Every year thousands of medical students apply for and compete in the match for limited post graduation training spots. Each Year many talented students, both American Medical Students and International Medical Students go unmatched partly due to the unfair NRMP system. Until more residency spots open up there needs to be a fair system of interviewing candidates.

Two Problems exist:

1) Students get a lot of interviews, 30+, which is more than they need to match as per NRMP match statistics and some students don't get any interviews at all.

2) Students don't inform the places well in advance to cancel the interviews which they won't be attending. Most candidates would like to attend all interviews but for the few that cannot attend all interviews, it seems unfair to the rest of the applicants and is disrespectful to the programs that they do not show up for the interview without any notice. These interview slots can be given to other students that truly want a shot at that specific residency.

Solution:

Problem 1: NRMP needs to put a limit to the number of interviews that any student can hold at one time.

There should be a standard platform through which all interviews are scheduled and no-one should be allowed to schedule more than 16 interviews. Even if a student gets invited to more than 16 places, they should cancel one to accept a new interview totaling 16 interviews at all times during the main residency match.

Problem 2: NRMP can warn students that purposefully not showing up at multiple interviews is unprofessional and they need to consider regulating the interview no-shows so there is equality for all.

Exceptions for missing interviews can be made for unforeseen circumstances such as: natural disaster, flight cancelation, health injury/accident and circumstances out of their control. Regulation through NRMP of interviewee absenteeism will promote an impartial and fair process for all applicants.

For more information about the match please visit: http://www.nrmp.org

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Please support this petition to make the match more fair for all.

Contact NRMP regarding this issue:

NRMP Help Desk:
support@nrmp.org
Toll-free: 866-653-NRMP (6767),
Local: 202-400-2233

NRMP Policy:
investigations@nrmp.org
202-400-2235

Media:
media@nrmp.org
202-499-5987