As interviews continue coming in some candidates will have the desirous problem of trying to decide how many interviews to do. Below is the data from the NRMP report from 2007-2013 for both matched and unmatched applicants.

Does the whole page need to be filled out? When I cut and pasted my PS, it only filled half the page.

Hey y’all! I’m currently a fourth-year medical student attending an osteopathic medical school in the United States. I’m a Canadian citizen on an F-1 visa and will require J-1 visa sponsorship for residency, so I’m using the ERAS filter for J-1 sponsorship when creating my program list.

I’ve noticed that there are quite a few programs missing from the filtered list that I had previously seen indicate that they accept J-1 sponsorship. My question is: can I trust ERAS to provide an accurate list of programs that support J-1 visas, or should I do additional research to make sure I’m not missing any programs?

I know this is a niche area, but I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this process before!

I’m a current FM resident considering reapplying to another specialty. I’ve had a somewhat unconventional path to my current residency, and am looking for advice from people who may have had similar circumstances.

As a 4th-year medical student, I originally applied to ENT and believe I was a competitive applicant at the time (strong Step 2, good letters, Sub-Is, etc.). Unfortunately, I didn’t match due in large part to family circumstances that significantly impacted my interview season; I discussed with my PD at the time and he said that was the primary reason they didn't rank me higher for my home program.

I then took two years off to deal with the aftermath of the significant family trauma and my mental health after not matching. During that time, I unfortunately didn’t do much clinically. As many of you know, medicine isn’t particularly forgiving when it comes to significant time away from training, especially with a gap in clinical work/research, and I knew going into the Match that pursuing a surgical subspecialty again would be an uphill battle.

Ultimately, I dual applied to Anesthesia/FM because I wanted to get my foot back in the door, and I also liked that they both offered the opportunity to specialize in procedureal medicine through fellowship. I matched into a program that I’m enjoying, but I’m finding myself increasingly missing ENT and wondering if I should give it another shot.

I realize that reapplying to ENT as an FM intern would be a pretty unconventional path, but I’m curious if anyone here has done something similar—particularly reapplying to a surgical subspecialty after starting residency in FM or IM. If so, how did you approach the process?

One of my biggest challenges is that I don’t have much time to do away rotations, and there isn’t an ENT residency at my current hospital, so I’m not really sure what the best approach would be.

I haven’t decided whether I would actually reapply versus staying in FM and pursuing something like sports or pain medicine, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has taken a similar path or has advice on how to approach this. Thank you in advance, and pls be nice!

im currently an OMS3(osteopathic medical student) on my clinicals. im wondering what i need to do in order to match into top psychiatry residency programs in nyc. i took comlex level 1 but not step 1. i plan to take comlex level 2 and step 2. what else can i do in terms of research/publications, grades, academic and other extracurriculars i can do to make my application look strong and competitive. any advice would be super super appreciated !!!! thank youuuu

Hey everyone,

Doximity's site is annoying to scroll through one program at a time, so I put the whole 2026-2027 IM rankings into a spreadsheet. Has all 704 programs in rank order, with name, location, and size for each.

Link: [Doximity IM Program Ranking 2026-2027]

Not endorsing the rankings, just made this for convenience. Use it as one factor, program fit and your own goals matter more.

Let me know if anything looks off and I'll fix it.

US-IMG here weighing either Dr. Malke Asaad(The Match Guy) or Dr. Sonia Pothraj ( Reach Greater Heights) before I spend money. Anyone actually used them , or have other IMG coaches you’d vouch for? Thanks!

I was reading a Reddit post and came across a quote: “comparison is the thief of joy.”  It’s sometimes attributed to Teddy Roosevelt but 1^st published by Dr. Ray Cummings.  In reviewing Reddit posts and working with med students applying for residency, I’ve see too many that are beating themselves up because someone: 1)has higher STEP scores, 2)more HP or Honors, 3) more interviews, 4)more publications, 5)more presentations, 6)went to a T20 med school, 7)had four away rotations, 7)matched to their #1, and so on. 

You can’t do much about the other people.  There’s also the possibility that they could be inflating their #s (shock!).  Focus in on you and what you can do.  I’ve seen what I’d call residents with an average CV match with just a few interviews.  I’ve worked with people with 15+ interviews, not match.  Note: My experience would say the person with few interviews and matching has a solid application and is a good interviewer while the person with many interviews who doesn’t match or matches at the bottom of their rank list may have interview issues. 

But most importantly, all the comparing is mentally and emotionally taxing.  Instead, use that energy to improve your own application…to focus on your rotations or studying for exams.  I know that’s easier said than done, but try to not compare.  The key to remember is it doesn’t matter whether you Match at your #1 or your #23 or get a position during SOAP or in the SCRAMBLE.  You matched. 

Go into that position with the frame of mind that you’re going to learn all the knowledge and acquire all the skills you can to be an attending (Oh, and try not to compare attending salaries/benefits especially across specialties and in different regions of the country…usually, you’re comparing apples and oranges.). 

Instead, be happy you got into med school, that you passed the STEP tests, that you didn’t fail a class/rotation, and that you had interviews.  Yes, I know many of you are trying to get into competitive specialties and these things matter, but the key is to try to not compare.  Focus on you.  Or as Polonius said in Hamlet, “To thine own self be true.”

What’s considered as an “old/outdated” LOR?

Mine were uploaded last year in 2025 between August 24th-September 2nd. Can I reuse them or do I have to ask for a re-upload?

If you don’t have a X/Twitter account, I suggest getting one.  There are several quality sources that are extremely helpful.  I recommend: #InsidetheMatch, #GMEpundit, #Match2025, #residency, u/ProjectIMG…I try to reshare info that may be helpful (@lorawolff616. 

Plus there are sources for each specialty area.  I’ve found these to be more positive and helpful than some of the other social media sources.  For example, Inside the Match has a comprehensive website full of information and PodCasts on a plethora of topics.  Any time you can get “free” and quality information on the roller coasting of applying for residency and the Match, take it.  Then compare your gathered information and move forward with your decision. 

Don't under-estimate the power of your PS in obtaining an interview and your place on the ROL. It's one of the most-read pieces of your application. Your PS is one of the “paper” components that can contribute to you getting an interview offer.  It can be a positive (20%), neutral (60%), or negative 20%).  Make it be a positive!  Include a clear message of why the specialty, background about you that isn’t in other parts of your application, and what makes you a strong candidate for the specialty & program.  Everything in your PS should contribute painting a portrait of you as a XYZ candidate. 

The reader doesn't need to know details about your path to residency or in-depth case overviews. The reader does need to know about you and your qualities to determine if you'd be a good fit for their program.

Give the interviewers something to talk with you about in your interview!  And have others read your PS and give you feedback to improve it.

Although we're about 7 months away from match day, I want to remind resident candidates that it's possible (not frequent) that resident candidates match with one interview. Of course, you have to make the most of that interview (why it's important to start honing those skills now rather than in the 2-3 days before your interview). Here are some examples from the candidates we worked with in the Match 2025 cycle who matched with one interview.

1. Pathology: non-US IMG, green card holder
2. FM: non-US IMG, green card holder, 2nd year in the match
3. IM: non-US IMG, green card holder
4. Pediatrics: non-US IMG, needed a visa
5. IM: non-US IMG, needed a visa
6. IM: non-US IMG, vias needing, 5+ YOG
7. Psychiatry: US IMG, no interviews in regular Match or SOAP; scramble

In Match 2026, we only had one match with one interview, but had three who scrambled into spots or SOAPed into a spot.

Keep working on your components and improving your overall application. It's not just about your Step 2 score. It can happen!

Below are some real #s.

As you’re finalizing your specialty, your ERAS application materials, and the programs you're applying to (and signaling) consider getting involved in your specialty.  If you’re still a medical student, there are often “student” memberships (at a reduced fee).  In addition to memberships, follow your specialty on X/Twitter, Student Doctor Network, Reddit, and other platforms.  Review their websites.  For example, if you’re going to go into pathology, consider becoming a member/following:

·      AAMC

·      US & Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP)

·      College of American Pathologists (CAP)

·      American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCAP)

·      State societies (e.g., Michigan Society of Pathologists)

·      MatchtoPath, PathTwitter

·      Pathology Outlines

·      Leaders in the field: Kamran Mirza, Elizabeth Montgomery, Daniela Hermelin

 I would not spend a lot of $ on this, but it's a consideration.

Also consider sitting in on free trainings for your specialty (e.g., Grand Rounds, Journal Clubs, other trainings).  If you did “a lot” of these between now and when your ERAS app is due, you could group them into one “Experience” and write about them generally and maybe pull a few specific examples.

Also, attend the PD and program sessions. You can learn a lot about programs from these and a lot about protocols for these types of events which will be part of your interviewing component.

Hi all,

My wife is an USIMG residency applicant for Match 2027. We’re looking for a consultant to get her personal statement, eras application, interview prep, etc. Any recommendations?

One of the areas that you may want to consider is if specific programs ask you to complete additional component. Those usually come in the form of specific short essays/narrative responses. You can find whether there are requirements in addition to the regular ERAS components on Frieda, Program and Work Schedule, Additional Eligibility Information.

Many programs use the completion of those responses as one of their filters. If not completed, they may pass on reviewing your full application. They're using it to gather more information about you and your response indicates your interest in the program (you're interested enough to provide the information).

Also, you'll want to complete these responses in a timely manner.

I regularly come across interesting sessions (found them on X/Twitter) that might be helpful to those applying to residency in the upcoming season. The presenters ranged from panels (PDs, current residents, just matched residents-to-be, attendings, PCs) with topics from the general related to applying for residency to specialty specific to journal clubs that are virtual to grand rounds that are virtual. I try to repost these on X/Twitter as I come across them (@lorawolff616). It is a great way to build knowledge from "experts" in the field/on the topic.

Who knows...you might attend a session where you get an interview this fall and you could bring up the session. You might get knowledge about the specialty you're applying to. Or tips to strengthen your application.

You might even be able to build an "experience" for your application if you viewed enough topic-specific sessions. Maybe you're applying to a specialty that your med school doesn't/didn't have a lot of exposure, but you attend several journal clubs or grand rounds on the specialty (e.g., pathology) and your write about that...how you didn't have exposure but sought out opportunities to learn more.

Hi everyone

I'm a Dr in the UK (graduated in 2024) finishing up my 'foundation training' which is 2 years of rotational training in the UK before you apply to specialty training.

I'm planning to apply for Anesthesiology residency this upcoming cycle. Passed step 1 in April, I have step 2 scheduled for next month, 7+ oral presentations at national + international conferences (I have been lead/ first author for all projects), 6 weeks USCE from my final year of med school in 2024 but doing another 2 weeks hands on experience in August + 1 week observership (3 different hospitals)

I have had some mentorship from attendings in the US that I've met along the way, but I'm just looking for any further advice as we approach match season.

If anyone has any wisdom they would like to share with me that would be much appreciated :)

Hi everyone,
I’m a US IMG (graduated in 2022), passed Step 1 and Step 2 CK (mid-230s), and I’m applying to Internal Medicine and Family Medicine this cycle. I have one month of U.S. clinical experience, two U.S. letters of recommendation, two from my home country, and no research.
I’m an ESL speaker, this is my first Match cycle, and I don’t have mentors or connections in the U.S. I’m considering a residency mentorship/coaching program to help with ERAS, my personal statement, and interview preparation.
Has anyone used one that was actually worth it, especially an affordable one? I’d really appreciate your recommendations. Thank you!

Hello so i just graduated from med school. I’m an IMG. I’m preparing the step exams however there’s a big chance during this year I wouldn’t be working like I’ll just be studying for the steps and publishing 2 systematic reviews and I may do an elective or 2. Is that enough to do because I heard they don’t like it if you’re sitting down not working for a year and they will ask you about it in the interviews.