Hallo!
maybe here is anyone, who can answer my question!

I'm an old IMG, graduated in 2005.
I was told by several people, that I have got zero chances to get a residency in United States : (((( That in US clinics they don't like old IMGs ar all and I will not get in any residency programs. (((

I'm in a deep depression!

Please, If anyone is/or had been in my condition, could you give me an answer: should I hope or not?
Is it true?
I've got 10 years of working experience at Emergency Department, I'm a Pediatrician.


I will appreciate any of your answers.

Regards,
Nia

It depends on some things: what are your USMLE step scores? How much USA clinical experience do you have?
Graduating in 2005 is not good, but there are other things you can do to get into residency.
You have to get very high USMLE scores, you have to have step3 finished before you apply, and you have to get a year of clinical experience in the USA. You still have a chance of getting into residency, but you have to do these 3 things. Which state do you live in? There are many old graduates that get into residency, but their test scores are very high and they have USA clinical experience at a teaching hospital.

HI salomon!
Thanks for your reply!

The matter is that I don't Live in America.
Still, hope to get residency, because it's the only way to make my career in medicine! Otherwise, I must leave medicine and go and sell ice-creams in the streets : )))) I'm joking.

Well, USA clinical experience is an essential factor as I guess, right?
Is it possible to get residency without that? Or: is it possible to gain USA clinical experience for foreigner graduates?

OMG!
I'm in deep thoughts!
Hope, depression won't be able to kill me before I get residency : )

Thanks once more for a reply!
Wish you all tha best!

Regards,
Nia

Hi! Yes, there is hope, I am an IMG, graduated in 2009, had zero clinical experience in the USA, no letters of recommendation from anyone in the USA, decent scores for steps 1 and 2 and I got a residency in a good university based program. I have friends who graduated in 2005 and had some clinical experience in the USA and matched.

So, my advice is:
- Work on your curriculum, make it look good: I found that my clinical experience as a specialist in my home country did not go unnoticed even if it's not "officially" taken into account. Pay attention to details, grammar, spelling, all of that.
- Try to do some kind of meaningful volunteer work, try to get some kind of clinical experience. Contact the associations of doctors from your same country and don't be afraid to ask for help finding clinical experience in the USA.
-If you have done research, have publications...that's a major plus
-Work on your personal statement, make sure it is REALLY good
-Apply to as many programs as possible, don't be picky, it's better to match in a less than ideal program than to try again the next year. Make sure you apply to IMG friendly programs, read their policies, some programs don't even look at the application of people who graduated more than 5 years ago, so don't waste your money on those.
- If possible study and pass step 3 but if you don't think you have enough time to get a really good score then it's better if you don't do it just yet.
-last but should be at the top: have confidence in yourself and pray, count your blessings, that will keep you calm. What do you mean depression? there's no room for that, just hard work.

i agree with Ewie, but US clinical experience does help a lot.
Nia, have you taken your step1 and step2 yet? what were your scores?

Ewie, Nia may not have good scores like you...Ewie which country are you from?

Nia, you'll be fine. you just have to find ways around the normal rules. As Ewie said, don't apply to programs that have year limits like 3 years or 5 years. it will be a HUGE waste of time and Huge waste of money.

Nia, which country are you from?

Hey, thanks for your advice!
where did you find the program without that years limit?
I look for not an university and very rural program and they all have that years limit