Navigating SOAP: Strategies for Obstetrics & Gynecology Applicants and Advisors ��Maya Hammoud, Erika Banks, Karen George, Mark Hiraoka, Shireen Madani Sims, David Marzano��February 5, 2025

Disclosures

• Maya Hammoud and David Marzano are paid investigators on the AMA RRR Grant

Objectives

• Analyze the trends in obstetrics and gynecology residency applications and Match outcomes, focusing on the increasingly competitive landscape for applicants.
• Address common questions related to parallel/dual planning and applying during the SOAP process with the ResidencyCAS system.
• Utilize a step-by-step guide in assisting unmatched students during SOAP week.

Residency Applicants to OBGYN

https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/data/eras-statistics-data

How did OBGYN do in Match 2024?

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Positions Unfilled % Filled % Filled #Programs Offered Programs MD Seniors DO Seniors %Total Filled

OBGYN 291 (283) 1,539 (1,503) 3 (3) 71.7% (73.3%) 18.9% (16.6%) 99.6% (99.7%)

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019

Unfilled Positions 6 4 4 3 3 3

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https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/

What does this mean for Match 2025?

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/

Matched vs. Unmatched

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/

Probability of Matching

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/

Matched vs. Unmatched

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/

Changing Priorities in Residency Programs

• Program directors' criteria have evolved to include non-traditional metrics
• Role of holistic review in selecting applicants
• Role of program signaling
• More challenging to advise applicants
• More challenging to predict who will not get interviews and who will not match

Residency Applicants Risk of Not Matching

• Less competitive applicants identifiable as they are applying- already dual applied
• Average or strong applicants with limited number of interviews
• ”Surprise” applicants on Match day

ResidencyCAS vs ERAS Application

What is SOAP

• The Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) is the process for offering positions that are unfilled after the matching algorithm has been processed to eligible unmatched and partially matched applicants. It is managed by the NRMP. Students may apply to SOAP through ERAS, Central App, or ResidencyCAS

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• The Rank Order List Certification Deadline and the deadline for applicants to register for the Match and SOAP:

Wednesday, March 5 at 9:00 pm ET

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https://www.nrmp.org/about/news/2025/01/2025-soap-guides-for-residency-programs-and-applicants/

SOAP for OBGYN Applicants

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Overall Timeline for SOAP for OBGYN Applicants

• Now:
• Distribute ERAS tokens to all OBGYN applicants who do not already have one
• Pre-Match:
• For high-risk students (i.e. students with low number of interviews, who do not interview well, or with red flags in their application)
• Fill out ERAS application
• Upload MSPE and transcript
• Request USMLE/COMLEX scores
• Consider uploading LORs

SOAP WEEK

• Monday, March 17
• 10:00 a.m. Applicants learn if they matched, and SOAP-eligible applicants have access to the List of Unfilled Programs in the NRMP R3 system

Programs learn if they filled

• 11:00 a.m. SOAP applicants can start preparing and sending applications via the application designated by the program
• Tuesday, March 18
• 8:00 a.m. Programs can begin viewing SOAP applications and can contact/interview applicants upon receipt of an application
• 11:30 a.m. Programs can begin creating preference lists in the NRMP’s R3 system

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SOAP WEEK

Applying to SOAP Through ResidencyCAS

Applying to SOAP Through ResidencyCAS

• Applying to programs similar to the regular cycle
• Only SOAP eligible programs appear
• May apply up to 45 programs
• No additional cost to applicants already in ResidencyCAS
• May upload new letters (not required)

Applying to SOAP Through ERAS

• Applying to programs similar to the regular cycle
• Cost $99 for new applicants who do not have ERAS applications
• May apply up to 45 programs (in addition to the programs applied to in ResidencyCAS if applicable)
• Download PDF of ResidencyCAS (preferable turn it into Word for easy copy and paste to ERAS)
• Dean’s office upload MSPE and transcript
• USMLE/COMLEX through respective organizations
• LORs maybe be utilized from ResidencyCAS or new ones requested

LOR Process for EXISTING letters in ResidencyCAS

• Applicants enter LOR request in MyERAS and generate the letter request form (same as regular season)
• The applicant will then download and share or email the letter request form with their advisor who has access to Medical School Portal
• Advisors creates a LORP account (if they don’t already have one)
• Advisors can upload the PDF letter that was downloaded from ResidencyCAS

Assisting Unmatched Students During SOAP Week

• Step-by-Step Guide is provided to assist with SOAP: https://help.liaisonedu.com/ResidencyCAS_Applicant_Help_Center/SOAP
• Students may apply to SOAP both through ResidencyCAS and ERAS simultaneously if they wish to continue to apply to OBGYN and other specialties. Each application allows up to 45 programs independently
• NRMP Listserv will be available for help with representation from ResidencyCAS

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FAQs

• Do I have to pay for USMLE/COMLEX transcripts requests in ERAS if I already paid through ResidencyCAS?
• If I am not able to SOAP into an OBGYN program this year and I plan to apply again next year, does it matter what position I start or what prelim position I take this year?
• Do I need new letters of recommendations if I want to SOAP into OBGYN? Into other specialties?

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