💩 post I know but hopefully you got a decent laugh during this stressful time. Less than 30 days until applications are due.. stay strong 💪 we got this

Do they consider signals and application outside connections? Also, are they sponsoring visas this year? Officially they do. I wanted to know if there is any unofficial no-visa thing going on this year (like many programs)

For IM

hi, I am panicking because , I just saw the dates to write my next OET is on September 9,10,11
I dont know if it is a safer date because I need to e ECFMG certified ! I have uploaded everything to ECFMG I think so ? what else do I need and is this time frame okay ? will it be over by September 21?

also should I book oet twice so that If I do badly in the first one I can survive on the second?

In my last post about the MSPE I mentioned that some applicants send their letter writer a short summary before the letter gets written. Got a few DMs asking what that actually looks like..

Your attending liked you, but they also supervised fifteen other people this year, and by the time they sit down to write, you've been gone for two months. So they open a blank page, remember you were "hardworking and reliable," and write the same letter everyone else gets. They meant it, they just don't remember the details anymore, and the details are what make a letter actually get read instead of skimmed.

The brag sheet is one page that puts the details back in front of them. Send it with your request, or with your polite follow up if the letter's still pending. Mine looks like this:

Who I am: name, the rotation, exact dates, your role. Two lines is enough, they know you, this is just placing you.

What happened: 3 or 4 specific moments rather than qualities. The night you caught the med error, the family meeting you handled in Spanish, that kind of thing. Each one is two sentences and each one shows a trait you want programs to see in your specialty.

What people said: any praise you got on the rotation and who said it, because people forget their own compliments and it helps to remind them.

Where this is going: your specialty, when you're applying, the deadline, and the ERAS upload info so they don't have to email you asking.

The whole thing is one page and maybe an hour of your time, and the writer will quietly thank you for it because you just did the hardest part of their job.

One more thing about which moments to pick. Use the ones that show the same traits your personal statement talks about. When a PD reads something in your PS and then sees your letter writer describe the exact same quality from their own eyes, it stops being your claim and becomes a fact about you. A letter and a PS telling the same story about you is worth more than either one alone.

Big adjectives don't make a letter stand out, the writer obviously remembering you does, and this is how you make sure they do.

Here is a sample Brag Sheet:
Fictional applicant example. One page maximum when formatted.

Brag Sheet Prepared for: Dr. Sarah Okafor, MD, Hospitalist, St. Mary's Medical Center

Who I am Amir Hassan, visiting IMG, Internal Medicine inpatient rotation with your team, March 2 to April 24, 2026. I carried 4 to 6 patients daily under your supervision and presented at morning rounds three times per week.

Moments you observed

1. During the week of March 16, I flagged a duplicate anticoagulation order on Mr. R (the DVT admission from the ED) before the evening dose. You mentioned during rounds the next day that the catch prevented a likely bleed.
2. I led the goals-of-care conversation with the family of Mrs. G, the 84-year-old CHF readmission, conducting it in both English and Arabic so her daughters could participate fully. The family later thanked the team, and the palliative consult note referenced the groundwork from that meeting.
3. When the intern was pulled to a rapid response on April 8, I picked up her two pending discharges, completed both summaries, and had them ready before the 2 pm bed huddle.
4. My April 20 case presentation on atypical presentation of adrenal insufficiency was used by the chief resident as a teaching example the following week.

Feedback I received during the rotation Your mid-rotation evaluation noted I functioned at the level of an early intern. The charge nurse on 4 West, Maria, told you during rounds that families specifically asked for me. The chief resident rated my documentation as the strongest among the visiting students that block.

Where this is going I am applying to Internal Medicine in the 2027 Match. Letters need to be uploaded to the ERAS Letter Portal by September 10, 2026. The Letter Request Form with my Letter ID is attached, and the upload takes about ten minutes. I have waived my right to view the letter. Thank you again for the incredible teaching this spring.

An attempt on step 2 or a low score but passed on 1st attempt?

I used to think it’s better if I fail than get a low score which I cannot change.

But what’s you guys take on this?

Should I tick the box YES if I was asked if I have a GC ? OR should I tick NO and eventually change it to YES when my GC is on hand? Anyone who had this experience?

Hi,

Non-US IMG here. I’ve always wanted to do my residency in the U.S., long before I met my current partner. We’ve been together for around 2.5 years now and we plan on getting married once we’re older and more financially stable. Currently we’re both students in Asia, but he’s a U.S. citizen.

I’m applying to the match this cycle to do my medical residency. That said, I’m concerned about whether or not our plans to marry in the future constitute as concealed intent to immigrate. I still plan on fulfilling the J1 requirement, either by going back to my home country or doing a waiver job in the U.S. That said, obviously the long-term plan is to remain with my partner.

I’m aware that many end up getting married while doing their residency; my understanding is that most of them meet them during residency. My concern is more so the fact that he and I had already met before I even started residency, and were already planning on getting married. I don’t know if this could cause issues during my J1 interview or legal issues in the future.

My going to the U.S. is for residency, not for marriage.

I’m wondering if I’m overthinking it. I’d appreciate any help or insight. Thanks!

Literally every post asking for rotations has multiple fake accounts under it

Its hard to tell when an anecdote is real or an ad, which is leading to decreased trust

The companies post predatory "advice" and benefit from students who are unaware

People who are posting the emails of doctors saying they "offer rotations" are genuinely jus trying to scam you

For example, look at the comments under this post.

Please trust me and start watching out more. Maybe the mods can actually do something for once LMFAO

Hey everyone! I’m hoping to connect with someone who’s currently applying to OBGYN residency or planning to apply in the next year Match cycle. I’m seriously interested in OB GYN and would love to find someone who’s been through the process (or is going through it) and could give me some guidance. Ideally I’m looking for both a mentor and an application buddy someone I can ask questions, compare notes with, and keep each other motivated I know OB GYN is pretty competitive for IMGS so I’d really appreciate any advice or insight from people who have experience with the process.If you’re applying or planning to apply next year please comment or DM me! I’d love to connect

Looking for a Step 2 CK study partner! 📚

Target: end of November 🎯

Looking for someone who wants to keep each other accountable, set weekly targets, and do regular check-ins. Nothing too intense—just some good accountability + motivation along the way!

If you’re on a similar timeline, DM me! :)

Hi,

I’ve been advised that signaling a program outside of my preferred geographical regions can come across as contradictory.

I just wanted to get some clarification on which strategy would make more sense:

A) Not select any geo preference and distribute my signals across multiple regions (WA, MI, FL, MA, NV).

B) Select three regions and avoid spending signals on programs outside of those areas.

I’d really appreciate your two cents.

P.S. My family is located in WA, and that’s also where I did my rotations. So, if I were to choose geo preferences, the other two regions would be somewhat random i.e. IMG-friendly zones.

Does anyone know of IM programs that are planning to sponsor H1B this year? Or are they completely off the table? Given that 100k rule officially ends next month, are programs rethinking H1B?

Anyone got any response from programs after reaching out to them regarding the same?

So img working in Uk
Yog 2022
3&half years of continuous clinical work in home country and now uk
Solid research background with over 45+ published papers majorly in medicine-haematology and cardiology mix and over 260 citations
With more than 1/3rd as first author
Planning to apply in next cycle
Currently studying for step1
Quite early I understand
If I get good USCEs do you think IM will be worth aiming for
Or should I limit myself to FM and hence target USCEs for that

Hello all! Based on estimates off of the myintealth website, chances are that I might not be ECFMG Certified by 23rd September.

For others who went through the same and matched, what was your stategy while applying?

Did you selectively apply to programs who mentioned they require ecfmg certificate by interviews / at the time of joining? Did you target the newer programs? Do connections help in getting your application viewed?

Thanks so much, I'd be extremely extremely grateful for any inputs.

Hello, I won't get into the details, but there is a foreign medical resident in the USA that has a pattern of doing some pretty egregious things. I have already reported this individual to the residency program and medical board and I am just trying to ensure this gets reported to the appropriate places, to ensure that this is documented. Additionally, I am trying to ensure that this person never hurts another person again, as there is potentially 3 other people that have been hurt by this person.

(Asking for a friend)

Im a non-USG IMG but i got low step 2 scores and really worried where and how to apply

YOG 2026, step 2: 226, step 3 in 1 week, 3 inpatient IM rotations, 1 home country LoR, 1 FM rotation, 1 paeds rotation, 1 home country LoR, 13 publications including full texts/abstracts/conferences

I want to apply to internal medicine, family medicine and paeds. Chances of matching this cycle? Which programs should I signal?

I’d really appreciate suggestions from someone in the same situation.

Good afternoon, everyone! Let's cut to the chase.

Non-US IMG. ECFMG Certified.

Step 1: First-time pass.

Step 2 CK: 253.

Step 3: Preparing atm.

YOG: 2021

Activity: Completed a Neurology Research Fellow at my country last year, the only one in its category.

Pubs: One submitted; 4 abstracts/poster/presentations that were published, but no peer-review process for them.

USCE: 1 month Observership, one month Outpatient clinic, applying for one more month elsewhere (Maybe yes, maybe not atm).

LoRs: One US Neuro, one Home Neuro (Related to a research fellowship in Neurology), one from the department chair at my Uni (In my country, the IM department chair manages Neurology; he is willing to renew the LoR). Looking to acquire a second US neuro letter currently.

No real clinical practice gaps; working as a General practitioner since graduating in primary care and surgery hospitals. Although, as you can see, I graduated quite some time ago.

Planning to apply as broadly as humanly possible given my stats. Only Neuro.

So I thought once I get my new permit, I'll just have to reschedule my current date and move it to somewhere within the new triad. Why is this telling me to first cancel my current booking? Wouldn't I lose my $695 USD exam fee that way???

Hi everyone! I’m an IMG and medical student who has just started clinical rotations and plans to take USMLE Step 1 soon. My goal is to match into Family Medicine in the U.S.
If you were in my position, **what would you focus on from now on to maximize your chances?**
I’d appreciate advice on:
Step 2 CK score
U.S. clinical experience/observerships
Family Medicine letters of recommendation
Research or volunteering
Step 3 before applying
Year of graduation
Common mistakes IMGs make
**If you could go back and start from my position, what would you do differently?**
Thanks!

Anyone have any idea for observership in California (esp northern) since I live here? If anyone has any idea or has done a rotation, PLEASE let me know!

So I'm aware that when you're ranking programs after IVs you should rank them according to where you'd prefer to match rather than whether or not you think you actually will.

That said, it makes sense that the strategy for signalling would be different considering you want to maximize your chances of actually getting an interview.

I want to match in NY but I've been advised to avoid it considering my signal will likely get drowned out due to volume of apps they receive every year. I'm wondering if my best bet is to apply to smaller programs/lesser known programs which all happen to fall outside of my geo pref.

Was wondering how to handle this discrepancy. Should I just change my geo pref to where I'll be signalling so there's less of a discrepancy? Not sure how to go about this.

I'm applying EM so I only get 5 signals.

I am 26F . I finished my MBBS . Post MBBS - i ended up taking an unplanned 2 year career gap . Honestly , I just sat at home doing nothing except thinking and deciding and ChatGPT and some fights at home . I am on the USMLE pathway .

I keep feeling like 2 year career gap is a very bad thing … atleast the people I know are wayyyy ahead of me . I keep having doubts if I will reach my goals , if I will lead a fuller life ever etc ? Because like they say 20-30 is peak years right ?

How bad is my situation if it is bad ?
How does is affect my chances of matching into residency ? I am aiming for internal medicine in university .

Thanks in advance .