Re: About Prematch
adonis123 - 06-25-10 02:01



When a program offers an applicant a contract outside the regular match, it is called a Pre-match.
One can only prematch if one is not a 4th year US allopathic medical student. This would include all IMG's, all DO's, and all graduated MD's.

It works as follows :

1. You apply for programs just like everyone else.

2. Programs review applications and offer interviews.

3. Sometime after the interview, if you qualify for a prematch, a program may offer you a contract outside the match. You can accept and sign it, or not.

4. If you accept the spot, you are supposed to stop looking for another one. Chances are, the contract you will sign will state this explicitly. Some people do continue looking for another spot, hoping to find something better, and planning on resigning from their 1st spot.

5. Benefits: You know earlier where you are going, so you get to make plans. If you need a visa, this gives you and the program more time to arrange your visa. If you prematch into an early interview spot, you might save a bunch of dollars. Prematching is very handy when you get an offer from your #1 or if you are very geographically or otherwise limited.

6. Downsides: You take a "sure thing" but will never know if you might get something better. If a program early on your interview trail offers you a spot, you might never get a chance to see other programs (as most of these offers have a very short timeframe for making up your mind).

7. Programs can prematch all of their spots, none of their spots, or any number in between. However, programs must finalize the number of spots in their match by Jan 31, so most prematch offers stop then (except in programs that prematch all of their spots). Programs that offer all prematches tend to interview earlier. Also, they tend to offer spots on a rolling basis -- once they have filled all their spots, they simply contact candidates and tell them that all future interviews are cancelled.

8. In general, more competitive programs / fields fill via the match, and less competitive ones via prematches.

9. If you accept a prematch, you must withdraw from the match. Not doing so is a match violation, and puts your entire future at risk.

10. The match is binding legally. Verbal prematches are not. If a program offers you a prematch, it should be in writing or you really have nothing.

I hope it is helpful.
Good Luck.