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Thanks for the quick responses. With regards to some of the questions, I have honored most of my pre-clinical classes and have good grades in general, but still have 2 years of medical school left. I'm planning on doing two or more electives in the states this coming summer, hopefully at programs I'd like to match at. I know my board score is quite low for something like EM, but I'm just trying to lay down my options and
consider my chances of matching. If, for instance, I was able to excel in the step 2 and achieve a 90+ mark, would that perhaps offset my low step 1 score and increase my chances?
Be sure to rotate at at least one place that's IMG friendly. Where are you? UCD? RCSI? Are you Irish, American or other? If you have VISA issues then you might run into more resistance. Check out the EMRA website, they have a listing of who has taken FMGs currently and in the past 5 years. If a program hasn't taken an FMG in the last 5 years, well, then odds of taking you dwindle.
I was (I suppose still am) a DO, and there are prejudices along with that as well. You just need to apply broadly. I think 80 programs is a bit high, I applied to 42, which cost over a thousand dollars...
But like it was said before, you CANNOT limit yourself to a geographic area as a discriminated against applicant. You really need to apply broadly. This only increases your chances. If you are deadset on the DFW area, you need to rotate there and show them you are an awesome candidate who htey all will want to work next to at 0300.
Q
As an American IMG, especially doing your clinicals within the US... You will more than likely NOT be able to match at UT Southwestern (or anywhere at UT for that matter).
Texas requires that if you do your rotations within the US, that you do residency, and practice "unsupervised" for 2-3 years before you can apply for a liscence. You can't do residency in TX. Im pretty sure that if you do the straight-up IMG thing (full medical degree + internship before returning to US), the same residency/experience rule applies.
Pretty much Texas won't give you a license. You can't train without a license. Ask BKN for the specifics, but he has already started rejecting IMGs because they can't get licensed fast enough to work.
Damn. This sounds somewhat ridiculous. So, wait, are you telling me that there is no point for FMGs to even apply to Texas programs simply because they won't give us a medical license after residency? Are programs in Texas not accepting FMGs for residency because of this issue? What happened to all that talk about Texas A&M being FMG-friendly and what not, or have I been lied to? Sorry to be rude, but this is just truly pissing me off right now, never been told anything like this before...
TX is not FMG friendly BUT there is a way. I know 4 FMG's that matched in TX last year, 2 at UT Houston, so it can be done. They were all straight out of the Caribbean. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, I say apply where you want.
BTW I love Ireland, did some of my clinical rotations there. While I was there, 4 RCSI students matched in the US, 1 in Optho, 2 in Surg, 2 in IM.
TX is not FMG friendly BUT there is a way. I know 4 FMG's that matched in TX last year, 2 at UT Houston, so it can be done. They were all straight out of the Caribbean. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, I say apply where you want.
BTW I love Ireland, did some of my clinical rotations there. While I was there, 4 RCSI students matched in the US, 1 in Optho, 2 in Surg, 2 in IM.
This is definitely good to hear....some optimism at last. Anyway, I always thought FMGs matched in Texas, it just didn't seem right otherwise. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on how/what route they took to match successfully. Do you have to be ECFMG certified before they call you in for interviews because I wanted to apply for the 2009 match ie. before I actually get my medical degree and therefore my ecfmg certification. Any suggestions?
I can second the fact that the TMB is bureaucratic and abusive. We even had U.S. medical grads who were not able to get their temporary permit by July 1st. That means 2-3 extra months of residency for them.
Texas just introduced fingerprinting starting October 1st, which means yet another way they can slow down/reject/lose your application.
This is definitely good to hear....some optimism at last. Anyway, I always thought FMGs matched in Texas, it just didn't seem right otherwise. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on how/what route they took to match successfully. Do you have to be ECFMG certified before they call you in for interviews because I wanted to apply for the 2009 match ie. before I actually get my medical degree and therefore my ecfmg certification. Any suggestions?
{Lengthy well thought out informational post with quotes and everything snipped for brevity}
Man, this is gonna take some time to sink in. If, for instance, I recieved my medical degree, became ecfmg certified, and then applied for the 2010 (rather than 2009) match, would there be any more obstacles/hurdles to pass before getting a residency in texas? I was thinking of perhaps doing an elective in EM at UT southwestern, try to get SLOR from the PD, and then try to match there after all that ecfmg certification etc. Would you say that's still worthwhile or is there something else to worry about after matching in texas?
Boy, they need to update that list of schools. Some of that info is over 12 years old, for both American and non-American schools. Anyways, BKN is straight from the horses' mouth and go from that. Yes, ECFMG is new for this year, but I think the rest is the same? People that I know went to TX straight from school last year did not have ECFMG in hand until late spring/early summer, but went through the match process like everyone else and had no other hoops to jump through. They all did rotations at the hospitals they matched at, too. Again, LAST year they had no red tape, but go by what BKN posted for THIS year.
Thanks BKN! Would you agree however that these rules to appear to make things difficult for FMGs in Texas (as compared to other states...)?
- H
Yes, I would. Clearly the licensure requirements, particularly the
one year PG training for USMGs and 3 years for IMGs and the school equivalency list have exactly that intent and are a quality filter.
At the same time, we train lots of IMGs in Texas. You just have to jump through the hoops.
Thanks for the post BKN. One last thing, can you please explain this 1 year PG vs. 3 year PG for fmgs, I don't really get it. Does this mean after completing the normal 3-year EM residency, I'll have to do 3 years further training as opposed to 1 year before I get my licensce to practice?
It also means you can't moonlight until after your 3rd year...
I think there are only a handful of states where FMG's can get their license after 1 year.
Awesome, I'm going to Guam.
A little off topic, but I have heard there are ways to get around the 2-3 yrs training in some states for an FMG by going to one of the 1 year states and getting a license. Then SOME places will accept that in your 'home' state, like VA hospitals, rurals, etc. Is that true?
Forget Texas.......there are 51 other states that you can apply too....
Forget Texas.......there are hundreds of other schools and 51 other states that you can apply too....why are you fixated on Texas?? This state floods, has a long drought, and is on boarder close to Mexico....pick other states please....you will be fine!
Forget Texas.......there are hundreds of other schools and 51 other states that you can apply too....why are you fixated on Texas?? This state floods, has a long drought, and is on boarder close to Mexico....pick other states please....you will be fine!
Forget Texas.......there are hundreds of other schools and 51 other states that you can apply too....why are you fixated on Texas?? This state floods, has a long drought, and is on boarder close to Mexico....pick other states please....you will be fine!
Tell us some better places. I don't recall ever having flooding or drought problems in Dallas. It's a very long drive to Mexico.
Seriously, tell us a better location.
For the record, tornadoes are the only natural disaster you can hide from. I don't do earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, volcanoes, blizzards, etc.
in hartford, harriford, and hampshire...
I guess you have been studying too long and not paying any attention to the news about the Texas area weather......Dallas-FW area has been flooded most of this entire summer, they have cancelled thousands of flights....disaster area....I have had 3 flights cancelled due to the weather and seems like yesterday they were flooding again. Also, I'm a star bucks junkie myself.🙂