Applying to Psychiatry Residency Programs

[Iskay]

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Hi Everyone!

I'm an ECFMG certified non-US IMG who is planning to apply for Psychiatry Residency in the upcoming 2021 match.
-Step 1: 207 -Step 2ck: 223 -Step 2CS: passed in the first attempt - 3 LORs (2 IM, 1 FM) - Year of Graduation: 2017

I'm currently working on obtaining a Psychiatry Tele-rotation (since I need a psych LOR) and I'm also looking for research opportunities (currently working on a couple of Statpearl articles).
I plan to apply to 120-150 psychiatry programs.
What I would like to know is that, would that be enough? Or should I apply to other programs as well (such as Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Pathology)?

I'm strictly interested in Psychiatry but at the same time, I don't want to limit my chances of getting into a residency program.
So yeah, will it be enough (to at least acquire a few interviews) to apply to 120-150 Psychiatry programs?

Thanks in advance!

 

[wolfvgang22]

I am a Caribbean IMG.
No, it's not enough. Apply to every program you can. Take any residency spot you can get.

 

[J ROD]

Yeah, Psych probably not gonna happen. I would focus on FM, Path.

 

[nexus73]

For someone like this, would it make sense to try and do an audition/clerkship at a low tier psych residency, to show work ethic and interest? Most people I think audition at prestigious places, like Stanford, hoping to get in, but if your only hope is low tier program in flyover country, do they get requests for audition rotations from non-competitive applicants?

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

It usually isn't possible for someone who has already graduated to get an "audition"/clerkship. No affiliation agreement, who pays malpractice.....

 

[Stagg737]

If OP is psych or bust, they may have a small shot at getting into the programs that are more well-known as IMG/FMG sweatshops, but I agree that odds of getting into a decent program are essentially zero.

A more valid option would probably be applying to IM/FM for intern year and trying to transfer or reapply in the following cycle, but that can also be pretty difficult as well.

 

[Central_SOULcus]

Regardless of anything else, I think programs in any field are going to want to know what you have been doing since you graduated in 2017. If for instance you're finishing a non-psych residency in your home country, that might explain why you don't have any psych letters. If that's not the case, make sure you explain "why now." I'm not a PD, but have interviewed applicants to my residency program. When looking at apps, first and foremost I look for why they chose psych (we really care about goodness of fit, not just for our program, but for the field itself). We tend to weed out those whose applications seem like psych is their "back-up" specialty. (I'm not saying you fall into that category; I'm just speaking generally.)