2021 match prediction, IMG

[forthkind44]

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I am seeing all these posts about the current match process which makes me excited already for mine next year. (also very nervous ...)
I would like to see my odds of getting matched at any kind of program next year. I just got a research job offer from the States for a few months and I would also like to ask if taking the job would be a good idea to increase my chances of getting matched

YOG : 2019
step 1 : 244
step2 ck : 260
step 3 : not taken yet. thinking about taking it late September after the application
step2 cs : 1st attempt
1 publication : 1st author
need visa support
3 months of USCE (2 clerkships / 1 observership)

applying for IM

domiciled medschool ( if that means I went to medschool from my home country)

 

[gutonc]

I am seeing all these posts about the current match process which makes me excited already for mine next year. (also very nervous ...)
I would like to see my odds of getting matched at any kind of program next year. I just got a research job offer from the States for a few months and I would also like to ask if taking the job would be a good idea to increase my chances of getting matched

YOG : 2019
step 1 : 244
step2 ck : 260
step 3 : not taken yet. thinking about taking it late September after the application
step2 cs : 1st attempt
1 publication : 1st author

Specialty?
USCE?
Visa?
Domiciled med school or "offshore"?

 

[forthkind44]

Specialty?
USCE?
Visa?
Domiciled med school or "offshore"?

Thanks I just edited

 

[rokshana]

I am seeing all these posts about the current match process which makes me excited already for mine next year. (also very nervous ...)
I would like to see my odds of getting matched at any kind of program next year. I just got a research job offer from the States for a few months and I would also like to ask if taking the job would be a good idea to increase my chances of getting matched

YOG : 2019
step 1 : 244
step2 ck : 260
step 3 : not taken yet. thinking about taking it late September after the application
step2 cs : 1st attempt
1 publication : 1st author
need visa support
3 months of USCE (2 clerkships / 1 observership)

applying for IM

domiciled medschool ( if that means I went to medschool from my home country)

Domiciled means NOT a for profit or second chance school.

Research, especially if you can get a publication out of it will be helpful, but visa needing is still going to be your biggest issue.

Why did you wait and not apply this year?
What are you doing since graduation.

 

[forthkind44]

Domiciled means not for profit or second chance school.

Research, especially if you can get a publication out of it will be helpful, but visa needing is still going to be your biggest issue.

Why did you wait and not apply this year?
What are you doing since graduation.

Then I would be not falling into that category (domiciled)

and thank you for your input! So publication's important more than about the experience itself at my stage, right?
For the visa needing, you mean both for J1 and H1B?

Thank you!

 

[Emmet2301]

How many programs are you applying to?

Apply to as many as you can. I would improve the search by looking at programs that have more IMGs and maybe more residents from your school.

Good luck.

 

[forthkind44]

How many programs are you applying to?

Apply to as many as you can. I would improve the search by looking at programs that have more IMGs and maybe more residents from your school.

Good luck.

I will apply to as many as I can. maybe to the fullest. Thank you for the advice! A few from my school have matched to NYMC and Albert Einstein

 

[rokshana]

Then I would be not falling into that category (domiciled)

and thank you for your input! So publication's important more than about the experience itself at my stage, right?
For the visa needing, you mean both for J1 and H1B?

Thank you!

Sorry, realized I left out an important determinant...domiciled school is a regular school for the country...an school set up for people who couldn’t get into their regular school is a second chance school, similar to the offshore schools in the Caribbean are for the US schools.

But,yes, showing a result is going to be important moreso than just having research experience...but the experience can’t hurt.

 

[forthkind44]

Sorry, realized I left out an important determinant...domiciled school is a regular school for the country...an school set up for people who couldn’t get into their regular school is a second chance school, similar to the offshore schools in the Caribbean are for the US schools.

Thank you ! great learn for today.
I graduated from one of the top tier medschools in my country.

Thank you for your input!

 

[GoSpursGo]

Frankly, I think with your scores and what appears to be a reasonably amount of USCE, you should certainly be able to match IM so long as you apply to a reasonable number of programs that have a history of accepting FMGs.

If possible, I would recommend taking step 3 before ERAS opens as having a strong score there would make your application even stronger, but I don't think it's make or break.

 

[forthkind44]

Frankly, I think with your scores and what appears to be a reasonably amount of USCE, you should certainly be able to match IM so long as you apply to a reasonable number of programs that have a history of accepting FMGs.

If possible, I would recommend taking step 3 before ERAS opens as having a strong score there would make your application even stronger, but I don't think it's make or break.

Thank you for your reply!
I am doing more of observerships this summer for 2 more months! I will try to squeeze my step 3 exam in between!

 

[eduh]

If you're in the US I'd add going to residency conferences specific to IM, regional ones if there's a specific state you want to be in, or just national ones that have residency fairs. It's a good opportunity to meet PDs, and if you have a paper or poster you could present it if you think it'd help. I know for me a few of my interviews came via conference interactions.
And get step 3 out of the way, definitely a plus.

 

[forthkind44]

If you're in the US I'd add going to residency conferences specific to IM, regional ones if there's a specific state you want to be in, or just national ones that have residency fairs. It's a good opportunity to meet PDs, and if you have a paper or poster you could present it if you think it'd help. I know for me a few of my interviews came via conference interactions.
And get step 3 out of the way, definitely a plus.

Thank you for the input! I will consider that for sure!

 

[rokshana]

If you're in the US I'd add going to residency conferences specific to IM, regional ones if there's a specific state you want to be in, or just national ones that have residency fairs. It's a good opportunity to meet PDs, and if you have a paper or poster you could present it if you think it'd help. I know for me a few of my interviews came via conference interactions.
And get step 3 out of the way, definitely a plus.

Agree

 

[shreya_v95]

Hi, I'd like to know if there's any chance I could apply this year and match into IM or OBG

Step 1 Score: 245
Step 2 CK: Will give it in May
Step 2 CS: its doubtful whether I will be able to give CS before September. I was planning on studying for it and going to US and grabbing a date when someone canceled. But due tto the pandemic, Im not sure what I'll do.
USCE: Hopeful about getting 2 LOR'S by september
YOG:2020


Any insight would be helpful. I'm wondering whether I should even try and apply this year. Maybe put my CS score into the application in November because ill have to give it late. Since a lot of people can't give CS now, do you think they'll go easy on students who don't have their CS score?

 

[Ironheme]

There's a WAMC thread around here, which would be better suited to your question @shreya_v95 . I'm also assuming IMG, and whether you need a visa or not makes a big difference.

In short - the longer out from YOG, the more your chances decrease. Testing is up in the air right now, so I wonder if your CK will be postponed as well. You need everything ready by Sept 15. Not around them, but by then. I would not have LoR done in Sept. I would get them done by August so they're ready to go. If your Step 2 CK is excellent, CS is less of a big deal, however know that you will get less interviews without everything completed compared to someone that has all the boxes checked. This also depends if English is your first language/your medical school. If you do poorly on CK, and don't have CS in that is a bigger problem.

Currently, ECFMG requires your Step 2 CS and CK to be completed to be match eligible. You will be withdrawn from the match if they are not.

In short: It depends. Have everything in except CS + excellent grades/LoR/CK, apply broadly, submit on Sept 15th. Ideally have CS done before then. CS is not that bad compared to CK. That is your best chance. I would not delay applying one year just because of CS.

 

[shreya_v95]

There's a WAMC thread around here, which would be better suited to your question @shreya_v95 . I'm also assuming IMG, and whether you need a visa or not makes a big difference.

In short - the longer out from YOG, the more your chances decrease. Testing is up in the air right now, so I wonder if your CK will be postponed as well. You need everything ready by Sept 15. Not around them, but by then. I would not have LoR done in Sept. I would get them done by August so they're ready to go. If your Step 2 CK is excellent, CS is less of a big deal, however know that you will get less interviews without everything completed compared to someone that has all the boxes checked. This also depends if English is your first language/your medical school. If you do poorly on CK, and don't have CS in that is a bigger problem.

Currently, ECFMG requires your Step 2 CS and CK to be completed to be match eligible. You will be withdrawn from the match if they are not.

In short: It depends. Have everything in except CS + excellent grades/LoR/CK, apply broadly, submit on Sept 15th. Ideally have CS done before then. CS is not that bad compared to CK. That is your best chance. I would not delay applying one year just because of CS.

Thank you so much for your input!

 

[blancasimon]

Hi, I would like to know your opinion about my chances of matching in an IM program in 2021
I am a non-US IMG
Year of graduation: 2018
Step 1: 249 (first attempt)
Step 2 CK: 249 (first attempt)
Step 2 CS: pass on 1st attempt
Step 3: Will take it June 2nd and June 9th

1 publication as 1st author (2020), 1 chapter written of a published book. 1 oral presentation in US scientific meeting.
USCE: 1 research internship in USA, 4 clinical observerships USA, 2 research internships in home country (Spain). 4 LORs from US institutions for application.
Need visa (J1 or H1B)
Any help is welcome to improve and strengthen application!
Thank you!

 

[CalmAndCollected]

Hi, I would like to know your opinion about my chances of matching in an IM program in 2021
I am a non-US IMG
Year of graduation: 2018
Step 1: 249 (first attempt)
Step 2 CK: 249 (first attempt)
Step 2 CS: pass on 1st attempt
Step 3: Will take it June 2nd and June 9th

1 publication as 1st author (2020), 1 chapter written of a published book. 1 oral presentation in US scientific meeting.
USCE: 1 research internship in USA, 4 clinical observerships USA, 2 research internships in home country (Spain). 4 LORs from US institutions for application.
Need visa (J1 or H1B)
Any help is welcome to improve and strengthen application!
Thank you!

You might want to start a new topic too.

It seems like you have good stats, good USCE, come from Europe in what I am assuming is a normal medical school (not off-shore for profit). Step 3 will help a lot, and any additional USCE will also help. What is your year of graduation, bu the way?

However, COVID will make this year weird, many IMGs won't have as much as USCE as they would have due to recent shutdowns. It also seems interviews might be primarily online, which will affect the distribution of interviews (I presume more competitive applicants will go to many more interviews that they would have otherwise). So it will be hard to predict how competitive this year will be to IMGs.

Find someone who is in a similar boat as you either now or recently to look over application and PS to make it sure it is up to snuff. Don't forget to include all your meaningful research or volunteer experience, even if it happened in your home country. Descriptions of your experiences should make it clear what sort of role you had in team and what skills you demonstrated and developed during those experiences (ACGME core competencies are a good place to start). You can also include papers that have been submitted for publication or future posters/presentations (and if any were cancelled due to COVID, I might try to include those too to demonstrate the reason behind a lack of output).

Make sure your LoRs are well written and your mentors have meaningful and positive things to say in them. Waive your right to see the letters, but do try to either provide a draft for them to look over or sit down and discuss what are meaningful additions to add to your LoR (research good LoRs online beforehand).

 

[blancasimon]

You might want to start a new topic too.

It seems like you have good stats, good USCE, come from Europe in what I am assuming is a normal medical school (not off-shore for profit). Step 3 will help a lot, and any additional USCE will also help. What is your year of graduation, bu the way?

However, COVID will make this year weird, many IMGs won't have as much as USCE as they would have due to recent shutdowns. It also seems interviews might be primarily online, which will affect the distribution of interviews (I presume more competitive applicants will go to many more interviews that they would have otherwise). So it will be hard to predict how competitive this year will be to IMGs.

Find someone who is in a similar boat as you either now or recently to look over application and PS to make it sure it is up to snuff. Don't forget to include all your meaningful research or volunteer experience, even if it happened in your home country. Descriptions of your experiences should make it clear what sort of role you had in team and what skills you demonstrated and developed during those experiences (ACGME core competencies are a good place to start). You can also include papers that have been submitted for publication or future posters/presentations (and if any were cancelled due to COVID, I might try to include those too to demonstrate the reason behind a lack of output).

Make sure your LoRs are well written and your mentors have meaningful and positive things to say in them. Waive your right to see the letters, but do try to either provide a draft for them to look over or sit down and discuss what are meaningful additions to add to your LoR (research good LoRs online beforehand).

Thank you so much for this feedback, I am trying to schedule more USCE even thought it is tough. I do have volunteer experience in my home country and will definitely include that as well as other posters/presentations. I have strong LoRs, one of them is a research LoR and 3 of them are clinical. They gave them to me beforehand. What do you think is better for a LoR, only clinical experience or research as well? My year of graduation is 2018. COVID has definitely changed our professional goals, you can only do so much to overcome these obstacles but it is true that us IMGs strongly depend on USCE a part from high scores of course. So all in all, am I in good shape? Do you think I can match in a competitive program for IM?

 

[CalmAndCollected]

Thank you so much for this feedback, I am trying to schedule more USCE even thought it is tough. I do have volunteer experience in my home country and will definitely include that as well as other posters/presentations. I have strong LoRs, one of them is a research LoR and 3 of them are clinical. They gave them to me beforehand. What do you think is better for a LoR, only clinical experience or research as well? My year of graduation is 2018. COVID has definitely changed our professional goals, you can only do so much to overcome these obstacles but it is true that us IMGs strongly depend on USCE a part from high scores of course. So all in all, am I in good shape? Do you think I can match in a competitive program for IM?

Having three clinical and one research letter should be fine. I am sure you will do well, I had much weaker stats but still matched at a university program in psychiatry. I would check out the “charting the outcomes in the match” once it comes out for this year to compare your stats and understand your chances. Someone who has applied to IM can better tell you where you can end up.

Make sure the step 3 is completed before you apply. And it might be worthwhile making a CV and sending it out to programs you feel you are a good fit in during the summer when correspondence to residency programs is low.