IMG applying without MPSE/Deans letter?

[NeedToStudy]

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How big of an obstacle is this? I'm not talking about competitive programs but specialties where IMGs are known to match into (IM, FM, Psych, Neuro, etc.). As long as your usmle scores are good would an absent MPSE make a difference?

 

[rokshana]

why don't you have one?

 

[MDtoUSMLE]

It's important for AMGs only. Many IMGs especially the old graduates match without it. If you don't upload one then ERAS will substitute it with a plain sheet in lieu just to make your application looks complete when you submit the app. But any way, if you can get a sort of LOR from the dean under the title of deans letter this will be enough to substitute it.

 

[NeedToStudy]

It's important for AMGs only. Many IMGs especially the old graduates match without it. If you don't upload one then ERAS will substitute it with a plain sheet in lieu just to make your application looks complete when you submit the app. But any way, if you can get a sort of LOR from the dean under the title of deans letter this will be enough to substitute it.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[rokshana]

Thank you for the clarification.

well i don't think that is strictly correct…if your foreign school does do the MSPE (many do) and you don't have one then the question may be why? if you did indeed graduate many years ago and/or went to a school that doesn't do one, then it may not be a big issue.

and i wouldn't say that the MSPE coming form a foreign school done in the standardized format isn't looked at…and even if it isn't, omission of one when your school does one may raise some eyebrows….

 

[NeedToStudy]

well i don't think that is strictly correct…if your foreign school does do the MSPE (many do) and you don't have one then the question may be why? if you did indeed graduate many years ago and/or went to a school that doesn't do one, then it may not be a big issue.

and i wouldn't say that the MSPE coming form a foreign school done in the standardized format isn't looked at…and even if it isn't, omission of one when your school does one may raise some eyebrows….

Well if I went to a school where many graduates regularly come to the US for residency and my Dean regularly did MPSE's then I wouldn't be asking this question.

 

[thehundredthone]

Well if I went to a school where many graduates regularly come to the US for residency and my Dean regularly did MPSE's then I wouldn't be asking this question.

It's gotta start somewhere right? The MSPE is standardised now so if your Dean is open to it, it's possible to come up with one.

 

[MDtoUSMLE]

I don't know how many years experience the above colleagues have in guiding IMGs but am talking from at least 10 years in the guiding field.

 

[thehundredthone]

I don't see where the above colleagues have contradicted you in any way.

 

[rokshana]

I don't know how many years experience the above colleagues have in guiding IMGs but am talking from at least 10 years in the guiding field.

thats great, but it still doesn't mean that your emphatic statement is correct.

nice that you guide people, but i'm actually in the field.

 

[mcl]

I'm going to preface my remark by saying that my program is not particularly IMG-friendly, although we have had a few go through our program. We receive far more applications than we have interview spots, so in the initial screen process we are actually looking for a reason not to invite someone. An applicant who does not provide the documentation my program specifically requests on our website--which includes an MSPE--won't get reviewed by the selection committee because the application won't be considered complete. There are certainly programs that will waive the requirement for an applicant they otherwise like and want to interview--but if money is tight and an IMG is trying to target applications to the programs most likely to be interested, a call or email to the PC might be in order. I have occasionally received Dean's Letters as an LOR instead of an MSPE, and that's fine as long as we still receive the number and types of additional LORs stipulated in our requirements.