A few of my residency applicants have already been given pre-Match offers. Can anything be done to alleviate the time pressure often associated with these early acceptances?

First of all, I’m always impressed with pre-Match offers that do not require a rapidly-forced reply from the applicant. Better programs have the confidence to afford their applicants some time to think.

If you are made a pre-Match offer, there is no down side to requesting more time to make your decision. If the program says no, nothing is lost and if they say yes, you have a bit more time to think or interview at other institutions.

I’ve had applicants ask me if they should accept a pre-Match offer or take their chances with the Match. Of course, there’s no simple answer. Factors to consider include the strength of an applicant’s candidacy, the quality of the program and the applicant’s risk tolerance.