In this video, I break down my full-level SOAP Success System for Match 2026 so you’re not guessing during the most chaotic week of the year. I walk you through the four phases: pre-SOAP prep, the March 16 application phase inside the NRMP R3 system, the March 17–18 interview phase, and the March 19 offer rounds (four rounds, about two hours each, ending around 9 PM ET—then scramble starts). I also show you what the SOAP-eligible status screens look like (unmatched vs partially matched) and how offers show up as pending/accepted/rejected/expired in R3. Then I get tactical: SOAP rules (do NOT contact programs—risking a 5-year ban), what you can and can’t change in ERAS (new personal statements, limited LOR reassignment rules, contact info updates), and what actually moves the needle in SOAP. My opinion is simple: interview skills matter most because they’re the hardest thing to fake, and SOAP interviews are short—10–15 minutes, usually by phone—so your answers need to be under 60 seconds. Finally, I give you my strategy for the 45-application limit: front-load all 45 on day one, hedge specialties intelligently (FM tends to have more SOAP opportunity than IM), prioritize programs with more unfilled spots, and consider prelim/transitional years if you’re trying to get back to your dream specialty.