“RTM Calls” and Advice to Future Applicants

Some residency programs are known to communicate with applicants following their rank list meeting and inform the highest ranked applicants (for example, the top 3 ranked applicants on a program  that has 3 NRMP positions) to let them know that the program really wants to match with them. This is allowed under current NRMP rules as long as the program does not inquire about how it will be ranked by the applicant. This is also known as the “Ranked to Match” (RTM call). It is a relief to applicants receiving this type of notification that they are going to match into the specialty, regardless of where the applicant places the program on their match list. However, this information may convince applicants to change the order of their match list, placing the program providing the RTM higher or even number 1 on their match list because the program has indicated such strong interest (“They really want me to go there because they called and told me.”).  While it is wonderful to learn that one or more programs have listed the applicant as RTM before match day, it can result in “match regret” following the match with the now matched applicant wondering if the right decision was made, because competing programs that the applicant also liked may have also listed the same applicant as RTM on their list but did not make the call. The best advice is for applicants to rank programs with the most desirable programs listed first, regardless of RTM calls that may have been received.