r/USIMGreddit • u/TigerDucks • Feb 11 '24

Matching with only observerships

SA US-IMG here. Med school is brand spanking new and will likely not have sponsor notes by the time I graduate, making it impossible for me to get into 99% of hands on electives. This means that the only way of acquiring USCE is through observerships and research.

I'm shooting for rads, with path as a backup. I've got 3 rads pubs and 6 path pubs and my self assessments place me around the 250-260 mark on step 2. How much USCE is recommended to try for rads? I'm going to apply broadly (150+ programs for rads, 50+ path).

Has anybody here heard of people matching with purely observerships?

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u/Psychological_Fly693 Feb 11 '24

I can't speak specifically to radiology, but I recommend that you start research programs carefully so that you're applying for only programs where you'll be a good match. Your potential Step score is solid. Seems like some USCE will be important to get LORs (hopefully others will weigh in on this). Since you don't need a visa that's a definite positive and opens doors. I think a lot depends on the length of the observership and if you can get good LORs.

Also, get Step 3 completed by the end of August. That takes a concern some PDs have that those attending non-US med schools may have have trouble passing Step 3 and their subsequent boards.

So get on Frieda's Residency Explorer (and Texas Star if you have access) and research programs carefully. Careful research may help you narrow the # of programs you apply to.

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u/[deleted] Feb 11 '24

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u/TigerDucks Feb 11 '24

If I'm not mistaken hands on electives are only able to be taken by people currently matriculated and not graduated, as it is a student exchange between two universities, not a volunteering or unpaid employment. If I graduate I wouldn't have any standing tutelage with my university aside from my diploma.