IMG-Friendly Residency Programs and Specialties

IMG-Friendly Programs

Below are some residency programs that are friendliest to IMG applicants. We’ve also listed the specialties in which they have a significant acceptance rate for IMGs:

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Internal Medicine, Psychiatry)
• Cook County Health and Hospitals System (Anesthesiology)
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Vascular Surgery)
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (Plastic Surgery)
• JFK Medical Center (Neurology)
• Medical College of Georgia (Anesthesiology)
• Larkin Community Hospital (Psychiatry)
• Mercy Catholic Medical Center (Diagnostic Radiology)
• Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics)
• Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Thoracic Surgery)
• Harvard Medical School (Nuclear Medicine, Medical Genetics & Genomics)
• New York Medical College (Ophthalmology, Emergency Medicine)
• University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville (Urology)
• University of Missouri (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics)
• Michigan State University (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Internal Medicine)
• University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson (Neurological Surgery)
• SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (Neurology, Radiology, Pathology, Pediatrics)
• Damas Hospital (Transitional Year)

Least IMG-Friendly Specialties, Programs, and States

Some of the most competitive specialties are even harder for IMGs to get into. In most cases, we don’t recommend putting all your eggs in one basket; we also suggest applying for less competitive specialties to increase your chances of a successful match.

Below are the most competitive specialties, meaning the lowest match rates for IMGs:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Orthopedics
• ENT (Otolaryngology)
• Plastic Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Dermatology
• Ophthalmology
• Urology

Read Next: Least Stressful Specialties

Here are the states where it’s hard to match into as an IMG, mainly because there are so few spots available:

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont

Identifying IMG-Friendly Programs Yourself

Here’s a practical guide for how you can identify an individual program’s friendliness for IMG applicants:

• While searching the AMA’s FREIDA database, use the following FREIDA filters to find the IMG-friendliest programs for your unique situation. This includes IMG %, visa options, and location.
• Check a program’s website for more details. Feel free to contact them using the provided information, such as an email address or phone number, to ask the program director questions about their unique process.
• Review NRMP Charting Outcomes for IMG statistics on specific programs and specialties.
• Use a program’s Instagram or LinkedIn to search for IMG representation and to see if you could envision yourself as a resident there.
• Talk to alumni about a program’s IMG-friendliness. Network with alumni via Reddit, school-specific forums, at virtual networking events, or through social media. You can find out about IMG friendliness, as well as whether the program culture aligns with your needs.

High-Yield Strategies for Matching

Below are some expert tips for IMGs to match into their ideal residency:

• Get U.S. clinical experience (USCE). Hands-on experience with patient exposure will always be preferable to observerships and basic shadowing. Aim for clinical rotations in your desired specialty.
• Obtain strong letters of recommendation. These need to be from U.S. healthcare workers. Provide your CV to letter writers so they have more strengths to talk about.
• Aim for a solid Step 2 CK score. Since Step 1 is now Pass/Fail, your Step 2 score is more important than ever.
• Write a compelling personal statement. Tailor it to your desired specialty, and weave in a powerful narrative that illustrates why you’re an IMG looking to come to this program.
• Apply broadly, and apply strategically. You should apply to about 100 programs. However, you should be strategic in applying to IMG-friendly states and specialties, as well as programs that are appropriate for your candidacy strengths. 
• Use program signals. These are free to use and can increase your odds of getting an interview invite. Some programs do not participate in program signaling.
• Hone your interview skills. Since the residency interview is even more important for IMGs than U.S. medical graduates, you need to brush up on your interview skills and commonly asked questions. Come up with strong answers to frequently asked questions and practice answering out loud with a peer or mentor. Read this article on the best residency interview tips.
• Consider sending a letter of intent. An LOI can indicate to one (and only one) program that they are your first choice. Even though it’s not legally binding, an LOI is an ethically binding recognition that you will put this program at the top of your ROL.
• Know SOAP. Just in case you don’t match at the beginning of Match Week, review the SOAP process of applying to unfilled positions throughout Match Week.

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