Chances of residency

[rickyrossman]

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I'm a UK citizen interested in doing my residency in the US. I'll be attending medical school in September 2020. However, I've heard that its almost impossible for international graduates to match into residency programs because of intense competition. I know that competitive residencies like surgery and oncology are practically impossible but what about less competitive ones like IM, Psych, Peds, and FM? What are my chances? Any statistics on how many UK IMG's match into these specialties?

Cheers.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This is such a broad question it's impossible to answer. 1000's of IMG's get spots in the US. You should review the international medical graduate subforum here, read the threads there. NRMP's website has lots of data on match results (but much of that is quoted in threads in the IMG forums)

 

[rickyrossman]

This is such a broad question it's impossible to answer. 1000's of IMG's get spots in the US. You should review the international medical graduate subforum here, read the threads there. NRMP's website has lots of data on match results (but much of that is quoted in threads in the IMG forums)

I had a look at the statistics and about a third of IM residents are non-US IMGs. Unfortunately, it doesn't give a breakdown by country.

Do hospitals give preference to IMGs from certain countries over others? Or are they viewed equally?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Again, I suggest you spend some time reading the various threads in the IMG forum. You should also review the medical student and residency forums. This is a very complicated situation / question. Country of school (or actual school itself) is definitely a factor, but how any one program / PD might evaluate it is an individual decision.

Also, Oncology is a fellowship after Internal Medicine, not a residency by itself.

Since you'll be starting school in 2020, and hence graduating in 2026 (assuming a 6 year program, 2024 if a 4 year program), it's hard to predict what changes might develop between now and then.

Charting Outcomes for IMG's, published by the NRMP in 2013, broke IMG's down by country -- but the UK had less than 50, so wasn't reported upon. Charting outcomes for IMG's 2016 didn't report on this at all. You can find these data reports on the NRMP website.

 

[Raryn]

I had a look at the statistics and about a third of IM residents are non-US IMGs. Unfortunately, it doesn't give a breakdown by country.

Do hospitals give preference to IMGs from certain countries over others? Or are they viewed equally?

There's a breakdown by country in the older charting outcomes for IMGs.

 

[spacegun]

I'm a UK citizen interested in doing my residency in the US. I'll be attending medical school in September 2020. However, I've heard that its almost impossible for international graduates to match into residency programs because of intense competition. I know that competitive residencies like surgery and oncology are practically impossible but what about less competitive ones like IM, Psych, Peds, and FM? What are my chances? Any statistics on how many UK IMG's match into these specialties?

Cheers.

I know the UK, all the junior doctors seem to be fleeing the UK right now. NHS woes. Other options for you might be Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Probably less headaches (e.g. no USMLE's) to transition to these other countries. But might still be very difficult, but I do not know. But a lot of British junior physicians seem headed to those other countries so I'm mentioning them.

Surgical subspecialties are extremely competitive for an IMG, even from the UK, unless you are already an attending, then still competitive, but you would have a better chance (assuming the rest of your application is stellar). General surgery might be possible.

Do you mean surgical oncology? That's after general surgery I believe. If you mean medical oncology, then that is after IM (hematology and oncology). IM is possible for an IMG, but you need to refer to NRMP to see average scores (I think around low 230's for Step 1 and low 240's for Step 2 if I am remembering). If you get into a good academic IM program, then it's hard, but it is possible to match into medical oncology (hematology and oncology).

For IM, psych, peds, and FM, it is possible to match as an IMG. Of these four, FM and psych are probably the "easiest" to match for an IMG. But if you are thinking about applying to CHOP for peds or MGH for IM, then that will be very difficult for you as an IMG. If you want an unfamiliar to most people lower community program in peds or IM, then it is probably more likely.

But no one can tell you your chances now without more information from you. Especially your USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK scores. But also other things like research, US clinical experience, strong LOR's, and how you did during your clinical years (grades).

Here is NRMP:

Main Residency Match Data and Reports - The Match, National Resident Matching Program