How many interviews have you been invited to so far?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
I got my first interview invitation yesterday. And its right here in town. No moving away from my wife and children, or moving them (the public schools are amazing here).

I got a call today from a program wanting to ask me some questions about my file - but I returned their phone call too late and missed them. I am hoping its still there Monday. The loal place that invited me sent me an email asking for a letter from my previous program director, which I sent . Then they sent an email saying they had 2 dates open in November and a date open in January - I called them on the phone a few hours later and the November dates were filled already. So I am hoping this other program has some dates open when I call Monday.

I feel it is basically a miracle to be getting invites being a middle aged, FMG from Caribbean school with mediocre (at best) USMLE scores - who resigned from a program. Last year this time I had about a dozen invites - but considering I resigned this sluggish response is to be expected. And actually I feel I am really learning how the application and invite system works - what turns heads and makes PD's overlook deficiencies. hahahaha
 
Only 10 of 36 so far. I'm starting to worry a little bit, especially since there are programs that I applied to that have started inviting...but the weird thing is some of these were a reach, some were safeties, and some were solid programs I thought I was a sure shot for. And my interviews are exactly the same thing (mix of reach and safety). What the heck is going on???
 
Only 10 of 36 so far. I'm starting to worry a little bit, especially since there are programs that I applied to that have started inviting...but the weird thing is some of these were a reach, some were safeties, and some were solid programs I thought I was a sure shot for. And my interviews are exactly the same thing (mix of reach and safety). What the heck is going on???

ONLY 10?!

Unless those 36 were all prelim programs, I think you're fine.

10 interviews in any field should be more than sufficient to match.
 
15 of 87 IM programs so far...just got an invite today which i thought was kind of odd being sunday and all, but im not complaining
 
Hello every body,
I am an IMG and have applied on Sep1 this year for 80 IM applications. What I got till now is 11 rejections and no single interview!!! 😕
My CV:
Step 1: 93 (223) 1st attempt
Step 2: 96 (233) 1st attempt
CS: pass (2nd attempt)
no fails during medical study, very good graduation score
2-mo USCE at UTMB-Galveston
4 LOR, 2 of which from US physicians (one is good, 2nd is very good)
1 year internship
3 mo voluntary work
doing now a transitional residency in IM in my country


please Help me find a solution to the panic I am facing. Thanks for every reply.
 
Hello every body,
I am an IMG and have applied on Sep1 this year for 80 IM applications. What I got till now is 11 rejections and no single interview!!! 😕
My CV:
Step 1: 93 (223) 1st attempt
Step 2: 96 (233) 1st attempt
CS: pass (2nd attempt)
no fails during medical study, very good graduation score
2-mo USCE at UTMB-Galveston
4 LOR, 2 of which from US physicians (one is good, 2nd is very good)
1 year internship
3 mo voluntary work
doing now a transitional residency in IM in my country


please Help me find a solution to the panic I am facing. Thanks for every reply.

could it be the limited USCE?? i see you have a 1 year internship and some vol work, but i dont know how that factors in, and if it would make up for small sample of USCE. I know a lot of programs have a required minimum for US clinical experience.
 
ONLY 10?!

Unless those 36 were all prelim programs, I think you're fine.

10 interviews in any field should be more than sufficient to match.

They're all categorical, but of the interviews I've gotten, 4 are safety programs that I now think I'd rather scramble into a prelim than match at. So really, more like 6 out of 36. About 10 are competitive places that traditionally wait for the deans letter, but still not liking my odds here.
 
could it be the limited USCE?? i see you have a 1 year internship and some vol work, but i dont know how that factors in, and if it would make up for small sample of USCE. I know a lot of programs have a required minimum for US clinical experience.

Thanks wylie,
your emphasis on USCE relieves me partially as if u r saying that the cause is unlikely to be my USMLE scores and the 2nd attempt the thing that worries me actually more than the experience, am I right?
 
Thanks wylie,
your emphasis on USCE relieves me partially as if u r saying that the cause is unlikely to be my USMLE scores and the 2nd attempt the thing that worries me actually more than the experience, am I right?

yea basically, i do not know for sure if I'M right about the USCE, but i can pretty much assure you that YOU are right in thinking that your scores are not the hindering factor. those are great scores and definitely warrant invites. and the pass on the 2nd attempt isnt as big a deal as you would think. good luck, hope things start happening for you
 
yea basically, i do not know for sure if I'M right about the USCE, but i can pretty much assure you that YOU are right in thinking that your scores are not the hindering factor. those are great scores and definitely warrant invites. and the pass on the 2nd attempt isnt as big a deal as you would think. good luck, hope things start happening for you

Thanks very much, good luck for u too
 
Hello every body,
I am an IMG and have applied on Sep1 this year for 80 IM applications. What I got till now is 11 rejections and no single interview!!! 😕
My CV:
Step 1: 93 (223) 1st attempt
Step 2: 96 (233) 1st attempt
CS: pass (2nd attempt)
no fails during medical study, very good graduation score
2-mo USCE at UTMB-Galveston
4 LOR, 2 of which from US physicians (one is good, 2nd is very good)
1 year internship
3 mo voluntary work
doing now a transitional residency in IM in my country

please Help me find a solution to the panic I am facing. Thanks for every reply.

I am sorry to hear that. based on what I see on paper you are way more qualified than myself, but not doing as well with invitations.

I do think for IM and FM there is a strategy to get your application seen by the PD. I used a 3 step application process to get interviews and my credentials look waayyyyy less stellar than yours. Prior to September 1st I had personal emails from several PD's and program coordinators telling me they would specifically be looking for my application. I have been rejected by some of those (not all), but at least I knew they pulled my application out of the pile.

you have to remember that many of the IM programs get 1-2 thousand applications, and despite good USMLE numbers (which you have) you have to make sure yours is seen.

I think a successful match season starts in June or before. Sending your application in is the second step of the process. Step one begins months before.

Feel free to PM me. My advice may be more suited for USA citizen FMG's that IMG's, but if I can be of help I would love to.

I hope this season turns out fine for you, but if not maybe my strategy would yield benefits for you next year. Good luck
 
I am sorry to hear that. based on what I see on paper you are way more qualified than myself, but not doing as well with invitations.

I do think for IM and FM there is a strategy to get your application seen by the PD. I used a 3 step application process to get interviews and my credentials look waayyyyy less stellar than yours. Prior to September 1st I had personal emails from several PD's and program coordinators telling me they would specifically be looking for my application. I have been rejected by some of those (not all), but at least I knew they pulled my application out of the pile.

you have to remember that many of the IM programs get 1-2 thousand applications, and despite good USMLE numbers (which you have) you have to make sure yours is seen.

I think a successful match season starts in June or before. Sending your application in is the second step of the process. Step one begins months before.

Feel free to PM me. My advice may be more suited for USA citizen FMG's that IMG's, but if I can be of help I would love to.

I hope this season turns out fine for you, but if not maybe my strategy would yield benefits for you next year. Good luck

Sorry for late reply, I am the night flaughter and had freqent calls. I would like to thank u very much, that alleviates my fever!

I am to send u PM Doowai.
 
What?! 2 Apps?! Unless your father is the PD of one of the programs and your mother is the PD of the other one that's an extraordinarily risky proposition.

Not related to them at all, no guarantees whatsoever. But I've decided I won't move to do a residency. Either I get what I want, when (now) and where I want, or I'm going to change the direction of my life. But I am very hopeful I'll stay here. 🙂
 
I waaaay overapplied, basically b/c I am gunning for difficult locations to place into. And Anesthesia's competitiveness is slightly overhyped. I applied > 50 Anesthesia program. So far about 20 invites. No rejections ... yet. US grad, 99 on Step I and II. Absolutely NOT AOA.
 
US IMG, Step I 230+, Step 2 CS Pass, Step 2 CK score pending, strong letters, been told PS very strong, all clinical rotations in US. No research. Applied to 84 Psych, 20 interview invites so far, still rolling in. A few top tier invites, good mix overall. Frustrated in one respect - haven't heard from hometown program yet, though not a top tier program.
 
Last edited:
You're going on 20 Psych. interviews? I hear that's not a good idea; high chance of burning out. I applied to 16, going on 10 interviews.
 
You're going on 20 Psych. interviews? I hear that's not a good idea; high chance of burning out. I applied to 16, going on 10 interviews.
Sorry, my original post may have been unclear, so I have edited it. I received 20 invitations to interview so far. I have not yet decided precisely how many of them I shall actually schedule and attend - money and time and energy and the attactiveness of each interview in turn will likely determine that as the season progresses. I am an IMG, and so I cast my net wide for this and other reasons.
Have a great day.
 
I've applied to a total of 26 programs and have thus far heard back from 13 of them. Of the 13 I've heard from, I have been granted 12/13 interviews. I think the other 13 are waiting for the dean's letter. I'm looking forward to Nov 1st so I can finally hear from all the programs.

Good luck to you all!
 
hi frnds

i have no ivs so far
indian img
no visa required but scores are not tht great
excellent 2 lors
applied on 11 oct
4 rejections in fm
applied to im , fm n med-peds
already loosing hopes
🙁
 
2 interviews, 2 rejection, out of 21 programs
 
panicked and applied to 50 something ACGME surgery programs as a DO student with average gen surg admission stats. So far granted 12 interviews, and only 2 rejections :hardy:
 
SO far I am pretty happy with how its going, I got another interview offer today. So far all of them have been near my wife and children or near my parents (both considered hometowns and places I would enjoy living).

No prematch offers yet. But I am lucky to get interviews this year, heck I was lucky to get all the ones I did last year.

Ochdoc, since you don't need a visa I would think that would be a big plus. Do you have USA experience?

I have a couple of suggestions, contact me via PM if you want. Maybe they might help. Interviews are still coming in, I got a new one today. So its still possible, Ochdoc. Don't give up hope.
 
SO far I am pretty happy with how its going, I got another interview offer today. So far all of them have been near my wife and children or near my parents (both considered hometowns and places I would enjoy living).

No prematch offers yet. But I am lucky to get interviews this year, heck I was lucky to get all the ones I did last year.

Ochdoc, since you don't need a visa I would think that would be a big plus. Do you have USA experience?

I have a couple of suggestions, contact me via PM if you want. Maybe they might help. Interviews are still coming in, I got a new one today. So its still possible, Ochdoc. Don't give up hope.


hi Doowai
thanks for reply
i really appreciate it
i messaged u kindly respond when u get tht

regards
rachna
 
hi Doowai
thanks for reply
i really appreciate it
i messaged u kindly respond when u get tht

regards
rachna

yeah no worries , bro.

if you prefer I can give you my email and you can send me an email instead next time. hope it helps.

Ideall I think FMG's/IMGs need to start the process around May, in 3 distint steps.
 
yeah no worries , bro.

if you prefer I can give you my email and you can send me an email instead next time. hope it helps.

Ideall I think FMG's/IMGs need to start the process around May, in 3 distint steps.


yes Doowai
i got your point i m thinking about joining some medical assistant work etc to get good lors or do u suggest me to do some rotation in good hospitals ?
i have 2 excellent lors from university hospitals in new york
but i dont knw this yr nothing is working also i applied quite late coz i was waiting for my result in 8th oct
anyway many thanks to u
i will appreciate if u can give me a mail or give your id so tht i can mail u

many thanks n regards
rachna

[email protected]
 
Applied to 140 IM programs ,30 peds,30 med-peds on 2nd sep,2008.
Not a single interview so far.
4 rejections in med-peds,4 in peds,25 in IM.
Credentials :step-1 =231(96) ,
step-2ck =203(83),

Step-2CS=pass (second attempt),1US LOR,

Within 3 yrs of graduation.

Have Lost all hope.

Wasted all my money.

All sugestions are welcome.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Applied to 140 IM programs ,30 peds,30 med-peds on 2nd sep,2008.
Not a single interview so far.
4 rejections in med-peds,4 in peds,25 in IM.
Credentials :step-1 =231(96) ,
step-2ck =203(83),

Step-2CS=pass (second attempt),1US LOR,

Within 3 yrs of graduation.

Have Lost all hope.

Wasted all my money.

All sugestions are welcome.

Thanks.

Other than failing CS on your first attempt is there anything that might be seen as a red flag on your app? Why do you only have 1 US LOR? If you lack US clinical experience that might be holding you back.
 
Other than failing CS on your first attempt is there anything that might be seen as a red flag on your app? Why do you only have 1 US LOR? If you lack US clinical experience that might be holding you back.

Thanks for your response.

I can think of nothing else there which can be seen as a red flag.
I have also mentoned my 2 yrs. continuous clinical experience in my country.
Yep,I lack USCE .That might be holding me back.
But, what can be done now at this time ?
Preparing for step-3,but not yet ready to take it.

I think I wasted a very huge sum of 4000 USD on applications.

Thanks again.
 
Last edited:
did you have someone read/check you personal statement ?
1 US LOR w/o it saying you worked for it ?
did you apply to IM "community" programs ?
get some apps into FM, pretty similar to IM, might be tough to change to IM, or dont apply if you dont want to work w/ kids/pregnants.
 
did you have someone read/check you personal statement ?
1 US LOR w/o it saying you worked for it ?
did you apply to IM "community" programs ?
get some apps into FM, pretty similar to IM, might be tough to change to IM, or dont apply if you dont want to work w/ kids/pregnants.


Applied to many community programs in new yok, ohio,pensyl,etc.
The LOR reads like :


( "I have known --------for almost a year"
. From the very beginning it became apparent that he is an exceptional candidate with great knowledge, clinical skills and a remarkable attitude.
"On personal note, I find ------- to be very likeable, hardworking and intelligent young physician. He is well liked by his peers and nursing staff alike")



Did not get my personal statement checked by anyone else.
Is there a chance that my personal statement may be doing some harm to my applications?
Sorry to say, but am not interested in FM.
Thanks indeed for your response.
 
Last edited:
A badly written personal statement can hurt an application. It might further impress upon a committee that you have difficulty with english (in view of the original Step 2CS fail and pass on second attempt). A significant drop from step 1 to step 2 may also make some question the strength of your clinical abilities and communication.

Also, how many total letters do you have? Most require 3 including a letter from a IM Dept chair.
 
A badly written personal statement can hurt an application. It might further impress upon a committee that you have difficulty with english (in view of the original Step 2CS fail and pass on second attempt). A significant drop from step 1 to step 2 may also make some question the strength of your clinical abilities and communication.

Also, how many total letters do you have? Most require 3 including a letter from a IM Dept chair.

Thanks,

I have assigned three LORs to all the programs.
My english is quite strong.
Also ,I can say with certainty that my PS is atleast free from grammatical mistakes.
Is there anything I can do to improve my chances at this point of time?
Thanks.
 
I got my first interview in IM only after I called the program.
I attended the interview and it went well.
I do also know that one interview can not make any significant change.
 
I got my first interview in IM only after I called the program.
I attended the interview and it went well.
I do also know that one interview can not make any significant change.

But it may end up being all you needed... Good luck! 🙂
 
Top