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Specialties Matching Service (SMS)

Couples

When two individuals are registered for the same Specialties Matching Service Match, they may participate in that Match as a couple. Each partner of a couple enrolls individually in that SMS Match and indicates in the NRMP's secure, web-based Registration, Ranking, and ResultsSM (R3SM) system that they want to participate as a couple. The NRMP allows couples to form pairs of choices on their rank order lists, which then are considered in rank order in the SMS Match. The couple will match to the most preferred pair of programs on their rank order lists where each partner has been offered a position.

Couples can be matched into a combination of programs suited to their personal needs. In creating pairs of programs, couples can mix subspecialties (if the fellowship match in question contains more than one subspecialty) and geographic locations. The partners can be matched into positions in the same institution or in different institutions. Examples are shown below.

Couples Rank Order List

Each partner must have the same number of ranks. Each program ranked must be paired with an active program or by an indication of "No Match" (NRMP Program Code = 888888888) by the other partner, which means that one partner is willing to go unmatched if the other matches to a position in the program designated at that rank.

If one partner wishes to withdraw from the SMS Match, BOTH partners must uncouple before either can withdraw. The remaining partner should adjust his or her rank order list accordingly and must recertify it before it can be used in the Specialties Matching Service.

Note: Partners listed as a couple are treated by the Matching algorithm solely as a couple. If they do not obtain a match as a couple, the system will not run their lists separately to find a possible match for each individual.

Couples are encouraged to complete couples worksheets (PDF, 2 pages) before entering choices in R3.

Example: Couple's Rank Order List of Paired Programs
Read the instructions and example below before planning the worksheet.

Special procedures are necessary to match couples to positions. The SMS Matches allow couples to form pairs of choices that are considered in rank order in the Match. Each partner's side of the list must have an equal number of ranks. Both members of the couple must be active applicants in the Match.

Step 1

Each partner should first arrange an individual preference list on separate sheets of paper. In the example, the letters refer to a specific program in a particular hospital in that city.

Partner I

1) New York City - A
2) Chicago - A
3) Evanston - B
4) Los Angeles - A
5) New York City - B

Partner II

1) Chicago - X
2) Chicago - Y
3) Boston - X
4) Chicago - Z
5) New York City - X
6) New York City - Y

Step 2

Next, both partners must decide together how to prepare their lists as pairs of programs. For example, they could consider all the possible pairings where the hospital programs are in the same general location, as indicated in the list below. In some cases one rank in the pair may be designated "No Match" to indicate that one partner is willing to go unmatched if the other is matched to a position. Note that the list below is not necessarily in the order that will eventually be submitted.

Partner I

New York City - A
New York City - A
Chicago - A
Chicago -A
Chicago -A
Evanston -B
Evanston -B
Evanston -B
New York City -B
New York City -B
New York City -A
Chicago -A
Evanston - B
Los Angeles -A
New York City -B
No Match
No Match
No Match
No Match
No Match

Partner II

New York City -X
New York City -Y
Chicago -X
Chicago -Y
Chicago -Z
Chicago -X
Chicago -Y
Chicago -Z
New York City -X
New York City -Y
No Match
No Match
No Match
No Match
No Match
Chicago - X
Chicago -Y
Boston -X
Chicago -Z
New York City -X

Step 3

Now both partners decide the order in which these pairs are preferred. They might have a final Couples Rank Order List of Paired Programs that looks like this:

Partner I

1) Chicago -A*
2) Chicago -A*
3) Chicago -A*
4) Evanston -B
5) Evanston -B
6) Evanston -B
7) New York City -A*
8) New York City -A*
9) New York City -B*
10) New York City -B*
11) New York City -A*
12) No Match
13) No Match
14) Chicago -A
15) No Match
16) Evanston -B
17) No Match
18) Los Angeles -A
19) No Match
20) New York City -B*

Partner II

1) Chicago -X
2) Chicago -Y* Match
3) Chicago -Z
4) Chicago -X
5) Chicago -Y*
6) Chicago -Z
7) New York City -X*
8) New York City -Y
9) New York City -X*
10) New York City -Y
11) No Match
12) Chicago -X
13) Chicago -Y*
14) No Match
15) Boston -X
16) No Match
17) Chicago -Z
18) No Match
19) New York City -X*
20) No Match

The couple will match to the most preferred pair on their list where each partner has been offered a position. [Note: choices 11 through 20 indicate that one partner is willing to go unmatched if the other is matched to a position.]

If Partner I has offers from Chicago-A, New York City-A, and New York City-B, and Partner II has offers from Chicago-Y and New York City-X, then this couple will match to the pair of programs that were ranked second. If the Chicago programs had not accepted both partners, their match would have been their seventh pair in New York City.

Summary of Guidelines for the Preparation of Applicant Rank Order Lists
Applicants are advised to include on their rank order lists only those programs that represent their true preferences.

  • Programs should be ranked in sequence, according to the applicant's true preferences.
  • Factors to consider in determining the number of programs to rank include the competitiveness of the specialty, the competition for the specific programs being ranked, and the applicant's qualifications. In most instances, the issue is not the actual number of programs being ranked but rather whether to add one or more additional programs to the list in order to reduce the likelihood of being unmatched.
  • Applicants are advised to rank all programs deemed acceptable, i.e., programs where they would be happy to undertake fellowship training. (See Impact of Length of Rank Order Lists). Conversely, if an applicant finds certain programs unacceptable and is not interested in accepting offers from those programs, the program(s) should not be included on the applicant's rank order list.
  • It is highly unlikely that either applicants or programs will be able to influence the outcome of the Match in their favor by submitting a list that differs from their true preferences.

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Updated 02/07/2012

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