Hey there. I'm am interested in Georgetown's residency program in psychiatry.
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From Caribbean Med School
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Here's the list of their former residents (well, it's supposed to be current but hasn't been updated lately it seems) to give you some sense of what kind of folks they take:
http://www.georgetownpsychiatry.org/body.cfm?id=1319
Looks like they do have some foreign medical grabs and Carribean grads, so that alone probably won't be a dealbreaker for you. However, I strongly recommend that you don't get your heart set on just one particularly program and try to keep an open mind about programs. GENERALLY, programs in large/desirable cities are more competitive because everyone wants to live in a cool/fun city, so I would expect that may make Georgetown harder to match to than an equally strong program in the midwest. Additionally, psych in general is getting a little more competitive the last couple of years.
Even aside from those factors, interviewing for residency is very much a crap shoot.
At most places, the interview is really what carries the most weight. If you have particularly good interviews at a place that normally accepts people with higher stats than you, you might end up getting ranked well there, and if you have a particularly bad interview or someone takes something you say the wrong way then you may not get ranked at a place that normally would be in reach for someone with your scores/grades. The problem is that you really don't have much control over how your interviews are perceived since so much of it depends on how you click with the interviewers.
Even if the program acts like they love you, that really tells you nothing about your chances there because some programs try to hedge their bets by acting like they love everyone they interview. Lots of people have stories to tell of program directors swearing that they are "ranked highly" but then on Match Day the person matches somewhere else.
http://www.georgetownpsychiatry.org/body.cfm?id=1319
Looks like they do have some foreign medical grabs and Carribean grads, so that alone probably won't be a dealbreaker for you. However, I strongly recommend that you don't get your heart set on just one particularly program and try to keep an open mind about programs. GENERALLY, programs in large/desirable cities are more competitive because everyone wants to live in a cool/fun city, so I would expect that may make Georgetown harder to match to than an equally strong program in the midwest. Additionally, psych in general is getting a little more competitive the last couple of years.
Even aside from those factors, interviewing for residency is very much a crap shoot.
At most places, the interview is really what carries the most weight. If you have particularly good interviews at a place that normally accepts people with higher stats than you, you might end up getting ranked well there, and if you have a particularly bad interview or someone takes something you say the wrong way then you may not get ranked at a place that normally would be in reach for someone with your scores/grades. The problem is that you really don't have much control over how your interviews are perceived since so much of it depends on how you click with the interviewers.
Even if the program acts like they love you, that really tells you nothing about your chances there because some programs try to hedge their bets by acting like they love everyone they interview. Lots of people have stories to tell of program directors swearing that they are "ranked highly" but then on Match Day the person matches somewhere else.
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Yikes...
Unless you have good explanation for those AND do well in rotations/USMLE, I think your chances are limited. However, stranger things have happened.
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If you put the right spin on your story in your personal statement you may find a program that's sympathetic, especially if you apply very broadly.
If I were you, I'd try to focus on community-based programs in the midwest or south rather than the coasts just because those places often are overlooked by applicants. I'd also try to start saving up money now for application fees and travel expenses so that hopefully you can go on as many interviews as possible.
Have you taken Step 2 yet? If not, I'd definitely try to get that done early and make sure you do well on it to help reassure programs you won't have trouble with Step 3.
If you're a native English speaker and don't require a visa, that may also help boost your standing at some of the community programs that often take foreign grads. Some foreign grads are extremely strong candidates who communicate well and have great scores, so some of the higher tier programs will take them over American grads, but there are other programs who will settle for foreign grads who aren't very good because they just need warm bodies to fill the residency.
If I were you, I'd try to focus on community-based programs in the midwest or south rather than the coasts just because those places often are overlooked by applicants. I'd also try to start saving up money now for application fees and travel expenses so that hopefully you can go on as many interviews as possible.
Have you taken Step 2 yet? If not, I'd definitely try to get that done early and make sure you do well on it to help reassure programs you won't have trouble with Step 3.
If you're a native English speaker and don't require a visa, that may also help boost your standing at some of the community programs that often take foreign grads. Some foreign grads are extremely strong candidates who communicate well and have great scores, so some of the higher tier programs will take them over American grads, but there are other programs who will settle for foreign grads who aren't very good because they just need warm bodies to fill the residency.
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You can practice whatever kind of psychiatry you wish from either program.
With your transcript problems, I would apply to mostly lesser known programs. Most IMG's taken have stellar scores. You have an uphill climb to get in anywhere, but with hard work its possible.
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Generally community programs are viewed as less prestigious than programs that are based at a university/medical school, but the training can be great at community programs. The quality really depends on the people who lead the program, not what kind of program it is.
If I were you, I'd just be focused on getting into any program at all. Wherever you end up, you can make the best of it. Even a crappy program will still allow you to get to the end goal of being a psychiatrist, and in the end that's all that matters.
Oh, and there are some prestigious university programs which place a lot of emphasis on working with underprivileged people. University of Maryland is regarded as a very good program but they are known for doing a lot of work with homeless psych patients.
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Are you referring to your undergrad transcripts or medical school? If you're talking about undergrad, I don't believe any residency program is going to see those transcripts. They just want your medical school info.
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I think the idea that IMGs are used to fill space isnt as true anymore. Having been actively involved in recruiting I noticed that the atmosphere really has changed over the last few years. Psychiatry is drawing slightly better candidates every year, both IMG and US grads. Also there is more competition. Last year was the first year US grads had significant difficulty with the NRMP.
Case in point, in 2009 the ratio of applicants to open positions was 1.5 (pretty good actually). This year it was closer to 2. Also, spots that were left unfilled came from a small number of programs, probably new programs. There was a 94% fill rate. Now, the increase from US grads was small, but it has been consistently there. There has been an increase in residency spots as well as in the percentage of US seniors applying. Psychiatry is becoming more competitive in spite of increasing the number of residency spots.
To OP: I think you have 2 advantages. You are early in med school it seems. You should buckle down and do well (not try) in your rotations, especially psychiatry and in electives at places you think you have a shot as well as study hard for the step 1/step 2.
If a residency program knows you are competent clinically/socially etc over a month long evaluation, they are much more likely to take you than (almost) anything else on your resume.
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Oh, I agree that psych in general is getting more competitive!
Even though I hadn't followed the match stats, I know there are more American grads graduating every year, and the word on the street seems to indicate that people are starting to catch on that psych is a "lifestyle" field that has flown under the radar. I don't know if you were around last year when I posted my tale of woe, but my comment about the match being a crap shoot is based on my personal experience as someone with a strong application (above average USMLE, good LORs, clearly demonstrated interest in psych - good enough to get interviews at some of the top psych residencies) who went unmatched on my first attempt. Not matching was one of the worst things I've ever experienced, so I always try to warn people to not underestimate residency spot competition these days.
I definitely believe that this has had a big impact on the more desirable and sought after residencies becoming harder for IMGs and FMGs to snag. However, I still see evidence that some of the less sought after places are still recruiting mostly FMGs and IMGs.
I am acquainted with several FMGs who managed to get university program spots this most recent match (albeit not in especially desirable cities). Maybe next year or in a few more years this may no longer be true, but at least for now it seems realistic for an IMG/FMG to find spots at lower tier places.
Even though I hadn't followed the match stats, I know there are more American grads graduating every year, and the word on the street seems to indicate that people are starting to catch on that psych is a "lifestyle" field that has flown under the radar. I don't know if you were around last year when I posted my tale of woe, but my comment about the match being a crap shoot is based on my personal experience as someone with a strong application (above average USMLE, good LORs, clearly demonstrated interest in psych - good enough to get interviews at some of the top psych residencies) who went unmatched on my first attempt. Not matching was one of the worst things I've ever experienced, so I always try to warn people to not underestimate residency spot competition these days.
I definitely believe that this has had a big impact on the more desirable and sought after residencies becoming harder for IMGs and FMGs to snag. However, I still see evidence that some of the less sought after places are still recruiting mostly FMGs and IMGs.
I am acquainted with several FMGs who managed to get university program spots this most recent match (albeit not in especially desirable cities). Maybe next year or in a few more years this may no longer be true, but at least for now it seems realistic for an IMG/FMG to find spots at lower tier places.
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I'd question this. Only 6 U.S. seniors failed to match last year if they ranked at least 8 programs. Only 1 U.S. senior failed to match last year that ranked more than 11 programs.
The match rate went from 96 to 94% between 2007 and 2009. I agree that Psych appears to be getting more competitive, but so are most specialties, no?
US grads were 66% of the slots in Psychiatry in 2007. In 2009 it was 63%. IMGs and AMGs still make up a large minority of Psych slots out there and that doesn't seem to have changed yet.
I have a hunch Psych, like any specialty with a decent lifestyle, will keep getting more competitive, but it's still one of the easier matches, statistically.
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Indeed ALL specialties are getting more competitive and psychiatry is riding along with it. Pretty soon, it's going to be impossible to match in anything if you are foreign grad and have failed anything.
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Look for programs you've never heard of in states you couldn't locate on a blank map. Then, take a look at their residents. This isn't perfect, but likely about as accurate as any other option.
number of spots:number of usa applicants
agreed
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If folks are really worried about this, they should check out the nrmp.org website, which has a data section.
They've posted the data for this year's match, and in spite of a lot of discussion that's gone around, by my read, it ain't revolutionary. Psych seems to be getting slightly more competitive, as all specialties are, but not frighteningly so.
Psych (like all specialties) is getting more competitive. IMGs will likely feel the pinch the most. While applications were up 2.2% overall, FMG apps decreased by 3.2% but the number of IMGs increased by 9.0% (the glut due to non-regulated number of seats maybe?).
But looking at the data, especially combined with the 2009 Charting Outcomes analysis seems to tell the consistent story: the biggest reason for not matching is ranking too few programs. Apply broadly enough and the odds are very high that you'll find a home somewhere.
They've posted the data for this year's match, and in spite of a lot of discussion that's gone around, by my read, it ain't revolutionary. Psych seems to be getting slightly more competitive, as all specialties are, but not frighteningly so.
Agreed. 741 U.S. seniors applied to psychiatry (and some of them as a back-up for other specialties they also applied to). Even if all 741 U.S. seniors were to match to psychiatry, 32% of the spots would still be open to IMGs/FMGs. As it was,this year, 38.6% when to IMGs/FMGs.there will always be a need for imgs based on a very simple ratio.
number of spots:number of usa applicants
Psych (like all specialties) is getting more competitive. IMGs will likely feel the pinch the most. While applications were up 2.2% overall, FMG apps decreased by 3.2% but the number of IMGs increased by 9.0% (the glut due to non-regulated number of seats maybe?).
But looking at the data, especially combined with the 2009 Charting Outcomes analysis seems to tell the consistent story: the biggest reason for not matching is ranking too few programs. Apply broadly enough and the odds are very high that you'll find a home somewhere.
