The optimal solution of the NRMP match algorithm is deceptively simple, but its implication for the lives of applicants is anything but simple.
Three years ago, my then-girlfriend and I sat down and parsed through what would become the most important determinant of our lives moving forward.
Because we attended different medical schools, we carried on a long distance relationship for five years. The NRMP match was more than just a residency choice. It was also a solution that could finally close our distance and take the relationship forward again.
The ranked list seemed like the most difficult decision we had to make. There were so many variables, each with differing levels of importance.
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Envision a mouse trying to solve a maze for a piece of cheese, and he has to decide which way to turn at the first cross-section. He takes a look at the three possible routes, thinks for a bit, then turns a sharp left and ran. In a complex labyrinth, the mouse would most likely reach a dead-end by blind guessing.