No interviews, what now???

[hippoppop]

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Applied 64 programs, all mid-range standard community programs.....

11 rejected my appliation........no interviews.....what to do now? anyone?

 

[bluealiendoctor]

The inevitable question: What field? If you applied to 64 EM...wait for November. If IM: Still wait for November but start to plan for the scramble. FM: Are you IMG? USMLE trouble? Either way, there's not really anything you can do...If the rejecting programs listed why you were rejected..make sure there are no mistakes in your applicaton i.e. Scores are there, transcripts, LOR..etc. If your scores are fine and you have no visa issues...make sure there isn't some crazy mistake on your file. Programs are very busy so have some patience...November is still to come.

 

[hippoppop]

FMG. good step 1 and 2 score. Research and publications. 1 year working experience (not in USA). 2 months USA experiences. 2 letters from US PDs, and 2 from UK professors. applying General surgery........

 

[Winged Scapula]

Surgery interviews come later than most other specialties. Some programs may wait until your Dean's letter is in next week.

But there is clearly a problem with your application. Is visa status an issue?

 

[SLUser11]

FMG. good step 1 and 2 score. Research and publications. 1 year working experience (not in USA). 2 months USA experiences. 2 letters from US PDs, and 2 from UK professors. applying General surgery........

Your question might have received more helpful advice over in our surgical forum. You can peruse that forum to see which programs have already given out invites.

WS is right that some surgery invites come later, but for you to have 0/64 invites with 11 rejections is not a good sign, especially since they're all community programs. There must be a big red flag somewhere on your application.

You don't have to tell us, but is there something negative about your application that you're not including? Any failed USMLE attempts? Breaks/gaps in your education? Which school are you coming from?

Either way, it sounds like your chances of matching are poor, and if you're dedicated to general surgery, I would recommend aiming towards a good preliminary surgery position. The 2 different (but often overlapping) approaches to this are 1) aim for the nice program that will look good on your transcript, or 2) aim for the program where a lot of residents quit or get fired, making frequent PGY-2 openings for you to slip into next year.

 

[hippoppop]

B1 visa holder....all steps passed within first attempts...waiting for CS score now, not ECFMG certified yet, but will be before match....should i contact the rest of the program?

 

[Miami_med]

As someone applying for the GS match this year (and thus spending a lot of time researching this topic), I'd have to tell you that it is pretty rare in the last couple of years for FMGs to match into categorical GS positions. I know many who are now categorical, but the VAST majority did prelim years. Your red flag may simply be that you are not a US citizen and have limited clinical experience in the US. The reality is that there is now virtual equilibrium between US grads applying to G-surg and positions. There have also been like 3 residency closures in the last year or so.

Sorry. Hope it helps.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Miami Med is right....

competition for non-US citizens without ECFMG certification (some programs require it) and limited USCE (some programs require 6 -12 months) for a categorical gen surg position is fierce.

Have you applied to any Prelim positions?

 

[masterofmonkeys]

might be a good idea to let them know that your ECFMG status will be finalized before match. Read someone else on the forums say that the reason they were rejected by a cali school was because the programs did not realize their california letter was pending.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree w/it being hard to get a gen. surg spot if you are an IMG, based on what I have observed. Apply to prelim spots as a backup. Do it now.

Also, having not passed the Step 2 CS yet may be a red flag. They just may not want to mess with wondering about whether someone will pass vs. not, or whether someone is ECFMG certified. They don't have to, so why should the programs bother?

 

[escape78]

Being a FMG and having researched the match process for FMG's extensively and having worked in the UK as well, I have come to realize that unless 'board certified' most programs will not consider a FMG.

I am applying for an Anesthesiology residency this year and so have also applied for IM Prelims and Surgical Prelims, have great step 1 and 2 scores and 2.5 years UK training experience plus 4 months US clinical experience and a Green card.

In spite of all the above I have received an extremely mediocre number of interviews and a pethora of rejections and so can totally understand what you are going through.

As dragonfly99 mentioned the programs maybe waiting to get hear about your CS outcome before offering you an interview.

I would personally apply for Prelims too, as once you get your foot in the door apparently it gets better! (or so I've been told!)

 

[hippoppop]

Thank for your reply, escape78...pardon me, but i do not understand what u mean by:

"I have come to realize that unless 'board certified' most programs will not consider a FMG."

Board-certified = ECFMG certified??

Thanks

 

[escape78]

Yes, Sorry, my mistake.
I meant to say ECFMG certified!
Good luck!