IM transitional specialties and FMGs

[claudette737]

My question is generally about those specialties which require a transitional year in IM: I know that most FMGs end up in internal medicine or family practice residencies. In my case, Oncolgy requires a 3-year residency in IM anyways, followed by a 3 year fellowship in Oncology.

I wonder if the bias against being an FMG will somewhat lessen come fellowship time, since at that point, I will be coming directly from an IM residency in the USA. Or will I still have a hard time getting a fellowship since I graduated from a caribbean school (not "big 3", but a school like SMU, or St. Eustatia)

I hope that what school I attended doesn't factor heavily. I think that as long as one does very well in their IM residency (in the USA), that should be more important....?

[MD3s]

the more important factors in fellowship applications are (not in any particular order):

1. Knowing the people in the program well
2. Research in that specific field
3. Letters of recommendation in the field

less important, but still important factors:

1. place of residency/medical school
2. board scores