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Reverting Unfilled Positions Within the Matching Process

In some cases a program may submit a Rank Order List of applicants with the intention of filling its position(s) in the matching process, but the program may not ultimately be successful in filling all the positions. In this situation, the program may wish to move the unfilled position(s) to another related or affiliated program where the position(s) may be able to be filled, in order to increase the likelihood of filling all available positions. The decision to move the position from one program to another depends on whether or not the attempt to fill the position in the original program is successful. To address this situation, a mechanism is available within the matching process to move one or more positions that remain unfilled from one Rank Order List to a second Rank Order List, so that an attempt can be made to fill the available position(s) with applicants on the second list. This is referred to as "reverting" unfilled positions from one list (the "donor") to another (the "receiver").

Please note that reverting an unfilled position within the matching process is different from deciding before the Rank Order List deadline to move a position from one program to another. For example, an organization offering multiple programs in the Match may decide, in advance of the Rank Order List deadline, to move a position from one program (e.g., because it has an insufficient number of acceptable applicants) to another program (which has many acceptable applicants). In this case, no attempt will be made to fill that position in the original program. Program directors can adjust the number of positions to be offered by each program in the Match at any time prior to the Rank Order List deadline using the web-based Rank Order List Input and Confirmation (ROLIC) system when it is accessible, or by sending a request in writing to NMS before the ROLIC system is accessible. The option to revert an unfilled position within the matching process should be used only when the final decision to move the position from one program to another cannot be made in advance of the Rank Order List deadline, but depends on whether or not the position is filled in the original (donor) program within the matching process.

Any type of program can revert unfilled positions to any other type of program. Some situations where reversions of unfilled positions within the matching process might be used are described below:

Rules For Reverting Unfilled Positions Between Lists

Requesting the Reversion of Unfilled Positions

To request the reversion of unfilled positions within the matching process, a program must provide written instructions to NMS (not through the ROLIC system). The request for a reversion must be submitted by the program that wishes to transfer some or all of its unfilled positions to another program - i.e. the Donor Program.


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