Match Participation

[Enixander]

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Hi,

I am an IMG from Eastern Europe.

My step 1 is >260, step 2 in 2 months (delayed it by more than several months ,had problems getting ECFMG permission to register for CK and CS) hoping for a good score (will get result before September), step 2 cs scheduled for mid-august (will get result only in November), 2 months of US electives at harvard with honors, several excellent letters from harvard (one from MGH IM program director) + 3 months of US observerships, no visa needed)

I am graduating this July.

As you see, I will get step 2 CS result in November=ECFMG certification, not before September as most people recommend.

Do you feel like it will affect the number of interviews I am going to receive? When should I apply for a match? right after I get step 2 CS result or in mid September? or maybe even next year?

Overall, how would you rate an interviewing atmosphere for a fresh grad IMG with good scores and some USCE, but no pubs ?

Will withdrawing from/not matching jeopardize my chances of getting into a good residency next year? (I would prefer spending one more year doing research at harvard vs matching at some community program)

Do you think I should spend 2 years instead of one (interview year) doing research at MGH to get into a solid university-based IM program?

Thank you very much in advance,

Enixander

 

[pooh86]

Hi,

I am an IMG from Eastern Europe.

My step 1 is >260, step 2 in 2 months (delayed it by more than several months ,had problems getting ECFMG permission to register for CK and CS) hoping for a good score (will get result before September), step 2 cs scheduled for mid-august (will get result only in November), 2 months of US electives at harvard with honors, several excellent letters from harvard (one from MGH IM program director) + 3 months of US observerships, no visa needed)

I am graduating this July.

As you see, I will get step 2 CS result in November=ECFMG certification, not before September as most people recommend.

Do you feel like it will affect the number of interviews I am going to receive? When should I apply for a match? right after I get step 2 CS result or in mid September? or maybe even next year?

Overall, how would you rate an interviewing atmosphere for a fresh grad IMG with good scores and some USCE, but no pubs ?

Will withdrawing from/not matching jeopardize my chances of getting into a good residency next year? (I would prefer spending one more year doing research at harvard vs matching at some community program)

Do you think I should spend 2 years instead of one (interview year) doing research at MGH to get into a solid university-based IM program?

Thank you very much in advance,

Enixander

Which field are you interested in matching into? your chances for Family Medicine is vastly different than something like Plastics.

 

[Enixander]

Internal medicine, goal - at least mid tier university based program.
My main question right now is which one is better:
fresh grad, only several months in research by the time of the interview, no publications VS not so fresh grad, more than a year in clinical research at harvard, most likely publication(s), one more letter, better english🙂 in terms of matching into a university-based internal medicine program?

 

[pooh86]

Hi,

I am an IMG from Eastern Europe.

My step 1 is >260, step 2 in 2 months (delayed it by more than several months ,had problems getting ECFMG permission to register for CK and CS) hoping for a good score (will get result before September), step 2 cs scheduled for mid-august (will get result only in November), 2 months of US electives at harvard with honors, several excellent letters from harvard (one from MGH IM program director) + 3 months of US observerships, no visa needed)

I am graduating this July.

As you see, I will get step 2 CS result in November=ECFMG certification, not before September as most people recommend.

Do you feel like it will affect the number of interviews I am going to receive? When should I apply for a match? right after I get step 2 CS result or in mid September? or maybe even next year?

Overall, how would you rate an interviewing atmosphere for a fresh grad IMG with good scores and some USCE, but no pubs ?

Will withdrawing from/not matching jeopardize my chances of getting into a good residency next year? (I would prefer spending one more year doing research at harvard vs matching at some community program)

Do you think I should spend 2 years instead of one (interview year) doing research at MGH to get into a solid university-based IM program?

Thank you very much in advance,

Enixander

Umm I'm not in IM (peds) so take my opinion with a grain of salt. However, I feel that with your step 1, US electives and taking step 2 in Aug, you don't need to do multiple years of research to help you get into a academic residency. Research isn't very important in IM and it's difficult to obtain significant research data within a yr. If you wait 2, 3 years for the publications, that's too far out from medical school. As an IMG, they are more worried about your language ability and your medical knowledge rather than how much publications. You already proved your medical knowledge in Step 1. Your recommendations will hopefully testify to your language skills.

My medical school's IM residency had a preference of US grad to IMGs and they almost always ranked US grads higher than IMGs no matter what Step grades the IMGs had or how many publications. Therefore increasing the number of publications/research you do most likely won't change the fact that you're IMG or improve your chances of residency.

I do think with your scores, you should receive plenty of interviews if you apply broadly. You should apply for the 2013-2014 match in Sept. Don't wait for your scores. Also, once you commit to applying, don't withdraw. withdrawing or not matching will definitely hurt your chances in the future. I know community programs might not have the big names but trust me, it's much better than not matching at all.

Good luck!

 

[Enixander]

Well.. The fact which turns me towards research is that there are programs like MGH IM, Cornell which take several IMGs almost every year. I heard that Boston university took more than 10 IMGs last year.

I guess these programs have enough AMG applicants, but they still take IMGs, probably for diversity reasons.

So I thought that I am really competing with other IMGs with strong applications, not AMGs for these "diversity spots".

Compared to other international graduates I have a competitive score, us electives, nice letters, green card, but no american research experience at all.

Research can also provide some connections..

Well, maybe I am completely wrong...

 

[Winged Scapula]

Well.. The fact which turns me towards research is that there are programs like MGH IM, Cornell which take several IMGs almost every year. I heard that Boston university took more than 10 IMGs last year.

I guess these programs have enough AMG applicants, but they still take IMGs, probably for diversity reasons.

So I thought that I am really competing with other IMGs with strong applications, not AMGs for these "diversity spots".

Compared to other international graduates I have a competitive score, us electives, nice letters, green card, but no american research experience at all.

Research can also provide some connections..

Well, maybe I am completely wrong...

1) are those positions Preliminary or Categorical IM?

2) you don't need to train at an Ivy League program to get a good education

3) IMHO the research is unnecessary given the rest of your application and won't likely outweigh the risks of waiting longer to apply.

 

[Enixander]

1) categorical
2) yes, but I want to end up working as a physician-scientist at mgh/brigham/md anderson. One of my electives was at MGH, another at BI, and even at this level atmosphere was vastly different.
However it is probably easier to get into a good fellowship after some mediocre internal medicine program than to get into a good internal medicine program from the start.
3)ok, thanks

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) categorical

I admit that I do not have definitive sources but you might want to check yours a little more closely. To wit:

1) Cornell lists 7 international residents (out of more than 100 in the IM Department) but only 1 is a PGY-3 and none are PGY-2s listed.

2) BU may take 10 IMGs as interns but they only have 6 Chiefs (only 1 of whom was trained outside of the US), so again I have to wonder if those 10 are perhaps Prelim IM residents, since there are no longer any pyramidal programs.

2) yes, but I want to end up working as a physician-scientist at mgh/brigham/md anderson. One of my electives was at MGH, another at BI, and even at this level atmosphere was vastly different.

You will get no argument from me there about the difference in atmosphere. I just think you need to be realistic about your chances in matching into such rarified air. Yes, IMGs do succeed in getting into great, competitive programs every year, but the numbers are very few, even with great USMLE scores and research. Many who do (for example, those who match in Plastics) often toil for years as researchers in the US before being given the chance. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but make sure you apply broadly to a wide range of programs.

The green card will be a big hand up in your application as programs won't have to worry about visas.

However it is probably easier to get into a good fellowship after some mediocre internal medicine program than to get into a good internal medicine program from the start.

That is true.

 

[Enixander]

You are probably right about Cornell, but information about BU is from one of their residents. MGH takes 2 imgs every year(saw myself, one from Africa, another from Europe or South America)

I also thought that one year in US will improve my English to the level that I won't have any problems expressing my thoughts during the interviews.
My English is ok now, but it is not perfect.(toefl >110/120, but not 120, and my weakest section was speaking). One more factor is that I am at least 3 years younger than American graduates, so I probably look a little bit immature.

The other thing is that I don't know much about life in the United States and need some time to explore local political system, health care system and it's problems and etc.

Another question I have is will matching the preliminary program improve my chances of getting into a good program later?

Overall, what is the realistic plan?

Thanks for your help.