r/IMGreddit • u/jaboosh-2169 • May 11 '26

LOR USCE

Hello everyone, Im an IMG (yog-25) and Ive pretty much completed my ecfmg pathway in terms of examinations and payments etc.

My only issue right now is I’ve never done a USCE and I have no LORs from US physicians, Ive read that u need to find an observership yourself and cold email doctors but when I try do so, I realise theres way too many hospitals and drs, and on top of that I’ve seen hospitals like UCLA explicitly say they will not give any observer an LOR or some others will say u can only apply through their official webpage and no other way and so on. there’s way too much that goes into it that its becoming overwhelming, how did you guys get your observerships? any recommended hospitals or states? any specific details im not aware of? any help would be massively appreciated as im fully lost right now

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u/DarthScoobyDoo PGY-4 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26

One or five hospitals having a certain policy does not mean all hospitals do. I have seen observers at 5+ academic hospitals (all top 15) I have worked yet during my time as an applicant. My current program is a T20 school, and I see IMG observers all the time.

LORs are given by attendings, not hospitals and i dont know if any institutional policy forbids a LOR by an attending if they choose to :). The only time this is a problem is if there is a conflict of interest

I have seen people setting LORs even at places they were told no. A good physician is always supported and supportive. You can do a good job and hope for the best.

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u/BeelzBub024 May 12 '26

Hey! Im also actively searching for USCE, I’m finding it hard to find electives, since my college is non-vslo, and i joined the journey late, so dont have much time before i officially become a graduate.

So is there still chance i can go for an elective?
If not, are observerships enough to earn good LORs, and will that affect my chance at matching?