Ask the Program Director: What advice do you have for international students attending medical schools here in the U.S. to make them competitive for residency positions?
Program Director 1 Response
International students attending U.S. medical schools are
academically just as competitive as US citizens attending U.S.
medical schools. Most international students are on an "F" Visa and
will have to change either to a J1 or H1 visa for residency and
fellowship training. Many programs do not sponsor an H1 visa.
Willingness and flexibility to accept the J1 visa will make them
equally competitive from the residency program perspective. Most
students here on an "F" Visa, can extend that through internship so
they can effectively get an extra year on their J1 Visa, which
would make them more competitive for some fellowships than their
IMG counterparts.
Program Director 2 Response
Besides the obvious academics, two things come to mind. First, Visa
status. The H-1 is expensive to institutions and becomes an issue
with obtaining fellowships (which can then reflect poorly on the
program), so being flexible on visa selection is important. Next
would be having meaningful clinical experience in the U.S. This
does not mean working in the office of their cousin or uncle, but
obtaining observerships from ACGME accredited programs which puts
them under the scrutiny of faculty and perhaps the PD who can
advocate and attest to their skills.
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Ask the Program Director is a new feature that focuses on providing medical students practical advice to help them navigate the process of obtaining a residency position in internal medicine. Issues covered include: CV development, writing a personal statement, the Match process, residency program interviews, and more.