This year’s Match season was unlike any other. The stakes are getting higher as the number of applicants increases but the number of positions remains the same. This year, there were only about 33,000 positions for just under 44,000 applicants. It can seem impossible to land a residency nowadays, and many medical graduates feel the […]
Unfortunately, there is a very real chance that many medical students won’t match for a residency program. Due to the rising number of students in medical school but a stagnant amount of residency programs available, not matching with a position is becoming more common among students across the world. In 2017, over 4,000 U.S. and […]
The USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) exams, also known as the “Board Examinations” consist of a three-step process. Regardless of whether you are a U.S. Medical School graduate or an International Medical School graduate, most if not all medical schools require at least the successful completion of USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2, […]
When should I begin studying? How long should I study for? How often should I be studying? What are the best resources to use when studying for USMLE Step 1? These are questions every medical student runs through their head when preparing for their first USMLE exam. Yes, the USMLE Step 1 exam requires the […]
If you’re asking yourself, ‘why didn’t I get any interviews this season’, you are not alone. Record numbers of applicants are fighting for the same amount of residency positions compared to previous years. Since the 2004 Main Residency Match, there has been a steady incline in the number of applicants vying for the limited number […]
With the ERAS application now open, now is the time to be vigilant about completing all requirements and organizing the needed documents. The personal statement is a crucial component of any residency application, as it provides program directors with a more multifaceted image of you as an applicant and future doctor. Recent studies have shown […]
So you received a residency interview – congratulations! Reaching this step is a celebratory checkpoint, but it’s not the end. For International Medical Graduates, the interview can very well be the most daunting aspect of the residency application. Once you get an interview, that itself can be the most important factor in how you’re ranked […]
The graph above, with information collected by the National Resident Matching Program, clearly indicates this bottleneck effect. As can be seen in the 2018 results column, just 30,232 PGY1 Positions were offered this year compared to the nearly 44,000 applicants in the Main Residency Match. Is it true that obtaining a Medical Residency is increasingly […]
(2016 NRMP Program Director Survey) While not a requirement, having medical research experience certainly provides candidates, especially International Medical Graduates, with a much-needed competitive edge to obtain their dream residency. According to the 2016 NRMP Program Director Survey, as detailed by program type in the graph below, 44 percent of program directors surveyed across […]
In addition to competitive USMLE step scores and strong letters of recommendation (LORs), program directors consider US clinical experience (USCE) very highly when choosing applicants for their residency programs. Medical students begin their clinical experience journey with elective rotations. These rotations give students the opportunity to explore different specialties within the field of medicine. Upon […]
Exams! Letters! Statements! Submissions! With so many elements to the residency application process, it can be difficult to keep track of what to do when. Staying organized and maintaining a sense of where you are in the application is critical in ensuring there are no missed steps. Because the process for international medical grads and […]
When it comes to the residency application, how, where, and when you apply is just as important as the content in your ERAS app. You can start certifying and submitting your 2019 ERAS application on Sept 5th, which is just a few short weeks away, but worry not – continue reading to discover how to […]
(NRMP 2018 Director Survey) Why Ask: Letters of Recommendation, or LORs, are unique in that they provide program directors with a third-party perspective about the kind of student, person, and potential resident you are. Use this opportunity to your advantage – there are many places for you to sell yourself on the ERAS application, […]
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On September 15th of every year, thousands of medical graduates submit their application for residency within the United States. United States Medical Graduates (USMG’s), International Medical Graduates (IMG’s), and Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG’s), along with Osteopathic and Allopathic applicants make up the pool of potential residents. Although they all flock to the same website, Electronic […]
For many, the dream of becoming a physician starts at an early age. However, turning the dream into a reality is a complicated process. Applying to US medical schools can be a daunting. Excellent undergraduate qualifications and high MCAT scores are a must, however, that may not be enough to get an acceptance to a […]
In the United States, it has generally been the case that going to medical school ensured your career in any specialty. However, the bumpy road to becoming a doctor is now lined with even more obstacles for medical students and graduates. Currently, there is an influx of students entering medical school, yet post-graduation, they are […]
The Problem: The health care system in the United States is currently in desperate need of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs). However, the allure of lucrative sub-specialties tends to sway medical school graduates away from careers in Primary Care. On average a PCP earns about half the salary of a specialist. Since most medical school graduates […]
One of the issues that arises in the journey of those applying to a residency is preparing for an interview. It is important that you make a good impression, and showcase your best qualities. The most important component is to have it less like an interview and more like a conversation. First you should research […]
With the NRMP Main Residency Match 2015 quickly approaching, it is important to realistically evaluate your chances in being offered a residency position. Residency positions in the United States are highly sought after and it is becoming more and more difficult to secure a position, especially for Foreign Medical Graduates and International Medical Graduates (FMGs […]
Currently, as the pool of applicants for residency is increasing, and competition for these spots is growing exponentially, anything to add value to a candidate’s application is worthwhile. What stands out to a Program Director is what sets you apart from the average medical school graduate. Program Directors value research fellowship positions very highly when […]
Gut Feelings – Is this program a good fit for you? Do you see yourself at the program? What is the Quality of the Program? – What is the case load? Are the Teaching Attendants attentively giving instruction? How are the patients being treated? Importance of Academia – If you’re interested in research and publications, […]
The Match process is thoroughly competitive. Residency applicants are facing an increase in competition for the same number of residency spots, and every year there are students left unmatched. In 2014, 8,583 active applicants did not match. Of these 8,583 unmatched applicants, 74% were IMGs or FMGs. If this happens to you, don’t panic. Here’s […]
In Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig said “The range of human knowledge today is so great that we’re all specialists. And the distance between specializations has become so great that anyone who seeks to wander freely among them almost has to forego closeness with the people around him”. This also applies […]
Whether it was in your undergraduate career or now into residency, the Personal Statement seemed like the last thing that mattered in regards to other academic aspects of the application. However, Program Directors who are consultants to us here at Residents Medical say otherwise: “The Personal Statement can be a great tool to connect with […]
