Has anyone applied to both Canadian and US residency programs?

[nerv12]

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Just wondering if anyone applied to both of the residency programs and which where they most hopeful for? Was anyone an IMG? which did you get matched in?

For Canadian residency I know you have to pass the MCCEE exam in order to apply for residency but what about the US? USMLE 1 to apply or do we have to take all 3?

If I do go abroad (currently a Canadian citizen) for med school, is it worth applying to both the US and Canadian residency programs? I mean taking all these exams...is it worth it?

thanks..

 

[Winged Scapula]

If you go abroad for medical school as a Canadian citizen, you have to be aware that your chances of matching, both in the US and Canada, are much lower. Canada is especially stringent on allowing foreign trained citizens to return to Canada for training.

In addition to the USMLE 1, you should also be aware that you will most likely need to take USMLE 2 and perhaps even have the ECMFG certificate even to apply. More and more US programs are requiring this and given the fact that you are years away from applying for residency, this is only likely to get more stringent.

It is premature for you to be thinking about this as the laws and expectations change frequently. As it stands now, getting into a Canadian residency will depend on where you go to medical school and what residency you are applying to. But in general, many Canadians do apply to both US and Canadian residencies to maximize their chances of training somewhere...so the answer is that yes, it is worth it to take the exams.

 

[Acherona]

I agree, it will be harder to get a residency spot as an IMG in Canada than the US, even if you are a Canadian citizen. The ratio of residency spots: Canadian grads is much closer to 1 than it is in the US, so there are just fewer spots to go to foreigners. You'll be limited basically to Family med (which is in a better state in Canada than the States anyway).