Match Day is a pivotal occasion for all fourth-year medical students in the United States. Held every March, it marks the culmination of their educational and clinical journeys and determines the future of their careers in the field. 

So, when is Match Day, and what exactly does it entail? Continue reading below as we delve into the must-know information about Match Day 2025. 

When is Match Day?

Match Day is always the third Friday of March. This year, residency Match Day is Friday, March 21st, 2025. 

At 12 p.m. Eastern time, applicants’ Match results are available by sealed envelope and email, and many schools will host dedicated ceremonies at this time to celebrate the momentous occasion. 

It’s important to note that applicants will learn if they are matched to a program prior to this day by receiving an email on March 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern time. 

What Happens on Match Day?

After earning their M.D. or D.O., medical school graduates must still complete a certain amount of hands-on training before they can work independently. On Match Day, medical students learn the specialty they’ve been assigned to and where they will complete their residency following graduation.

This means the type of medicine these students will practice, the patients they will see, salary expectations, and the work-life balance they can expect throughout their careers as a medical doctor are all dictated by their Match Day assignments. 

Hence, Match Day can be a nerve-wracking experience for med students, even after they have already completed the rigorous coursework to earn their undergraduate and medical school degrees. 

What Happens if You Don’t Match?

If students learn that they are unmatched on March 17, they may enter into the Supplement Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time later that day. 

At this time, they can view the List of Unfilled Programs that they are eligible for and begin preparing applications. Throughout the week, unfilled programs will review applications, conduct interviews, and extend offers to SOAP-eligible applicants. In total, there are four rounds of offers, with SOAP ultimately ending at 9 p.m. Eastern time on March 20.

Those who are SOAP-ineligible can apply to and accept offers from programs that do not participate in the Matching program starting March 18. 

Match Day – By the Numbers

What’s the likelihood of getting a Match? According to 2024 figures, 92.3% of graduates from U.S.-based osteopathic medical schools and 93.5% from allopathic medical schools matched with a residency program. 

In total, the program received more than 50,000 registered applicants in 2024 and offered residency positions to 41,403. This was a record high number of offers, up 1,028 from the previous year. 

According to International Medical Aid, some of the most competitive residency programs in the United States include: 

• Dermatology

• Orthopedic surgery

• Plastic surgery

• Otolaryngology

• Thoracic surgery

 

On the other hand, some of the least competitive programs include: 

• Family medicine

• Internal medicine

• Pediatrics

• Psychiatry

• Emergency medicine