Selecting programs to apply to.....

[ScarletKnight]

To all the 4th years who are currently enduring the waiting game, I commend you for your accomplishments! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

While you wait, maybe you can garner some good karma by helping me a bit. Mind you many of these questions may be ridiculous. Nonetheless, I will ask:

1. Is there a resource I can use to find out roughly what percentage of PGY-1's entering a specific program (soecific hospital) are IMGs/FMGs?

2. Is there a resource I can use to find out how "good" a program is? i.e. some kind of ranking system.

3. How do I find out how many residents ultimately attain fellowships from a particular program?

Answers to any/all of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[vtrain]

To all the 4th years who are currently enduring the waiting game, I commend you for your accomplishments! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

While you wait, maybe you can garner some good karma by helping me a bit. Mind you many of these questions may be ridiculous. Nonetheless, I will ask:

1. Is there a resource I can use to find out roughly what percentage of PGY-1's entering a specific program (soecific hospital) are IMGs/FMGs?

2. Is there a resource I can use to find out how "good" a program is? i.e. some kind of ranking system.

3. How do I find out how many residents ultimately attain fellowships from a particular program?

Answers to any/all of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
1. id start by looking at the alum grad list. go to ross, auc, saba, etc as well. these will tell you the img friendly hospital. if it's not listed that often, you know they dont routinely take foreign grads
2. scutwork.com isn't bad. you will get a chance to talk to residents and get a feel of the program - that's when you can find out how good a program is. also ask local practioners how they think of the program and it's rep
3. this is a tough one. some websites post. some don't. you can ask at interview day, but there isn't a website you can go to
good luck

[ScarletKnight]

thanks vtrain.....that was very helpful although i ask the first question bc i dont want to go to a program that is IMF/FMG heavy. I'd rather be in the minority at the program I ultimately match with........

hence, a percentage would help.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[jaywalk81]

also the sdn forum is a good resource to use also

[dunsoon]

Probably the best way to get this kind of information is to ask directly. But rather than blanket the USA with emails, narrow down your list of potential application places by other things that are important to you such as geographic location, community vs university, big city vs small city, has fellowships you want, etc. and then start emailing people to get more detailed information. Be sure to check the program's website first because some of that info may be on there already (roster of current and past residents, what school they came from, and where they went for fellowship).

[geo930]

1. The Greenbook (sorry don't know the official title but your librarian would probably know)
2. scutwork was mentioned, though take these with a grain of salt as not a reviews are genuine, another, though less thorough, resource is http://www.amsa.org/resource/cardev/residencyresultsstep3allopathic.cfx
3. some programs will list it on their website (check FREIDA for their website), others you ask in person, usually during the interview. Some programs are good about giving you a detailed list with names and placement over several years. Some are vague (e.g. "our graduates have placed at X,Y,Z"). Others you walk out of there still not really knowing because there's no official list or the residents you do meet don't quite know off the top of their head.

[rokshana]

have you read iserson's guide to a residency? If not get it. It will give a good foundation and will give you ideas where to look for more info.


freida - start exploring that to get a idea about the different programs- location, size, uni vs community, etc(won't give you IMG numbers though)

freida will have links to the residency programs, follow them to see make up of house staff, etc...like vtrain said, you can get an idea if a program is receptive to IMGs if they have taken any...

then you can email programs with more sprecfic questions...

[Kongakut]

I've found these two files helpful. I am sure you have looked at them, but if you haven't, it is really interesting to see what states have the most US IMGs (http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsbystate2007.pdf). Also, if you look by program at this file (http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresults2003-2007.pdf), you can see the individual program data. While not an indicator of how good a program is, you can see which programs didn't fill all their spots. It was also easy to pick out exact program ratios (IMG/US) in states where there are only 1 or 2 programs, like Alaska (comparing totals of all-state US IMGs by specialty and compare to totals from each program by specialty). Obviously, it is guessing if there are many spots in many different programs.