SOAP Offer Rounds: Schedule, Responses, and Binding Commitments

Updated October 6, 2026 · Guidance for SOAP 2027 · All schedule times are Eastern Time (ET).

SOAP offer rounds are the formal decision stage of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program. Programs create preference lists, and offers are issued through NRMP’s R3 system. Applicants review the available offers and respond within the round’s deadline; they do not submit SOAP preference lists.^[4]

This fourth article in the series explains the 2027 timetable, the meaning of acceptance, and how to prepare for more than one possible outcome.

The 2027 offer-round schedule

All four rounds take place Thursday, March 18. The fourth round begins at 6 PM and closes at 8 PM ET. SOAP itself ends at 9 PM ET, after the final offer window.^[1]

These are fixed response windows. Do not calculate a new two-hour deadline from the time you happen to read an email. Open R3 at the beginning of each round and check the deadline shown there.

Review the position before responding

Compare the program, track, start year, and training type with your needs. Review the appointment conditions and clarify material uncertainties with a program that has already initiated contact. For an IMG, documentation and sponsorship compatibility require particular attention.

Prepare these criteria before Thursday. A preliminary position, an advanced position, and a categorical position do not provide the same course of training. Do not assume that accepting a one-year appointment guarantees entry into a categorical program later.

Acceptance creates a binding commitment

Accepting a SOAP offer creates a binding commitment to enter training. A program and applicant cannot simply agree between themselves to release that commitment; NRMP’s waiver process governs any release. Review the current agreement before making a decision.^[3]

Confirm that R3 records the acceptance. Save the program details and follow its onboarding instructions. An encouraging telephone conversation is not a substitute for an offer and acceptance in R3.

Multiple offers and complementary training

Acceptance affects other concurrent-year offers. Applicants who still lack a full course of training may remain eligible to seek a complementary position in later rounds. It is therefore inaccurate to say that every acceptance automatically ends all SOAP participation. Follow the eligibility and offer status displayed in R3 for your circumstances.^[4]

Rejection, expiration, and later rounds

A rejected or expired offer will not be extended to the same applicant again in a later SOAP round. Declining an available position therefore requires accepting the possibility that another suitable offer may not arrive.^[4]

No offer in one round does not rule out an offer in a subsequent round. Continue checking R3 and remain reachable. Applications already submitted remain available for program consideration; additional eligible applications may be submitted only within the applicable service’s unused allowance.^[5]

Do not confuse an offer round with a fresh application period or a new set of applications. Review the updated list and the service’s instructions before taking further action.

After the final round

The fourth response window closes at 8 PM on March 18. At 9 PM ET, SOAP ends and the expanded R3 list becomes available to eligible unmatched and partially matched applicants, including remaining programs that did not participate in SOAP. Applicants may then contact remaining unfilled programs, subject to existing commitments and appointment eligibility.^[1]

The post-SOAP planning guide explains how to assess vacancies and review the next application cycle without assuming that a position will be available.

Official sources

1. 2027 Match Week and SOAP calendar
2. NRMP SOAP eligibility and applicant resources
3. NRMP professional behavior and binding commitments
4. NRMP guide: viewing and responding to offers
5. NRMP guidance on applications between rounds

IMGPrep is an independent educational consultancy and is not affiliated with NRMP. Follow the current NRMP agreement, R3 instructions, and your application service’s guidance.