Do programs really favor AMG

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menglee

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Do programs really prefer AMG? In my interviews, I feel programs only look at merits of individuals, don’t care where you are from. Since most of residents and faculty members are FMG, I suspect opposite may be true when all else equal.
 
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I would say yes.

Depends on the AMG and the IMG though.

Some IMGs trained as pathologists in their own country and have work experience. I could see programs picking an IMG in that case over a subpar AMG.

If the two candidates were equal I would say most programs would pick the American grad most of the time.

Really depends on the credentials/background of the applicant.
 
Yes, next question. How much though? up for debate and highly program dependent. And my program had almost no FMGs and only FMG faculty was from Canada..
 
Only time programs will rank IMG over an AMG is when they know he won't rank them. Most PD's want to fill positions in the match.
 
Where did this "FMGs in Pathology are the source of our problems" line of thought come from? Why are people freaking out about it?

Its almost as if folks stumbled outside to the notice the sky is blue as the final proof needed for global warming or something.

Ive been out of academia for a long time, is it somehow been transformed so dramatically that no one even speaks English in Pathology or what? Someone educate me.
 
Do programs really prefer AMG? In my interviews, I feel programs only look at merits of individuals, don’t care where you are from. Since most of residents and faculty members are FMG, I suspect opposite may be true when all else equal.

One wrinkle: some programs actually prefer FMGs. And not just for collectivist "hire from your own tribe" reasons. That is, certain bad programs that don't want to reform tend to avoid accepting residents with the most options (i.e. residents who can easily transfer to another program after discovering how bad it is) and tend to prefer residents who will be cheap captive labor for 4 years.
 
One wrinkle: some programs actually prefer FMGs. And not just for collectivist "hire from your own tribe" reasons. That is, certain bad programs that don't want to reform tend to avoid accepting residents with the most options (i.e. residents who can easily transfer to another program after discovering how bad it is) and tend to prefer residents who will be cheap captive labor for 4 years.

Do US Pathology residents usually stay in the same lab for their whole 3-4 years' training?

That sounds like "feast or famine".
 
Only time programs will rank IMG over an AMG is when they know he won't rank them. Most PD's want to fill positions in the match.
That's why
Only time programs will rank IMG over an AMG is when they know he won't rank them. Most PD's want to fill positions in the match.
How can PDs tell an AMG won't rank them? Do PDs in programs with most of their residents FMG just assume AMG won't rank them so they don't want to waste their ranking spots on AMG either? I suspect that the ratio of unmatched/total applicant for Pathology for AMG may be higher than, or at least equal to the ratio for other specialties, though I am too lazy to check the statistics.
 
IMGs are more often an "unknown" commodity. With american grads you know they went through med school in the US which is fairly standardized and competitive enough to weed out poor performers. With IMGs, you don't know unless you have experience with the specific school they attended. I think that's part of it. IMGs have to prove themselves more, which can be difficult in getting into a residency spot. But once in a program and trained the differences lessen because the good residents prove themselves. In something like residency applications where so much initial "evaluation" is just based on numbers and CV bulletpoints, that can be hard to overcome.
 
One wrinkle: some programs actually prefer FMGs. And not just for collectivist "hire from your own tribe" reasons. That is, certain bad programs that don't want to reform tend to avoid accepting residents with the most options (i.e. residents who can easily transfer to another program after discovering how bad it is) and tend to prefer residents who will be cheap captive labor for 4 years.
Also, the IMG has most likely worked in his home country and that means they are "quick learners" and more "teachable".
 
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