Applying for IM.. Opinions??

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Sherlock Holmes123

Sherlock Holmes123

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Guys, can someone comment on my stats and tell how I am looking for this year match...

Step 1:222 Step 2CK:235 Step 2CS: Passed and Step 3:212 (No attempts), Visa requiring IMG, 2013 Graduate, 6 months of observership (4 months in Teaching Hospitals with residency and 2 months in a small community Hospital), I have 6 US lor's 3 are recent and 3 are like 1 year back, No publications but contributed to some Qbanks....APPLYING IN IM...

Last year applied and had 1 interview...Didn't quite make it...The changes I did are: Took step 3 and passed with 212, added 4 months of observership to my applications with 2 good LOR's (one is from a program PD and one is from Associate PD)...And to add, I am also actively looking for any Research positions...

Can you guys give me your honest opinion? What are the things I need to remember going into the season and changes that I should make?

Thank you so much guys..
 
Did you apply broadly last cycle? Based on your post, you should have had more invites last cycle and even matched if you applied to 100+ community programs... Maybe someone else can chime in cause I don't know what really kept you from getting a spot last cycle.

My advice is to also apply to some FM programs this year...
 
I applied for 140 IM programs... I know that I should be more broad in my options but the thing is I can't convince myself to do FM instead of IM because I want to be a Nephrologist.....

This year somehow due to the fear of not matching, I am going to apply more broadly for IM, FM, Transitional year....
 
Sherlock Holmes123 said:
I applied for 140 IM programs... I know that I should be more broad in my options but the thing is I can't convince myself to do FM instead of IM because I want to be a Nephrologist.....

This year somehow due to the fear of not matching, I am going to apply more broadly for IM, FM, Transitional year....
Click to expand...

I understand that you want to become a nephrologist but you gotta be realistic at the same time... You applied to 140 IM programs last cycle and you did not match, so another unsuccessful cycle might pretty much close almost all doors for you since you are a FMG in need of a VISA.

It's weird that you did not match cause I cam across a couple of Indians IMG who matched with similar scores... Did you have to repeat any of the steps? or Did you only apply to university programs?

You should apply mostly to FM now....
 
W19 said:
I understand that you want to become a nephrologist but you gotta be realistic at the same time... You applied to 140 IM programs last cycle and you did not match, so another unsuccessful cycle might pretty much close almost all doors for you since you are a FMG in need of a VISA.

It's weird that you did not match cause I cam across a couple of Indians IMG who matched with similar scores... Did you have to repeat any of the steps? or Did you only apply to university programs?

You should apply mostly to FM now....
Click to expand...
Nope,Applied to couple of universities but most of them are community based programs.. I also felt the same thing so applying for FM too just in case...I passed all of my steps the first time, No retakes whatsoever...Not even like system breakdowns (everything went clean)...
 
Sherlock Holmes123 said:
Guys..need more opinions

thank you...
Click to expand...
You understand what you should do.... If I were you, I would apply to 1oo+ FM programs, 100 IM (strategically)...

Find new IM programs in undesirable locations that have hx of taking IMG/FMG.

I think the VISA part might be your main issue.
 
W19 said:
You understand what you should do.... If I were you, I would apply to 1oo+ FM programs, 100 IM (strategically)...

Find new IM programs in undesirable locations that have hx of taking IMG/FMG.

I think the VISA part might be your main issue.
Click to expand...
Yes, I would definitely do that for sure... Thank you for your honest opinion..
 
There are five major issues with your application. The visa is only a minor issue imho.
  1. FMG
  2. Below average scores
  3. No USCE
  4. Reapplicant
  5. Old graduate
You wanted honest opinions. Well, here's mine: You probably won't match this time around either. Nevertheless, apply broadly (more so than last time). I think your best bet is where you did your observerships provided that these programs are undesirable community programs.
 
AnalisCanalis said:
There are five major issues with your application. The visa is only a minor issue imho.
  1. FMG
  2. Below average scores
  3. No USCE
  4. Reapplicant
  5. Old graduate
You wanted honest opinions. Well, here's mine: You probably won't match this time around either. Nevertheless, apply broadly (more so than last time). I think your best bet is where you did your observerships provided that these programs are undesirable community programs.
Click to expand...

I agree that second time around make things even more difficult for OP, but I disagree that the VISA stuff is just a minor issue. I came across two 2 applicants, one had similar stats with OP and matched into a IM program that is 100% IMG/FMG, but he has a green card. The other had slightly better stats and matched into a FM program..

I think if OP was a US citizen or a green card holder, he/she would have probably matched last year...

Both of them are Indians and were in their 30s, so I am assuming they are also old graduate...


Things are difficult for IMG/FMG! US students with barely passing stats match into FM/IM programs easily... I guess I will never be a PD because if I were one and I had a FMG applicant that does some US observership with better stats by a wide margin (15+ points) than a US student, I would rank that FMG higher than the US student as long as that FMG applicant speaks English.
 
Last edited:
W19 said:
I agree that second time around make things even more difficult for OP, but I disagree that the VISA stuff is just a minor issue. I came across two 2 applicants, one had similar stats with OP and matched into a IM program that is 100% IMG/FMG, but he has a green card. The other had slightly better stats and matched into a FM program..

I think if OP was a US citizen or a green card holder, he/she would have probably matched last year...

Both of them are Indians and were in their 30s, so I am assuming they are also old graduate...


Things are difficult for IMG/FMG! US students with barely passing stats match into FM/IM programs easily... I guess I will never be a PD because if I were one and I had a FMG applicant that does some US observership with better stats by a wide margin (15+ points) than a US student, I would rank that FMG higher than the US student as long as that FMG applicant speaks English.
Click to expand...
The programs that don't sponsor visas usually only accept US grads anyway. If visas were such a big issue the matching rates would be much lower for FMGs. In reality the difference in matching rates between IMGs and FMGs is basically negligible.
 
AnalisCanalis said:
The programs that don't sponsor visas usually only accept US grads anyway. If visas were such a big issue the matching rates would be much lower for FMGs. In reality the difference in matching rates between IMGs and FMGs is basically negligible.
Click to expand...

Thank you so mcuh for your honest opinion. What is your advice for me to increase my chances?
 
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