Understanding NRMP (Match) Data

[SMDoc]

I'm considering going abroad for medical school and I recently stumbled upon NRMP Data. The numbers were quite frightening and I am confused about a few things.

1. There are a lot of IMGs 5095 applied compared to 17487 US Grads. 7568 FMGs (Page 1)
2. There are a lot of IMGs not matching (page 22). Even from the big 4 (page 22)
3. There are still some FMGs (non US Citizens) matching. (page 22)

How is it possible that there are US Citizen Big 4 grads not matching whereas FMGs (non US) matching. Wouldn't program directors want American students before taking foreign students?

I was considering going to Poland, as I want to avoid a for profit school. However, there were only 46 students across 5 English speaking programs in Poland that matched as opposed to the 79 that didn't match-really low match rates (37%). SGU seems to be doing really well (67% match).

What happens to these IMG students who don't successfully match? I have heard of the scramble-how many of them can find a spot. It would be horrific to graduate and pass the boards and not have a spot lined up.

Source: http://b83c73bcf0e7ca356c80-e8560f4...atch-International-Medical-Graduates-2014.pdf

 

[AnalisCanalis]

Thank you for the link, I've been looking for it.

I imagine the reason some of the US-IMGs did not match, while some FMGs did, is because the FMGs were simply stronger candidates. Generally speaking, the US-IMGs are the ones who did not get accepted to med school in the US, while the FMGs who matched were probably the strongest students academically in their particular country.