u/Even_Inflation4474

Hey all, applying to GI fellowship this cycle and would appreciate honest feedback on competitiveness, especially for university programs. Trying to figure out how aggressively to apply and whether I'm reaching for the right tier.

Background:

• IMG(on J 1 visa), at a community-based university-affiliated IM program without in house fellowship
• USMLE: 260s, Step 3 passed 260s
• No red flags, no gaps, strong evals

Research:

• 9 peer-reviewed manuscript publications(5 as first author), one in gastroenterology
• 6 additional first-author manuscripts under review
• 40+ GI-related abstracts

Other:

• won a few awards during my residency, both inside and outside my program
• LORs: PD, APD, and two GI faculty (one hepatology, one general GI)

Application strategy questions:

1. Realistic to target mid-tier university programs, or should I focus on community-based?
2. Any specific programs known to be IMG-friendly with strong hepatology exposure?