Perhaps the most exciting and nerve-wracking time in medical school is the MATCH. After years of hard work and sacrifice, the time has finally come to go through the application and interview process all over again, just as for medical school. However, this time is much more exciting. This time,...

This blog was originally published on August 23rd, 2025 by Alina Khil, MD and has been updated by Elite Medical Prep in January, 2026.  NRMP Match Algorithm Explained A medical school graduate’s first job is determined by a computer algorithm called “The Match.” What does it mean to match into residency, and how does residency matching work? Just like for medical school, applicants submit an...

Take a deep breath. If you’ve found yourself here, then you are considering preparing for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP and you probably already know what the SOAP is and what the SOAP process entails. In this post, we will review how to prepare your application for...

Although the recent USMLE switch to pass/fail scoring for Step 1 has been regarded as a largely positive change for most students, some of you may be wondering how this change will affect the overall appearance of your residency application. There are several key components to building a stand-out application...

So, what do residents do when they need to switch programs or specialties for personal reasons? Fortunately, systems and businesses exist to help residents make that transition. 

The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP, is the process by which unmatched or partially matched medical students can apply for residency matching spots left unfilled following the NRMP match. SOAPing is the dreaded outcome of the match. I will never forget the grief and anxiety I felt after...

You hit submit on your ERAS application and realize you’re finally a post-ERAS M4 – nothing can hurt you now.  That is, until the residency interview invitations start to roll in (sometimes just 24 hours later!). So, what questions do they ask in a residency interview anyway? And how can...

Dual degree medical programs, such as Physician-Scientist programs, offer ambitious and curious students the opportunity to become leaders and experts in a particular field of study that is related to healthcare.

Ah Neurology, a field chock full of doctors who chart strange new medical territories, compulsively open black boxes, and get excited about the weirdest and coolest science they can find. 

The NRMP Program directors survey “at a glance” tool is extremely helpful in gauging where your application packet stands compared to the applicant pool. Here are the major components to consider when applying into Thoracic Surgery.