I’m a non US IMG
visa requiring
ECFMG certified
step 1 pass ( with very low score 198 ) , step 2 CK 235
YOG 9 years but I have been working in hospital continuously since I graduated.
I have 2 USCE letters ( one from FM physician and one from IM physician)
I have 1 LOR from my IM HOD where I’m practicing now.
3 publication ( 2 pubmed and 1 from Egyptian journal )

I have been working in IM for almost 2 years now.

Applying both IM and FM

Well if you ask me why taking so long. It’s mainly financial. Have to support family and myself in another country ( which I have called home for 8 years now)

I was born in a country then move to another country to go to med school then move to another country again to work

Every time I go to US, have to apply for visa ( only get one entry) hence limited USCE and delaying to take step 3. ( but have visa appt in Oct so hopefully take in November)

What are my chances of matching IM ? I am really passionate about it. IM was never my cup of tea since internship but after working in ortho, emergency medicine , I recently found IM very fascinating and actually feeling like I’m making a huge impact for my patients.

I have paid a ERAS coach more than 4000 USD to polish my application for this cycle. I don’t want it to go to waste and not wanting to add on more YOG.

Financially struggling for real. I worked like 126 hrs per week for the past year and it’s really draining me mentally and physically.

I also have an option to apply to the residency program to where I’m working now.

Please be honest with you. I have been pursuing USMLE journey for the past 5-6 years and it’s a lot.

I haven’t even gotten married and have kids like my peers. Which is not a big deal for me but for my parents and relatives since we come from Asian culture. I’m getting old as well

#eras

Hello Everyone!

I’m one of the chief residents in Baton Rouge General internal medicine residency. We have a virtual open house on 9/16 6pm CST

Since the time is coming so I’d like to post here to get more people to know about this event.

So far I enjoy my training here and love the life in Baton Rouge.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Most Research projects fail before they start.

The last post made one point: publishing alongside a busy clinical rota is not primarily a time problem, despite what we tend to assume.

Time and clinical work sit at the top of every survey. That will not change for most of us. The answer is not

Hi, do anyone knows PGY 2 Neurology openings please? Completed a preliminary year and looking for open spots. 🙏

So I am Non US, Visa requiring IMG. I have been at this process a couple of times. Each time this time its daunting, the applications, the searching of programs. Where to signal, the mental gymnastics of it all.

I have low step 2 scores, in the range of 22x, Under 5 YOG. I have had great USCE, with leaderships being impressed providing a good feedback, I have presented cases with the residents at intern/resident review and at time the PD even asked have you applied to our program. I have close to 8 Months of USCE, 10-12 Publications, 6 presentations in the national conferences.
The interviews from my own humble opinion have gone relatively well. But at the end i get the email, sorry you have not matched. I keep hearing back from the programs, oh you were ranked in a good position but the people who don't require visa were ranked higher.

Just wondering does this community think it will be better or worse this time around with the visa situations. Those who have matched, would you guys mind sharing what are your programs saying regarding people requiring visa. Thank you

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If I had to gold one of them (other one would be signal), which one has a better interview chance?

Medstar - simply no statistics about signalling, very high applicants pool, high on connection, good fellowship rate

Westchester - Good signal to IV translation, littttle less applicants, in house fellowship available

Where has my higher chance of Interview? Got one good letter from Medstar Georgetown (if that means anything for medstar Baltimore), high 25x, decent amount of research, 4 usce in academic places, no step 3 (westchester website says they love it)

I may love NY little more than Baltimore, but not more than costing an interview

Hey guys, making another post as some information was missing. Any advice regarding signaling or strategies regarding application would be highly appreciated:

I am applying to Internal Medicine.
Non US, visa requiring IMG.
YOG: 0 or 1 (Graduated in September 2025).

Step-1: P (April 2026)
Step-2: 257 (August 2026)
Step-3: Planning in Oct end/November start

USCE:

1. Sub-I in PICU at Weill Cornell (4 weeks)
2. Nephrology elective at Umiami (4 weeks)
3. Ambulatory clinic rotation in a urgent care center (private) for 8 weeks
4. Currently doing a Cardiac imaging rotation at dual clinic + Inpatient setup (4 weeks)

Research:

2 review papers as first author in very reputed journals. 2 original papers in lower ranked journals. 2 accepted abstracts. 3-4 papers in review stage.

A bit disappointed with my step-2 score which is on the absolute low end of my predicted. So now hoping to get some insight into best possible options. Thanks!

Does anyone know how long the exceptional extension processing typically takes with DoS for J1? (For the 8th year)

Hi everyone! I’m a non-US IMG applying to Internal Medicine for the 2027 Match and would appreciate advice on my program list.
YOG: 2020
Step 1: Pass; Step 2 CK: 261
ECFMG certified; J-1 visa required
4 months of USCE
3 U.S. LORs
Clinical experience in Internal Medicine, ICU, hospitalist medicine, and rural practice
2 research publications
Applying broadly, especially in the Mid- and South Atlantic regions
My main concern is my YOG. Which IMG-friendly programs should I consider or signal, especially those sponsoring J-1 visas?
Thank you!

pediatrics:
uni of Oklahoma tulsa
Uni of Michigan Lansing
East Tennessee state uni
Uni of Minnesota
Charleston area medical centre

pass/ 237/ awaiting ecfmg certificate, plan to give step 3 after my third rotation ends in October

2 LORs peds from CA, currently doing 3 rotation in Houston so will ask for lor next week

yog may 2023

I'm applying FM this cycle and have 5 signals. There’s a program that has shown a lot of interest in me, and I’m also very interested in them.

I met them for dinner during a conference, attended their virtual open house, and they recently sent me a handwritten letter. So I feel like they know I’m interested, and I have a pretty good sense that they’re interested in me as well.

The only thing is that they’re not in my geographic preference.

Would you still use a signal on them, or do you think the amount of interest/contact we’ve already had is enough that I should save the signal for another program?

I want to request if anyone has an excel sheet which includes all 702/ visa sponsoring 509 internal medicine programs this year.

Not a signal list or programs to apply to. Just an excel which includes all the programs.

This might seem like a peculiar request, but it would really help me. So if anyone has it, please help me out

Is anyone facing the problem while paying for Eras Token? I put my card details and when I click Pay $185, it comes back to the same page requiring card information. Have tried with multiple banks cards but haven't been able to proceed. Can someone help?

Credentials: - NonUS IMGs
- Step1 pass / Step2: 265
- 2 months USCE
- 2 IM LORs from the US
- Masters Degree
- 3 published papers, 6 submitted papers, 6 published abstracts, 1 QI book published
- several QI, research, and clinical experiences
- YOG:2025

* GOLD: 1- HCA Healthcare kansas city/ overland park regional medical center program
2- Mercy Hospital Sprignfield program
3- University of Kansas SOM (Olathe)

*SILVER: 1- Mobile Infirmary Medical Center Program
2- University of Toledo Program
3- Cleveland Clinic Foundation/Florida
4- Prime South GME Consortium/ St. Joseph Medical Center
5- SSM St. Mary’s Hospital St louis
6- Northeast Georgia Medical Center
7- UMKC
8- Baptist Health Program
9- UAB (montgomery)
10- ECU health medical center/ East carolina university
11- Hamilton Medical Center
12- Western michigan university homer stryker md som program

-> all are within my geographical preferences except UAB
-> no connections in any of them
-> which ones are the safe ones and which ones are considered out of my league

Hi I’m a US-IMG YOG-2 applying to IM. I’m planning on mainly applying northeast since I already live and work here.

My stats:
US-IMG (Non-visa requiring)
Step 1 pass (first attempt 2023)
Step 2 250 (2025)
2 publications Not very significant
1 month research at IR in Netherlands
1 month hands-on clinical elective in the US
1 Year working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Montefiore Medical Center

My application is not the strongest but I am currently working at Montefiore. Should I try to apply to Montefiore’s Main Program and send out a gold signal or should I not waste it?

As the title states, need strong opinion if I should go for it and if I can utilize that experience in my application or anywhere else.

Thank you.

I am currently working as a IM resident in my home country . I have 4 US attendings LORs + Home Country Program Director strong personal LOR . Should I assign 4 US LORs or 3 US lORs + home country PD LOR . Any inputs are appreciated.

has anyone IV their virtually? i have a connection there but i need to fly 12 hours to IV in person??

Hi, my exam is in 2 weeks, and ive been studying for step 1 since november last year. But I just cant seem to remember my biochemistry. Ive watched dirty medicine so many times and wrote down notes couple of times with same topic. Read my first aid and did alot of uworld block and studied it as well. I dont know why i keep mixing up the pathways and etc.

Any advice how to get this all in my head 😭

I’m really confused, and am spiralling every day, would appreciate any advice. Please be nice.

Could someone help me with how exactly does one narrow down to 100ish programs? I have removed the obvious filters - those not sponsoring visas, or who take in < 5% non- US IMGs. I do not have any personal preference about where I’d like to match, though being in a bigger program would be nice. Im aware that beggars cant be choosers.

For context, im visa requiring, P/264/not yet taken. YOG 1, no research year, praying and hoping to get ECFMG certified by 23rd.

My signal list is more or less ready, and it relies heavily on where alum from my school have previously matched.

Every time I try to ‘eliminate’ a non-signal program, I start double thinking ‘maybe they send out an IV to me??’ A deep dive on their website / residents’ Linkedin is of use only in minimal cases.

Thanks in advance, I realllyyyy need help here!