After 4 Years of Med School, Student Devastated to Open Email Revealing She Didn't Match Into Any Residencies (Exclusive)

03/21/2025 04:00 AM

Alicia Chen, 27, applied only for residencies in orthopedic surgery, which she says is one of the more competitive programs

• Monday, March 17 was national match day, when final-year medical students around the country received an email notifying them whether or not they were accepted into a residency. Alicia Chen was among those who received bad news.
• After four years studying at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico, the 27-year-old didn't match into any of the four orthopedic surgical residency programs for which she interviewed.
• Chen took to TikTok to make an honest video discussing her disappointment and unwavering determination to become a doctor, despite the unfavorable results of this match cycle.

For most of the world, this week is just another set of days on the brink of spring. But all around the country, the next generation of doctors has been spending the past few days anxious to learn what awaits them after finishing medical school.

Monday, March 17 was the first day of what's known as "match week," a pivotal time of year when final-year medical students find out if they've been chosen to start a residency program this year. They spent the past few months in rounds of interviews with hospitals, and they ranked their top choices hoping they'll nab the job of their dreams.

For those who opened a congratulatory email notifying them, "You have matched!" the wait continues until Friday, when the National Resident Matching Program announces where they were placed. On the other side of the celebrations, those who did not match at all have spent this week processing and brainstorming ways to find work in the next few months.

Alicia Chen, 27, was among the disappointed email recipients on March 17. During her studies at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico, Chen started posting more on social media. But while she has "med student" in her TikTok bio, she tells PEOPLE she didn't really intend to document her journey to become a doctor.

@aliciarchen

Breaking down the match process #matchday#medtok

♬ original sound - aliciarchen

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"I wanted to post fun videos of outfits I got and silly things like that, just because those were things that I enjoyed," says Chen. "But I also knew that match [day] was coming up, and I was like, 'You know what? This could be a really big moment to share because even though I enjoy all these other activities, being a medical student is also like a part of who I am.'"

She was determined to post about her results, be they positive or negative, because of her own experience seeing doctors-to-be open emails in videos from years past. "I remember watching them like every year. Usually, everyone posts their big result day, and it's super exciting and such a great time," says Chen.

Unfortunately, her own post didn't show that ideal, gleeful reaction. "So today was the day that everyone found out if they matched or not, and I unfortunately did not match today," she began in the three-minute video.

Chen continued to voice her hope that future and current students in the same position will watch her honest explanation and "not feel so alone" on the other side of unfavorable match day results.

"Of course, today was a lot of ups and downs, a lot of emotions and just overall really difficult to process. And that's how the rest of the weekend, probably the rest of the school year is gonna feel," she told her followers. "Because It's honestly kind of just one of the worst feelings to feel ... All these four years that you work so hard for, at the end of the tunnel, you actually don't have a job."

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Speaking to PEOPLE, Chen explains that she applied for an orthopedic surgery residency, which she says is generally one of the more competitive specialties. There's an option to apply for more than one type of program, but she was certain this was the only type of medicine she wanted to pursue.

"I wanted to do this after being involved in track and field in high school. When I went to college I was like, 'I'm just going to full send it. I want to be a doctor,'" she explains. "I think a doctor that works with athletes and helping people be mobile would be the best kind."

During her final year of medical school, the Arizona native nabbed residency interviews at four hospitals: Inspira in New Jersey, Larkin in Florida, SUNY Downstate and Northwell, the latter two being in New York state.

After "auditioning" out on Long Island, Northwell became her top pick. Chen explains how the auditioning process gives fourth-year students the chance to ingratiate themselves to residency heads in what she describes as a "month-long interview." She auditioned at a total of six hospitals.

"You're trying to impress the program, get the answers right, work with the residents and take calls," she says of the process. During her time spent away on auditions, Chen made friends outside of her own medical school program, some of whom also got bad news this past Monday.

"Of course, the majority of people do match. That is way more common than not matching, but I do know some people that don't match," she shares. Chen admits that she was aware that a poor outcome was "a real possibility," and she was already "geared up" to sort out a plan B before the email arrived.

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There's still a chance she could be placed into a program through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), which offers interviews to unmatched candidates for unfilled residency spots. Chen says she's hoping she might even get her into Northwell after all.

If SOAP doesn't pan out in her favor, then Chen will start exploring doing a research year before she applies to another match cycle. She hasn't solidified anything yet, but she is certain the alternative will only be a brief detour on her route to a career in orthopedic surgery.

"A lot of people I've met along the way don't necessarily match their first round," says Chen. "I don't have any doubt. I still want to go through this process, even though it takes me an extra year."