US IMG - help needed

[IMG Anes]

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Hi, as you may be able to tell, I am new to this forum.

So, a little about myself...

I am a US citizen who resides in Kuwait and who has recently graduated from an American High School.

I have recently been accepted to Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain and will be starting next fall. Although I am very excited to be attending this school, I have a few concerns.

Being a US IMG, at how big of a disadvantage am I (relative to American Medical Graduates) when it comes to matching into a US residency - specifically one such as anesthesiology (my desired specialty), taking into consideration that my prospective graduation date will be in 2017?

Also, I have browsed a bit through this website and have found that there are quite a few people who are like myself; so I would kindly like to ask those that were in the same boat I am now; what did you do/ what steps did you take that ultimately got you into a residency that is not particularly easy to match into?

If someone could give me a few tips/steps I should take, being a US IMG, that could be beneficial in helping to match into an anesthesiology residency, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Thank you

 

[IMG Anes]

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[IMG Anes]

Bump

 

[rrs3]

Relative to American Medical Graduates you are at a huge disadvantage. Basically AMG (MD's and DO's) essentially get first pick when it comes to residency spots. You will have the opportunity of competing for the residency spots that are unmatched among the AMG's. These are spots that you will be competing with with all other IMG's in the match. Anesthesiology will be very hard to obtain in the future. Your best bet is Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry and Pediatrics. Those are the residency slots that have been most foreign friendly in the past. Additionally, you must absolutely kill the USMLE Step 1. Often times you must score higher than your American counterparts in American Medical School and the Caribbean Medical School. Reason being, these schools have a curriculum based around preparing you for the USMLE. I'm pretty sure, by going abroad, you will have to study the USMLE on your own. It is a very hard test and don't take it lightly. Start studying as soon as possible.

Lastly, I would say the number one most important thing in landing a good residency in the states is your USMLE Step 1 score. Your next priority is ensuring your clinical rotations are done in the states. This is because you're going to want recommendation letters from the Attendings to show in your interview for residency positions. Additionally, make sure these are valid greenbook core rotations. I hope RCSI Bahrain has some affiliate hospitals in the US. Anyways, good luck.

 

[Medstart108]

Hi, as you may be able to tell, I am new to this forum.

So, a little about myself...

I am a US citizen who resides in Kuwait and who has recently graduated from an American High School.

I have recently been accepted to Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain and will be starting next fall. Although I am very excited to be attending this school, I have a few concerns.

Being a US IMG, at how big of a disadvantage am I (relative to American Medical Graduates) when it comes to matching into a US residency - specifically one such as anesthesiology (my desired specialty), taking into consideration that my prospective graduation date will be in 2017?

Also, I have browsed a bit through this website and have found that there are quite a few people who are like myself; so I would kindly like to ask those that were in the same boat I am now; what did you do/ what steps did you take that ultimately got you into a residency that is not particularly easy to match into?

If someone could give me a few tips/steps I should take, being a US IMG, that could be beneficial in helping to match into an anesthesiology residency, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Thank you

Take the USMLE Step 1 and study hard for it
Take the USMLE Step 2 CK and CS and study hard for it

US PDs don't know much about where your school is and how it is graded. So your USMLE Step 1 score is the only score that they know they can compare you and someone who studied in China, UK or India.

Get as much experience as possible in your target country, i.e the US. Do research/electives over the summers there. Try to get to know people and learn more about the US system etc.