What are my chances for the 2013 IM match

[halim.hage]

Hello everyone,
i am a lebanese international medical graduate, i just graduated and i wanna apply for the 2013 IM match, what do you think are my chances ?
My credentials are the following :
step 1 - 232.
step 2 ck - 240.
step 2 cs - awaiting score.
USCE - 2 observerships ( cardiology and pulmonary ).
2 US LOR, and 2 LOR from doctors in my home country.
Thank you all in advance,
Any advice is greatly appreciated

[halim.hage]

Guess no one wants to share ... alrighty

[Go-Green]

if the step scores are first attempt they seem pretty good. A lot depends on the number of programs you apply to and the type of programs but if you're smart about it I would think you should at least get a few interviews. The main things hurting you are the lack of USCE (some programs don't count observerships as clinical experience and if your letters from US doctors are from them, they may not be as strong (but depends what they allowed you to do and how well you got along)). Another hurdle is going to be a visa if you need it, so research programs that sponsor them and make sure to apply there. Good luck

[halim.hage]

Thank you very much !!
yes my step scores are first attempt, the problem is that no program allows a foreign medical graduate to get a clerkship, so all i got was those 2 observerships. However during them i was allowed to do some history taking, and participated in a few conferences. hopefully it will help. I will take ur advice !! Thanks again, i was kinda losin hope

[nrai2001]

Your scores are really good, especially if you re applying to only IM. I ve heard of foreign students matching into IM,FP,Peds ...etc with lower than your scores. A big thing will be your VISA status. I think you will still stand a good chance to match "somewhere" in the US (barring any problems with interviewing, interpersonal skills) but having a better VISA status will only help you to match at more desirable/competitive places...

To summarize your scores seems solid, your VISA status will determine many of your interviews. Even with no current VISA many students with lower scores than yours have matched..

Good luck!

[devildoc8404]

Those stats are certainly competitive, nice job! The best advice I can offer is to apply BROADLY. I mean, like, literally apply to hundreds of programs. Some people might say that is overkill, but you are an IMG, coming from overseas, needing a visa... and you do NOT want to do this twice. The more interviews you can get, the better your chances are... and if you apply to more programs then you are eligible for more interviews. You can do the math.

Research the programs out, as mentioned above, and find locations that will offer visa sponsorship and who have accepted IMGs in the past, and hit them hard. It would also not be a bad idea to apply to a backup specialty just in case (like FM), because the biggest hurdle is just initially getting into the system. If your worst-case-scenario -- aside from not matching, of course, which would be very-worst-case -- is to end up in FM for a year or two or three before you could try to transition into IM, then I would say that is a relatively small price to pay.

Good luck!

[Go-Green]

One word of caution, be careful when applying for a backup specialty such as FM, many of the program directors know when their program/specialty is a back up and therefore applying there may just be money wasted. You really have to do a thorough search and analysis of every program you apply to, yes it's time consuming, but that's what people mean when they say apply smartly. A lot of programs in FM won't look at you closely if you don't have at least one letter from an FM attending or if your transcript has no FM electives. Programs, regardless of specialty, want people who are passionate about the field they are going into. Family medicine is especially keen on this because they know how competitive getting a residency position is and they know that many applicants who are using them as a backup may end up wanting to transfer after a year into their preferred specialty. This upsets a lot of program directors to the point where some won't invite you for an interview regardless of your scores if they don't see some interest in FM. Obviously it's too late to change your transcript but if I were you, I would try very hard to gain a letter from an FM doctor and show some interest in the field. Also, I would write a separate personal statement for FM programs to help show interest. Good luck

[halim.hage]

Thank you so much people !! I will certainly do according to your advice. PS : I am an internal medicine fanatic, I think I ll do as u told me and apply broadly and smartly I need to begin researching hard !!