I've been through the same situation. Stacking is definitely an option, but no guarantee since the grad application process can be so seemingly random. If you manage to find out where you've been accepted before your partner goes on interviews, s/he can then hint during the interviews that s/he would be committed to ranking that program first,etc. As I understand it, it's not possible for a residency program to say yes or no during an interview, but if the applicant can make a strong case that they'd move to that location (i.e. my partner has been accepted to a phd program here) it can help. Unfortunately, most grad programs don't hand out acceptances/ rejections until after the residency match day in March, thus it is long after residency interviews take place in December/January. Another option is to try to get your applications in early in the hopes that your chosen programs don't wait until the very end to assess applicants. Unfortunately there's not really any good method to deal with the match. Make your applications as strong as possible so that you have a better chance of being accepted wherever your partner matches. Worst case scenario, apply again the following year after you know where your partner has matched.