Maximizing the Chances for IMGs to be Match Into Competitive Residency Programs

[Damon Mikaelis]

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Hi Everyone:

I think it is time to start a new thread where we can give information to students who want to study abroad and show them what lies ahead. Since it is a huge investment physically, mentally, and financially. I tried finding information myself, but to be short the threads are either old or do not apply. Maybe I'm wrong, since I am new to the forum and I do not think I have broke in yet. Either way, I do not think it will hurt. So here's my story.

I am in a dilemma between going abroad or staying here in Canada. The reason why I am even thinking of it is due to the hard path that I will have to follow, if I do. There are and will be more massive obstacles that will stay in my way if I get into medical school here, for many personal reasons. Which is why I want to go abroad, and finish my degree without any complication. However searching through the web, there are a lot of horror stories; maybe not stories, I guess you will have to help me with that.

So if I go to Ireland to study medicine via Atlantic bridge, or any other school for that matter, what are my chances to obtain residency in radiology or any other competitive specialty? What do I have to do specifically to do just that? (getting the information for myself as well, once I do I will post as well) and what can an IMG do to make his/her life easier? I guess the goal of this thread is to discover what we can do to maximize chance for an IMG to be matched into a residency program that is competitive, such as radiology. I look forward to it. 🙂

*I apologize if there is any grammar mistakes, it is because I am writing this at 3AM. Please forgive me if I do.

 

[CDI]

- Get reincarnated as an AMG.

- Become a PA or DNP and wait a few years till they miraculously are deemed equals in specialties.

- Bribe.

- Get a 270+/280+.

 

[Damon Mikaelis]

lol, so graduating from an American Medical School gives you a much better advantage?

 

[KLPM]

lol, so graduating from an American Medical School gives you a much better advantage?

I am not sure if that's a serious question. I am open to be corrected though.

The PA/DNP seems pretty serious though.

 

[Damon Mikaelis]

No it was a serious question. In my case anything that might seem silly to you, may seem serious to me. Please understand that I am completely new what happens after graduating med school. I know the graduate has to find a residency spot, but that is about it. I do not even know how the step scores are even worked out, is 270+ like a 95%+? So I guess I am making a thread to inform people like me? Hopefully in the future, I can help others who are in the same position I am.

 

[colbgw02]

No it was a serious question. In my case anything that might seem silly to you, may seem serious to me. Please understand that I am completely new what happens after graduating med school. I know the graduate has to find a residency spot, but that is about it. I do not even know how the step scores are even worked out, is 270+ like a 95%+? So I guess I am making a thread to inform people like me? Hopefully in the future, I can help others who are in the same position I am.

FMGs tend to have a huge variance in quality, which makes it difficult prospectively to judge an applicant. Some of it is just plain, old-fashioned bias.

It's also because our GME system is funded almost exclusively with federal tax dollars, so the system has a responsibility to ensure that the physician requirements of the U.S. are being met. Your personal plans notwithstanding, foreign physicians are more likely to practice outside of the U.S. than American ones.

Radiology remains competitive enough in the U.S. that the majority of programs can afford to be picky. They overwhelmingly choose allopathic U.S. MDs because they are the safe choice, both in terms of quality of resident and with respect to future practice location. There are plenty of exceptions to this, but they're just that - exceptions.

If you know as little about U.S. licensure and the match as you claim, then you have a lot of research to do. And SDN isn't really the place to do it. Check out the websites for USMLE and NRMP as a starting point.

 

[greg1184]

Step 1 Step 1 Step 1. It is the medicine equivalent of someones... "size" 😉 and they love to look at it.

 

[CDI]

Step 1 Step 1 Step 1. It is the medicine equivalent of someones... "size" 😉 and they love to look at it.

*looks down*

Maybe I can overcompensate with Step 2?

 

[KLPM]

Step 1 Step 1 Step 1. It is the medicine equivalent of someones... "size" 😉 and they love to look at it.

Where do implants come in?

 

[hrw2000]

Letter of Recommendations from US faculty would help I guess.