u/Traditional-Tone8034

Signals have become THE most important part of the application now. Please don't give your money to some consulting company because they'll just use AI and old data. A lot of people (me included) are willing to look over your signals for free, because we're not businessman vultures.

I’m a non-US IMG with a Pass/244 who matched into a university-affiliated program. I used to stalk this subreddit all the time, so I wanted to share some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong applications and above-average Step 2 scores. However, I think a lot of people go unmatched for one main reason: bad signaling + bad geographic preferences.

I got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strategy is pretty simple:

• Be careful with programs that get 5,000+ applications. You can easily get drowned out. Connections can matter a lot at these massive IMG-heavy programs, so don’t assume a signal will get you noticed.
• Choose your geo preference wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely that a program will notice you, so use them in areas where IMGs actually have a decent shot.
• If you’ve heard of a program constantly on Reddit, odds are thousands of other people have too. you won’t get an IV there, but you’re probably competing against a much bigger pool of applicants.
• Research your programs well. Look for newer programs, underrated programs, less talked-about programs, rural areas, etc. You want places where your application has a chance to actually stand out.
• Don’t assume that because a city has a high number of IMGs matching there, it’s automatically easier for you. Big cities have a lot of IMGs because they also have a ton of applicants and programs. Places like California, New York, and Seattle can still be extremely competitive.

I’d highly recommend looking into programs in the Midwest and using your geo preference + signals strategically. South Atlantic can be great too, especially Florida.

Also, if you can learn Spanish, that’s a pretty big plus for programs serving large Hispanic populations.

Obviously this is just my experience and not a guarantee, but going into 2027 I’d spend less time chasing the programs everyone on Reddit knows about and more time finding programs where you actually have a chance to stand out.

Feel free to DM me with a list of your signals + stats and Ill take a look at em. much love

Please do not DM to ask for prep advice, and only DM if youre applying for the upcoming match cycle! (preferably in IM)

Im an Indian PGY2 in IM, and I wanna give back to the community be helping people with signals - Ive seen a ton of people go unmatched because they signalled places too high tier

- Ive also seen people match at places worse than they deserve, so theres that

This is NOT an ad, checking out your lists 100% free, Im just bored.

So there have been a ton of posts recently which are mainly doomers saying non US IMGs are completely screwed, programs have more applicants than they need, places can afford to not hire Non US IMGs because of the surplus, etc.

This is all true, to an extent. Denser places will feel the effects of this the most - places like NY (especially), Cali, etc have the option to filter more aggresively, and often have to. Im a resident at a uni affiliated program in NY and Ive met with a bunch of PDs who have also expressed this sentiment. Luckily I got in before the visa issues.

A lot of my friends who wasted their signals on places with 6000+ applicants ended up filtered out and unmatched completly.

However! Most smaller cities, rural locations, and flyover states dont have the luxury of being able to choose. These places will remain IMG friendly and have no option, in all honesty.

A lot of these places have solid fellowship match rates, under 2000 applicants (the average number of applicants for IM is 2400 ish). Nevada, OKC, Fl, etc have some insane underrated programs that I only found out about after I matched.

As IMGs, I know a lot of us come from places that care about the name of the state or program or some superficial BS like that. The only thing that matters is the quality of your training and the fellowship match rate.

Go research your programs - go to the website, look at the post grad careers sections, check applicant number and signal stats on residency explorer.

If you guys are smart with your geo prefs and signals you will match, I can guarantee it. Ive seen people with 230s and attempts match because they signalled the right places, and Ive seen people with 250s go unmatched because they wasted theirs. Feel free to DM for advice on your signal lists.

I’m a non-US IMG with a Pass/244 who matched into a university-affiliated program. I used to stalk this subreddit all the time, so I wanted to share some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong applications and above-average Step 2 scores. However, I think a lot of people go unmatched for one main reason: bad signaling + bad geographic preferences.

I got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strategy is pretty simple:

• Be careful with programs that get 5,000+ applications. You can easily get drowned out. Connections can matter a lot at these massive IMG-heavy programs, so don’t assume a signal will get you noticed.
• Choose your geo preference wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely that a program will notice you, so use them in areas where IMGs actually have a decent shot.
• If you’ve heard of a program constantly on Reddit, odds are thousands of other people have too. you won’t get an IV there, but you’re probably competing against a much bigger pool of applicants.
• Research your programs well. Look for newer programs, underrated programs, less talked-about programs, rural areas, etc. You want places where your application has a chance to actually stand out.
• Don’t assume that because a city has a high number of IMGs matching there, it’s automatically easier for you. Big cities have a lot of IMGs because they also have a ton of applicants and programs. Places like California, New York, and Seattle can still be extremely competitive.

I’d highly recommend looking into programs in the Midwest and using your geo preference + signals strategically. South Atlantic can be great too, especially Florida.

Also, if you can learn Spanish, that’s a pretty big plus for programs serving large Hispanic populations.

Obviously this is just my experience and not a guarantee, but going into 2027 I’d spend less time chasing the programs everyone on Reddit knows about and more time finding programs where you actually have a chance to stand out.

Feel free to DM me with a list of your signals + stats and Ill take a look at em. much love

I’m a non-US IMG with a Pass/244 who matched into a university-affiliated program. I used to stalk this subreddit all the time, so I wanted to share some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong applications and above-average Step 2 scores. However, I think a lot of people go unmatched for one main reason: bad signaling + bad geographic preferences.

I got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strategy is pretty simple:

• Be careful with programs that get 5,000+ applications. You can easily get drowned out. Connections can matter a lot at these massive IMG-heavy programs, so don’t assume a signal will get you noticed.
• Choose your geo preference wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely that a program will notice you, so use them in areas where IMGs actually have a decent shot.
• If you’ve heard of a program constantly on Reddit, odds are thousands of other people have too. you won’t get an IV there, but you’re probably competing against a much bigger pool of applicants.
• Research your programs well. Look for newer programs, underrated programs, less talked-about programs, rural areas, etc. You want places where your application has a chance to actually stand out.
• Don’t assume that because a city has a high number of IMGs matching there, it’s automatically easier for you. Big cities have a lot of IMGs because they also have a ton of applicants and programs. Places like California, New York, and Seattle can still be extremely competitive.

I’d highly recommend looking into programs in the Midwest and using your geo preference + signals strategically. South Atlantic can be great too, especially Florida.

Also, if you can learn Spanish, that’s a pretty big plus for programs serving large Hispanic populations.

Obviously this is just my experience and not a guarantee, but going into 2027 I’d spend less time chasing the programs everyone on Reddit knows about and more time finding programs where you actually have a chance to stand out.

Feel free to DM me with a list of your signals + stats and Ill take a look at em. much love

I’m a non-US IMG with a Pass/244 who matched into a university-affiliated program. I used to stalk this subreddit all the time, so I wanted to share some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong applications and above-average Step 2 scores. However, I think a lot of people go unmatched for one main reason: bad signaling + bad geographic preferences.

I got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strategy is pretty simple:

• Be careful with programs that get 5,000+ applications. You can easily get drowned out. Connections can matter a lot at these massive IMG-heavy programs, so don’t assume a signal will get you noticed.
• Choose your geo preference wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely that a program will notice you, so use them in areas where IMGs actually have a decent shot.
• If you’ve heard of a program constantly on Reddit, odds are thousands of other people have too. you won’t get an IV there, but you’re probably competing against a much bigger pool of applicants.
• Research your programs well. Look for newer programs, underrated programs, less talked-about programs, rural areas, etc. You want places where your application has a chance to actually stand out.
• Don’t assume that because a city has a high number of IMGs matching there, it’s automatically easier for you. Big cities have a lot of IMGs because they also have a ton of applicants and programs. Places like California, New York, and Seattle can still be extremely competitive.

I’d highly recommend looking into programs in the Midwest and using your geo preference + signals strategically. South Atlantic can be great too, especially Florida.

Also, if you can learn Spanish, that’s a pretty big plus for programs serving large Hispanic populations.

Obviously this is just my experience and not a guarantee, but going into 2027 I’d spend less time chasing the programs everyone on Reddit knows about and more time finding programs where you actually have a chance to stand out.

Feel free to DM me with a list of your signals + stats and Ill take a look at em. much love

And what form will it take? Will we see good IMG friendly programs shift to sending IVs to only US IMGs?

Will US IMGs receive IVs with lower scores than their non US counterparts?

Will they generally match at more compettive programs?

US IMG (Non carribean)

Pass/251

3 months of USCE (2 observerships and 1 hands on), with 3 strong US LORs

6 Pubs, 1 poster presentation

Applying internal medicine

US IMG (Non carribean)

Pass/251

3 months of USCE (2 observerships and 1 hands on), with 3 strong US LORs

6 Pubs, 1 poster presentation

Applying internal medicine

I'm a Non US IMG, pass/244, and matched into a University Affiliated program. I used to stalk this sub all the time so I wanna give you guys some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong profiles, and above average step 2 scores. However, a lot of people go unmatched for 1 main reason - stupid signalling + bad geographic preferences.

I followed these steps and got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strat is pretty easy

- DO NOT signal programs that get over 5k applications, youll absolutely be drowned out. Connections are usually the most important thing at these massive IMG programs, so be careful.

- Choose geo pref wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely to get an IV (obviously), so pick IMG friendly areas

- If you have heard of a program on reddit, odds are you wont get an IV there. This is just the rough truth, because if youve heard of it, 10,000 other people on this sub have too, and are applying there as well.

- Research your programs well. Find new programs, or underrated ones, rural areas, etc

- The IMG match rate in big cities is high only because of the number of people and programs there. You as an individual are at a disadvanage because of this, not an advantage. Avoid places like Cali (Low IMG match rate), NY (your signal wont be seen + its toxic), Seattle

I highly reccomend people reading this to check out programs in the midwest, geo pref, and signal them. South atlantic is great too, especially florida

If you can learn spanish then its a massive plus for hispanic area programs too

I'm a Non US IMG, pass/244, and matched into a University Affiliated program. I used to stalk this sub all the time so I wanna give you guys some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong profiles, and above average step 2 scores. However, a lot of people go unmatched for 1 main reason - stupid signalling + bad geographic preferences.

It got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strat is pretty easy

- DO NOT signal programs that get over 5k applications, youll absolutely be drowned out. Connections are usually the most important thing at these massive IMG programs, so be careful.

- Choose geo pref wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely to get an IV (obviously), so pick IMG friendly areas

- If you have heard of a program on reddit, odds are you wont get an IV there. This is just the rough truth, because if youve heard of it, 10,000 other people on this sub have too, and are applying there as well.

- Research your programs well. Find new programs, or underrated ones, rural areas, etc

- The IMG match rate in big cities is high only because of the number of people and programs there. You as an individual are at a disadvanage because of this, not an advantage. Avoid places like Cali (Low IMG match rate), NY (your signal wont be seen + its toxic), Seattle

I highly reccomend people reading this to check out programs in the midwest, geo pref, and signal them. South atlantic is great too, especially florida

If you can learn spanish then its a massive plus for hispanic area programs too

I'm a Non US IMG, pass/244, and matched into a University Affiliated program. I used to stalk this sub all the time so I wanna give you guys some advice going into the 2027 cycle.

A LOT of you have strong profiles, and above average step 2 scores. However, a lot of people go unmatched for 1 main reason - stupid signalling + bad geographic preferences.

I followed these steps and got 15+ IVs, with 10/15 signals sending me one. The strat is pretty easy

- DO NOT signal programs that get over 5k applications, youll absolutely be drowned out. Connections are usually the most important thing at these massive IMG programs, so be careful.

- Choose geo pref wisely. The combination of geo pref + signal makes it more likely to get an IV (obviously), so pick IMG friendly areas

- If you have heard of a program on reddit, odds are you wont get an IV there. This is just the rough truth, because if youve heard of it, 10,000 other people on this sub have too, and are applying there as well.

- Research your programs well. Find new programs, or underrated ones, rural areas, etc

- The IMG match rate in big cities is high only because of the number of people and programs there. You as an individual are at a disadvanage because of this, not an advantage. Avoid places like Cali (Low IMG match rate), NY (your signal wont be seen + its toxic), Seattle

I highly reccomend people reading this to check out programs in the midwest, geo pref, and signal them. South atlantic is great too, especially florida

If you can learn spanish then its a massive plus for hispanic area programs too