smart applicants prepare for SOAP weeks before Match Day—not because they expect to fail, but because having everything ready reduces panic and increases effectiveness if SOAP becomes necessary.
Start by ensuring your MyERAS application is certified and submitted with your current contact information. Verify that your USMLE or COMLEX-USA transcripts are already in the system. Requesting transcripts during SOAP costs $80 and creates delays you can't afford. Upload any new supporting documents and confirm all certifications are valid.
Letters of recommendation require strategic planning. Have at least 3-4 strong letters ready for your primary specialty, plus 1-2 additional letters for alternative specialties. If you're concerned about potentially needing SOAP, contact your letter writers 2-4 weeks before Match Week to give them a heads up. Request at least one "specialty-neutral" letter that speaks to your overall clinical competence rather than specialty-specific skills—this becomes invaluable if you need to apply broadly during SOAP.
Personal statements need backup versions. Prepare your primary specialty statement, but also draft statements for alternative specialties you'd genuinely consider. Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics consistently have the most SOAP program openings, so having statements ready for these fields is wise. Also, prepare a brief 2-3 sentence addition explaining why you're applying through SOAP—one that takes accountability without making excuses and emphasizes your readiness to contribute immediately.
Researching Programs in Advance
Don't wait until Monday morning to figure out where you might apply. Research potential SOAP program options ahead of time.
In 2025, Family Medicine led with 805 SOAP positions, followed by Preliminary Surgery (549), Internal Medicine (370 categorical), Transitional Year (260), and Pediatrics (147). Community-based programs not attached to large academic health systems, rural area programs, and newer programs more commonly have openings.
Use FREIDA, the AMA's residency database, to research programs before Match Week. Create a tiered list: Tier 1 for categorical PGY-1 positions in acceptable specialties, Tier 2 for community-based programs and less competitive areas, and Tier 3 for preliminary or transitional year positions that can serve as bridges to reapply next year.
This pre-made list becomes your playbook on Monday morning when emotions are running high and clear thinking is difficult. Having SOAP program targets already identified saves precious time.
What to Do in the First Hours After Not Matching
When you learn at 10:00 AM ET on Monday that you didn't match, the clock starts immediately. Here's your action plan.
First, allow yourself 15-30 minutes to process the emotional impact. This is devastating news, and acknowledging that is important. Then pivot to action mode.
Contact your Dean's office or Student Affairs immediately. School officials receive unmatched applicant reports at 9:30 AM ET—thirty minutes before students learn their status—specifically so they can mobilize support. Your school has resources and personnel prepared specifically for SOAP assistance.
Access the List of Unfilled Programs in the R3 system and cross-reference it against your pre-made program list. Note which programs match your qualifications and accept your applicant type.
At 11:00 AM ET, begin submitting applications. Expert consensus strongly recommends using all 45 applications in Round 1 since most positions fill early. You can submit up to 45 applications per application service during SOAP. ERAS handles most specialties, while ResidencyCAS manages OB/GYN programs.
From Monday through Thursday, treat this like a full-time job requiring 24/7 availability. Keep your phone charged with the ringer at maximum volume. Check email every 10-15 minutes, including spam folders. Check ERAS messages constantly. Have professional attire ready for video interviews. Test your internet connection and video platforms beforehand. Clear your entire schedule.
And remember: do not contact programs directly. This applies to you, your mentors, your family members, and anyone else. Wait for programs to reach out first.
Strategic Application Decisions
How you allocate your 45 applications matters enormously.
Use all of them, and submit them early. Dr. Nicole Deiorio, Associate Dean at VCU, advises applicants to use all 45 applications in the first round. Submit Monday or early Tuesday at the latest, before programs begin reviewing at 8:00 AM Tuesday.
Geographic flexibility significantly increases success. Community programs, rural areas, and less popular regions consistently have more openings. If you're already pivoting your career plans, adding location flexibility gives you one more variable you can control.
Consider specialty-switching thoughtfully, but never apply to specialties you wouldn't actually complete training in. SOAP acceptances are binding. If you're coming from a competitive specialty with limited SOAP availability—Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, and Orthopedics rarely have SOAP spots—you may need to pivot to fields with more openings.
When offers come, accept strategically. Dr. Deiorio advises: take the first offer you receive rather than waiting for a potentially better one in Round 2. With 80% of positions filled in the first two rounds, holding out for a different SOAP program is high-risk gambling.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest violation is contacting programs before they contact you. This includes phone calls, emails, social media messages, and any communication from people acting on your behalf. Violations can result in SOAP disqualification.
Document errors create preventable failures: not updating your ERAS application before Match Week, having only specialty-specific letters, personal statements with errors, missing transcripts, and outdated contact information all undermine strong applications.
Strategic errors waste applications: only applying to your original specialty despite weak credentials for it, limiting applications geographically without compelling reasons, and targeting only prestigious academic programs all reduce your odds.
Technical failures are inexcusable: a dead phone, poor internet, unprofessional voicemail, or being in a noisy environment when programs call can cost you interviews.
Finally, manage your emotional reactions. Avoid panic-applying randomly, comparing yourself to matched peers on social media, isolating yourself, or making impulsive decisions under pressure. Identify a support person beforehand who can help monitor communications and keep you grounded.
Understanding the Numbers
Context helps manage expectations. In 2025, the Match included 43,237 positions with a 94.3% fill rate through the algorithm. SOAP added 2,521 positions, with 92% filling across four rounds.
Match rates vary by applicant type. U.S. MD seniors matched at 93.5%, U.S. DO seniors at 92.6%, U.S. IMGs at 67.8%, and non-U.S. IMGs at 58.0%. IMGs comprise about 65% of SOAP participants despite representing a smaller share of overall applicants.
The key takeaway: SOAP works. Positions fill. Applicants who prepare thoroughly and execute strategically secure spots.
Key Resources
The NRMP publishes the official SOAP Guide for Applicants annually at nrmp.org, along with Match calendars and data reports. The AAMC provides ERAS SOAP information and checklists at students-residents.aamc.org. FREIDA, the AMA's residency database at freida.ama-assn.org, helps with program research.
For 2026, Match Week runs March 16-20, with SOAP beginning Monday, March 16, at 10:00 AM ET and Match Day on Friday, March 20.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for SOAP residency isn't admitting defeat—it's being strategically smart about one of the most important processes in your medical career. The applicants who succeed in the SOAP residency match aren't always those with the strongest applications on paper. They're the ones who prepared documents early, researched programs thoroughly, responded to contacts immediately, and accepted reasonable offers without hesitation.
The 91.9% fill rate in SOAP proves that second chances are real. With the right preparation, yours can be too.
If you're looking for personalized guidance through the Match process—whether you're preparing proactively or navigating SOAP in real time—MedBoardTutors offers Residency Match Support to help you put your strongest application forward.