Can a 10-year-old IMG (U.S. citizen) get residency in the U.S.?
-
CycleTrack and SDN are teaming up to make medical school admissions more transparent and accessible! Read the announcement to learn how we’re supporting the future of CycleTrack’s free application-tracking tools .
IMG chances to match
Started by tatianalimo
Get help with your application
Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.
You graduated from medical school 10 years ago?
Have you been practicing in the interim?
When did you take your USMLE steps (scores?).
ECFMG?
Have you been practicing in the interim?
When did you take your USMLE steps (scores?).
ECFMG?
yes
stopped practicing about 5 years ago due to relocation to US
USMLE? ECFMG?
I am getting ready to take a step 1 in August
ECFMG
Do you have recent US "clinical" letters?
YOG (year of graduation) is a big factor in desirability. PD's have a selection screen that will eliminate just about anyone with a 10 year YOG. Applying to a specialty, programs and locations that are less preferred is key. So are strong USMLE scores (for all steps!) and the support of local physicians (academic, if possible).
YOG (year of graduation) is a big factor in desirability. PD's have a selection screen that will eliminate just about anyone with a 10 year YOG. Applying to a specialty, programs and locations that are less preferred is key. So are strong USMLE scores (for all steps!) and the support of local physicians (academic, if possible).
Last edited by a moderator:
The honest truth is that you'll have an uphill battle with this. Many programs use YOG as a filter screen, and often anyone more than 5, or 7, or 10 years is simply filtered out. It's not clear from your initial post, but if you're already 10 years out, it will likely be another 1-2 years before you're ready to apply and you'll be more than 10 years. Some programs may not have a cutoff, and you'll need to research program websites to sort this out. It depends upon what country/school you went to, and what type of experience you had in your home country.
As mentioned, if you do well on your USMLE exams and manage to get some US experience (likely an observership), then you will have some chance of getting a spot. Any clinical experience at a local program will increase your chances of getting a spot at that program, but is very hard to do. Only you can assess whether the cost of all of the USMLE exams is worth a chance at a spot. You'll need to be flexible about where you would train, and your choice of fields may be very limited.
As mentioned, if you do well on your USMLE exams and manage to get some US experience (likely an observership), then you will have some chance of getting a spot. Any clinical experience at a local program will increase your chances of getting a spot at that program, but is very hard to do. Only you can assess whether the cost of all of the USMLE exams is worth a chance at a spot. You'll need to be flexible about where you would train, and your choice of fields may be very limited.
