average usmle scores for imgs to get it

[confusedfmg]

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hi..ive reading all the threads for some time...a guy i know told me its really tough for imgs to get into pathology residency,is it true?could anyone plz shed some light on it...what is a good score for an IMG to match at an average university program in pathology..the second part of my question is that is it easy for an img to find a job in path after residency,the same guy told me that imgs who do graduate from residency programs have difficult getting jobs.....thanks

 

[hzma]

I'm an IMG... I had no prob at all- and i know lots of IMGs who are working in the field- I wouldn't worry about it. Just work hard make a goal and aim for it.

When i was applying I noticed 3 levels for residency prgms: 1st level was way up there, and they were looking for scores in the 90's and research experience and other crap- and yes, they prefered AMGs- from what I could see- for example u'd see that 99% of current and past residents are AMGs, and the trend not likely to change. There were exceptions of course. Apply early if you want one of these places.

The next level- and this is the majority: have a cutoff point of 85, and this is both IMG/AMG friendly- and u'd prob find a mixture of both grads in these programs, and these are good programs, and worth the effort. If your not an absolute star I'd focus on these.

The last level- have no cutoff at all, as long as u passed- these are in underserved areas/ programs on probation/ not that great programs/ in the middle of nowhere, and these take both IMG and AMG, just anyone who'll go.

So, there's something for everyone.

How to know: visit the websites of programs, see the residents profiles, attendings profiles too, talk to someone there if you can, ask the secretary what their cutoff scores are and if you are the type of applicant they would look at, and... ask for an interview!

Good luck.

 

[confusedfmg]

thanks.your post was a great help...may i ask if youre still in residency somewhere orfinished with it?also what range were your board scores in?

 

[hzma]

thanks.your post was a great help...

Of course... i was glad to help.

may i ask if youre still in residency somewhere orfinished with it?

Yup, still in residency, at the beginning too!

also what range were your board scores in?

and my scores hit the 85 cutoff. 🙂

Let me know if i can answer for u anything else, i just finished the whole process so its still pretty near, u can PM me if u like.

 

[LADoc00]

Let me rant for a bit and not because Im some neo-Facist nut, pathologists already are known for having crappy communication skills. I dont care how brilliant of doctor you maybe if you cant communicate well in English, I pray no progam takes you.

 

[confusedfmg]

never thought anyone with poor english communication could get it anyway so whats the point..

 

[akaz]

I probably have a real stupid question. What is the deal in path with the IMG vs. AMG? I am just a medical student at Cornell. I am basically curious why this is so important in pathology. Before, medical school I was in a derm lab for awhile at MGH (HMS) for grad school. I was told that it was impossible for foreign grads to match in derm at MGH or Brigham. Why is that? Is it also tough in pathology? Why so competitive in derm? Pathology is more interesting. I am not foreign--just curious.

 

[uhoh!]

I dont care how brilliant of doctor you maybe if you cant communicate well in English, I pray no progam takes you.

..Hence the interview process. This also applies to those who can't communicate well, period.

 

[djmd]

Why is that? Is it also tough in pathology? Why so competitive in derm? Pathology is more interesting. I am not foreign--just curious.

Because derm is competitive. (lots of people want to do it, and few spots.)
Pathology is easier for IMG (when did we stop using the term FMG, I keep thinking IMG is some Internal Medicine thing), but cause it is less competitive.
Basically as a general rule most programs consider avg AMG > avg IMG.


And yes you may think pathology is more interesting, but more people think derm is more interesting (or more people pretend derm is more interesting because they want the lifestyle/money)

 

[confusedfmg]

yep derm gives you a great lifestyle and money but as far as lifestyle is concerned path isnt too bad and the money is okay though not as good as derm....so if one likes pathology its as good as anything🙂)