DOs share their top Match tips from the past year

As Match season 2025 wraps up this year on March 21, students and DOs who are participating in this year’s National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match are anxiously awaiting to find out which programs they have matched into. The NRMP uses a computerized mathematical algorithm to place applicants into residency and fellowship programs; the algorithm is based on both the applicants’ and programs’ preferences.

At the same time, medical students begin positioning themselves to match years in advance of Match Day, meaning second-, third- and even first-year students also have the match, and preparing for it, on their minds.

Below, The DO has collected our top tips and advice from the past year on all things Match. Read on for insights on handling interviews, audition rotations and unexpected free time.

On signaling: “Signaling provides applicants with the opportunity to express genuine interest in programs at the time of application. For specialties and programs using signaling, it is accessible to all applicants at no additional cost.”

—Melissa Turner, MS (How signaling is shaping the 2024-2025 Match season)

On mentioning personal topics during interviews: “Emily Schnurr, DO, shares that there was an applicant who had a child during her last semester of medical school, which led her to take time off. She adds that the applicant’s medical training before this happened was fine. She states that ‘it is just as important to respond to life events in an appropriate way, such as the birth of a child, medical illness, death in the family or significant events such as tornadoes … I want to support folks who have had obstacles that made their path to residency less than smooth.’”

—Stephanie Lee, DO (How to soften red flags on your ERAS application)

“I was very transparent and spoke about my journey with homelessness, failures and an accident my son experienced, which influenced my career goals. During interviews, residents appreciated how genuine I was in my answers. It was easier to form genuine relationships with the residents I interviewed with.”

—Megan Fedeli, DO (How these DOs matched into their top-choice programs)

On having confidence in your skills: “My biggest tip for interviewing is to be confident in your CV. Anything on it is fair game for discussion, and every experience is valuable if you can articulate what you gained from it. Take the time to understand how each experience contributed to your medical career, so when you’re asked about it, you can convey your passion for the things you’ve pursued. Beyond that, just be yourself and take pride in how far you’ve come!”

—Tristan Hazebrook, DO (Residency interview tips from faculty and newly matched DOs)

On “batching” applications to audition rotations: “Space out your application request dates for your top-choice programs and try to ‘batch’ the number of programs you apply to. You can apply to four to five auditions and request dates that do not overlap, wait four to six weeks and then send out another ‘batch’ based on responses or lack of response.”

—Miko Rose, DO, and Jane Dalisay, DO (Strategies for planning audition rotations)

On how residency applicants can land interviews: “The biggest thing is gold signaling. In diagnostic radiology, applicants can send gold signals to their most-preferred programs. This will get our attention. It is hard to filter through hundreds of applications, but this will instantly grab my attention.”

—Kevin Carter, DO (Diagnostic radiology program director shares his best Match tips)

On assessing whether a program is a good fit: “The most important thing to remember is that interviews are just as much for you to get to know the programs as they are for the programs to get to know you. This is a place where you’ll spend a significant amount of time over the next few years. In addition to weighing the program’s strengths, consider how you would fit in at that institution. The ideal program is one where you can comfortably be yourself while still receiving exceptional training.”

—Tristan Hazebrook, DO (Residency interview tips from faculty and newly matched DOs)

On treasuring your free time just before Match Day: “Take a few moments, even right now, to practice the art of taking a few moments to just breathe—and do nothing. Savor this gift of time. There will be very few times in your life in medicine where you won’t have anything you need to do to work toward the next phase of your career. This is one of those coveted times—enjoy it and have fun!”

—Miko Rose, DO (From chaos to simplicity: The waiting game before Match Day)

On following up with programs when setting up audition rotations: “As long as the programs do not state on their websites “do not contact us except through ERAS or VSAS/VSLO,” you can contact the program coordinator and follow up. Let them know you remain very interested and why you chose their program. Ask if they have any updates regarding your application.”

—Miko Rose, DO, and Jane Dalisay, DO (Strategies for planning audition rotations)

On the relationship between grades and clinical skills: “There is some correlation between knowledge and practice, but it’s not the whole picture. Some people have challenges with test-taking due to anxiety and learning disabilities. We see people who have strong clinical skills, yet do not score well on tests due to different challenges. When they have a patient in front of them, they are making good clinical decisions.

“Soft skills are very important in practicing medicine because patients will feel more comfortable sharing history and trusting you. You cannot diagnose someone as easily if they don’t trust you or you don’t understand them.”

— Beth Vitucci, DO (How to soften red flags on your ERAS application)

On applying to competitive specialties: “Look for programs with a track record of accepting DO candidates. Osteopathic students tend to be more well-rounded and clinically based. Emphasize these factors in your interview. Also, look at the program’s mission and see what they are about and how you can make connections to yourself and your application.”

—Suzanne Sirota Rozenberg, DO (A DO dermatology program director shares tips & advice for acing the Match process)

For more Match advice, tips and stories, visit The DO’s “Meet Your Match” column here.

Related reading:

From chaos to simplicity: The waiting game before Match Day

Audition rotations: Tips for planning them