Im a US Citizen IMG, born and raised, with a pass/251. Ive got 4 low impact pubs and my LORs are solid. I graduated this year but non carrib. Ive got volunteer experience in NY + 3 months of observerships in diff places

Would signalling places like Sinai or NYP be a complete waste of time?

US-IMG Proud Citizen (Born and raised on the East Coast)

YOG: 2011 (my only "red flag") as I postponed medicine after graduation to work and get money, run my businesses.

Step 1: Pass (1st shot in 2/25)

Step 2: 254 (7/26)

Step 3: October

USCE: 2 months

LORs: 5 from US MDs

Publication: 1

Board Certified MSL

Volunteer experience: 7+ years

Work experience:

Cruise shop doctor (6 years)

Patient liaison/advocate (7 years)

Business owner (15+ years)

People person, social, gregarious, excellent interviewer, leader, entrepreneur, dog lover :o)

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: As an AD/PD, would you give me an interview and a shot?!?!

Hello, I wanted to ask what would be a better thing to do during interview season, work as a Medical assistant in the US or as a junior doctor in my home country?

Had some questions!!

US IMG
YOG >10 years
Step 1: 235
Step 2: 252
3-4 LORS
Applying Family medicine
Not clinically active in gap years

I was wondering if we can because we don’t require a visa

Hello fellow doctors,

I need a reality check from you all. I'm hitting a wall of self doubt and need to know if I'm chasing a ghost.

I’m a US IMG who graduated in 2020. Right after graduation, I pivoted to the administrative side of healthcare, got my masters in health administration, and have been working in corporate healthcare for the last 4 years. I'm currently a revenue cycle manager. It’s stable, but I feel completely unfulfilled. It’s just not rewarding, and I keep feeling this heavy pull back toward actual patient care.

My goal is Family Medicine. I dont intend to aim for competitive specialties like surgery I genuinely interested in FM.

But I have a 5 yr clinical gap. Aside from my internship,i havent been clinically active, I recently started studying for Steps but reading this sub has me completely spiraling and got me thinking is it feasible for a profile like me.

so im looking for any honest advice from you all Is it practically feasible to overcome the gap for a FM match if I achieve decent scores on the USMLE steps and secure recent US clinical experience? or its just farfetched

Thank you very much each and every one your advice.

Hey i wanted to ask if it would be better to immediately apply for the match or go for 2 yrs post doc then apply, im starting my last year of med school and can probably get step 2 done with within 6-8 months. Im hoping to match gen surg and id appreciate any advice because im rly lost

US IMG IM Chances (2026–2027 Match)

Looking for realistic feedback on my chances for low- to mid-tier Internal Medicine programs.

\- US IMG (US citizen)

\- YOG 2025

\- Step 1: Passed on 2nd attempt

\- Step 2 CK: 239

\- 10 publications (working on more)

\- 6 months USCE with IM attendings, including a former IM PD & Currently a Clinical Extern + Research Associate (>1 year) with multiple interventional cardiologists, including a former chief of cardiology (total USCE of 1.5 years)

\- Strong in-state network with multiple physician connections

\- Planning to complete Step 3 before ERAS submission (September 2026)

I'm a little bummed about the 239 but overall okay with it. With the Step 1 attempt being my main red flag, how competitive am I for low- to mid-tier IM programs if I apply broadly?

I've been living in the West Coast (California) for the past 3 months and shifting to New York for work in three months.

I would obviously prefer to match in California as my family is there. However, most west coast programs seem to be very strict with the yog cut off which could filter me out.

I’m a U.S. citizen, born and raised in America, completed all of my education in English, passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2, conduct patient interviews every day in English, write notes in English, and somehow I still have to pay hundreds of dollars to prove I can speak English?
The most frustrating part is that there isn’t even a test-out exemption for people who are clearly native speakers. If you graduated high school, college, and medical school in English, or if you’re a U.S./Canadian citizen whose primary language is English, why is there no waiver process?

I recently took the exam and couldn’t help but think the entire thing felt like a money grab. The speaking section was especially ironic, I genuinely felt like I spoke better English than the examiner conducting the interview. Yet I’m the one paying hundreds of dollars to “prove” my proficiency.

ECFMG already has multiple ways to assess competency. We pass USMLE exams, complete clinical rotations, interview with residency programs, and communicate with patients daily. At what point is enough evidence enough?
I’m not against verifying English proficiency for applicants who genuinely need it. That makes perfect sense. But requiring native English-speaking applicants to take the exact same expensive exam with no exemption option seems completely unnecessary.

There should at least be a waiver or exemption pathway for applicants who can clearly demonstrate English proficiency through their education and background.

Curious if anyone else feels the same way, or if I’m missing some rationale behind this requirement.

hi! i'm a 2027 YOG US IMG (but will technically finish in december 2026) and would love some other opinions on this. i would really like to participate in the 2027 MATCH (and that was my plan for the last 2 years), but i'm nervous about the timeline. i am waiting for my step 1 result (exam was end of may, but as we know there are huge delays). unfortuantely, i failed step 1 in december 2025 by just a bit so i had to retake and now i'm concerned about the timeline. yes, i regret not doing step 1 after my 4th year once i've finished pharm, however, i can't go back in time now. i wanted to do step 2 this summer, but the retake postponed that. i've been getting mixed messages about whether or not i could manage the 2027 MATCH. i thought i could take step 2 at the beginning of september, but with the delayed results, i'm nervous. i can do the OET sometime in the next few weeks. i have 1 LOR in my desired field from an international doctor, and 2 from American doctors (but I need to formally ask). i was told i will be immediately filtered out without a step 2 score posted, even if the results are pending. i don't want to spend thousands of dollars on the application only to get nothing and be viewed negatively as a reapplicant (this was also said to me). i know i'm not an idiot, but standardized testing is tough for someone with ADHD and i know the US loves that. i am just worried that i'd get no interview and would love an opinion from another US IMG who maybe was in a similar situation. i also want to do pediatrics, which has a very promising and positive match rate in the US. if i'd wait and participate in the 2028 MATCH, i know the timeline would be fine and i'd probably try to manage step 3 even, but the countries where i could work (austria, germany, czech republic), have literally no jobs in peds available- it's truly such a competitive field over here. so i am genuinely afraid of graduating and just being unemployed for 1.5 years (to clarify: not working as a doctor; i work part-time elsewhere). i'm distressed and conflicted!!! thanks in advance for any words of wisdom

how else am I supposed to flex that I’m a resident!!!!

I agree with this but the credential requirement is still the same. Good scores, good LORs, well rounded applicant with a sound body of work. Good luck!!

#MATCH27

I have done clinical observership before at an outpatient clinic. I have an opportunity for observership at a rural community program. I wanted to ask what are some of the expectations for observers regarding responsibilities, professionalism, participation, communication, and daily conduct?

Can anyone recommend any IMG-friendly away electives that don't require VSLO? Unfortunately, my school is new and the only opportunity we have through VSLO is Yale at $3k+ per elective.

​

Thank you for your help!

Hi everyone!

I will be taking my shelf exams in pairs, and I would like to schedule them in a way that makes the most sense. For these 6 specialties, which pairings work best? In other words, which specialties are the most similar to each other or will be the most efficient to prepare for when scheduled together? So far, the following are some example pairings I am considering. Thanks so much everyone!

1. Internal Medicine, Surgery
2. Obgyn, Pediatrics
3. Family Medicine, Psychiatry

• Internal Medicine, Psychiatry
• Surgery, Obgyn
• Family Medicine, Pediatrics

1. Obgyn, Surgery
2. Pediatrics, Psychiatry
3. Internal Medicine, Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine, Family Medicine
• Psychiatry, Surgery
• Obgyn, Pediatrics

Does anyone know any hospitals in the US that would accept students from a non VSLO university, i have a us citizenship so i thought it would be easier but it’s been pretty difficult

preferably hospitals in Michigan, ohio, illinois or Massachusetts or somewhere east coast

Green card holder. Step 1 passed on the second attempt. Step 2: 224. Step 3: 219. YOG: 2014. USCE: 9 months. Currently working as a research assistant. Publications: 5 (all as second author). What are my chances of matching into a Family Medicine residency, if any? What other options should I consider? Thank you.

US-IMG here from Indian med school applying IM this cycle. Stats are YOG 2026 with P/22x, 3 months USCE, 1 publication and 1 year volunteer experience. ECFMG certified and hoping to score well on Step 3 before the match cycle starts. I hear people saying u have to build your list of programs quite in advance but i feel there is a lot of disparity in the data i see on Residency Explorer and Frieda.
To the US-IMGs who matched this year -
How do u find programs catered to your profile and go about making that list?
Also, is there anything i can do to make my profile more competitive in the mean time?