Residency positions in the United States are highly sought after and it is becoming more and more difficult to secure a position, especially for international and foreign medical graduates (IMGs and FMGs). It is important to have a back-up plan in the case that you do not Match so you can start gaining substantial experience and enhancing your CV in the time between rejection and the next Match season.
Let Residents Medical Be Your Back-Up Plan!
For over 25 years Residents Medical has helped medical school graduates across the globe enhance their candidacy for residency programs. Even if you don’t have any interviews, it’s not too late to start expanding your CV with clinical experience and networking through top-tier research programs.
SOAP
If you do not match through the Main Match you will automatically be entered into the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). This one-week process connects unmatched applicants to unfilled residency positions, offering another chance to secure that sought after residency position. Residents Medical can help you navigate this hectic time and ensure you land a position that season.
Off-Match interviews
Throughout the year, last-minute residency spots open up for a variety of reason. On your own, it can be difficult to pinpoint these opportunities, let alone interview for a spot. Residents Medical will help you locate positions as we often hear about these exclusive opportunities before they are posted to websites and forums. Residents Medical will also help you prepare for these interviews with intensive training from a program director on staff.
Revamping your CV, Personal Statement, and ERAS application
Your application and supplemental documents such as your CV, personal statement, and letters of recommendation (LORs), are your first impression with program directors. It is important that these documents highlight your strong attributes, painting a picture of a resident they seek for their programs. In the time between rejection and the next Match season, you have sufficient time to enhance each of these documents.
Obtain US Clinical Experience (USCE)
If you are an international or foreign medical graduate, you must show that you have a significant amount of USCE in order to illustrate that you are familiar with ACGME core competencies as well as the methods and protocols followed by U.S. hospitals. Externships, observerships, simulation training programs, and research fellowships will help to prepare for your USMLE Step 3 exam and show Program Directors that you have mastered the U.S. healthcare system operations.
Combat low USMLE Step Scores
If you have low USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores, you can seek out tutoring to provide an outside perspective to your test-taking abilities. Additionally, while it is not required to take Step 3 before applying to residency programs, a sufficient score will enhance your candidacy for residency. With Residents Medical's USMLE 1-on-1 pathway, you will be able to create a personalized plan, have convenient tutoring access from anywhere in the world, and improve your test-taking strategy so you can feel more confident during the exam.
Don’t let the past get in the way of pursuing your dream residency program and career of becoming a practicing physician in the United States.
Are You Next?™
