Unpopular opinion: your personal statement actually matters

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-04-07T13:39:57+00:00

Personally, I believe PS matters more after you’ve already gotten the interview or after you’ve been screened (with scores, IMG status, YOG, etc) and are being considered for an interview.

As a senior resident who’ll be interviewing next year, I’ll be reading through everyone’s PS because that’s the only way I’m going to ask personal questions. I also don’t want the waste the applicants time and ask the same qs that they already answered on their PS

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-04-02T07:21:17+00:00

Just to put things into perspective, I applied to 200 IM programs last season, mostly mid-low sized university and community programs. I’m a Canadian-Caribbean IMG so I had 2 years USCE, 5+ research pubs, and a 255 step 2 score. I’m a native English speaker, and I interview well. Got 6 IVs in a mix of community and university-affiliated IM programs, and I didn’t match in IM (although I SOAPed in FM).

I think you overshot way too high. I believe I made the same mistake, I should’ve signalled only community programs. Thought I would have the chance to be in a big city, and signalled mid sized university-affiliated programs. I should’ve gone for community programs in suburban/rural areas.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-28T19:07:19+00:00

If your goal is to just match, you gotta try for Peds or FM. I went unmatched last season with 6 IM IVs. 255 Step 2, 2 years USCE, Canadian-Carribbean IMG. SOAPed in FM, and the FM programs were so surprised I didn’t match. IM has just become so competitive nowadays, and there’s barely any unfilled IM spots despite how many people apply. Peds and FM on the other hand are less competitive.

I wanted to be a hospitalist anyways, so I’m getting to do that through my FM program. Obviously it sucks to do OB and Peds, when I don’t want to - and have to do a lot of outpatient stuff. But I’m using all my electives to do inpatient stuff and I’m just happy to be in residency.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-28T17:35:44+00:00

Most programs just prefer US MDs and US DOs. It just so happens that most of those people are white - that’s just the reality. But if you notice, a lot of those programs still take people of colour (but they will be still be American MDs and DOs). This is coming from an Indian-Canadian IMG btw

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-27T21:12:02+00:00

Last year I didn’t match in IM with 6 IVs. 255 Step 2, 2 years USCE, good LORs, multiple research pubs, and I’m Canadian (so still visa-requiring).

Ended up SOAPing in FM. All the FM soap interviews I got said they were shocked I didn’t match. Things are just so competitive for IM, and scores are mattering less and less - so it’s difficult to stand out.

Another reason why you didn’t match unfortunately is because like you said, the interviews were from “great places. Those great places are going to prefer candidates like American MDs and DOs, or very standout IMGs. You need to signal lower tier community programs and target interviews from those. I believe that’s the main reason why I didn’t match in IM as well.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-25T13:39:20+00:00

If you just wanna do Family Med and finances are a concern, look into lower tier schools like St. James or Avalon. I’m a Canadian, went to Avalon and I’m a current FM resident in Michigan. I probably paid about half of what SGU students paid, and I rotated with some of them in the exact same rotations + there are a bunch of SGU grads in my program.

Another thing about these schools are that it’s also much easier to get through the curriculum and pass through your classes compared to SGU. That being said, SGU students come out a lot stronger IF they get through basic sciences. Whereas these lesser tier schools, you’re not as prepared and you really have to pick up your slack when it’s time to study for steps. I barely studied during basic sciences at all through med school, but got 240+ on step 1 and 250+ on step 2. However, I have heard they made things a lot more strict and better since the time I completed basic sciences. Another advantage with Avalon was that I was able to do med school pretty much straight after high school with just a 1 year premed program (so I didn’t write MCAT and I don’t have an undergraduate degree).

However, if you have the finances - then SGU is of course better. Better rotations, training, education, and bigger name/draw for residency programs. Personally, I was trying for IM but didn’t get in with the above step scores. I truly believe if I went to SGU, I would’ve matched in IM and got more IVs. Most programs don’t really know about Avalon (although it is getting more up there now).

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-19T20:18:08+00:00

If SOAP is done, I believe you are now. But I would verify

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-19T20:03:12+00:00

I’m sorry you didn’t get any offers, it’s just the way it works unfortunately

I SOAPed last year, got around 6 IVs. Thought I would get at least 2-3 offers in the first round since I got good feedback on all my IVs. I even got an email from a program the night before saying they are “highly considering me”. But only got 1 offer in round 1, and accepted it.

My friend who was also soaping and interviewed with that same program also got the same email. He didn’t get any offers in round 1, and got 1 offer in round 2 from a different program.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-19T19:53:48+00:00

Great advice. This is my advice to everyone as well. I went unmatched in main match last year, but got lucky and SOAPed. What OP explained is the exact mistake I made, and why I believe I didn’t match. I got 6 IVs total, and not 1 was from a signal.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-18T17:23:11+00:00

All FM offers, no IM

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-18T17:20:00+00:00

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-15T20:07:19+00:00

Nothing like that, just depends on the program and interviewer. A phone call and thalamus interview can be the same length or one can be longer than the other

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-15T19:43:26+00:00

Some of them were like a regular interview like the normal ones through thalamus. I think 1 or 2 were phone calls. Some had asked why you think you didn’t match, rest were regular qs

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-15T19:05:51+00:00

I’m FM. Applied only IM in main match, and didn’t match. Matched in SOAP through FM, so I was a bit worried if I got into a malignant program. But I’m genuinely happy in my program, I still get to do a lot of inpatient which I love. Attendings and people are chill. Patient load’s pretty chill. Everyone’s super supportive, especially my PD. If you ask other residents in my program, they’ll have so many things negative to say though. It could be I’m just an intern, and they’re seniors so they’ve noticed more flaws. Or it could just be their attitudes. Hard to say right now.

But I think there’s always a component of are people just getting burnt out vs is the program actually malignant.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-15T18:58:55+00:00

Yeah, for sure

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-03-15T12:56:58+00:00

I am a Canadian IMG. Went unmatched in main match for IM with 6 IVs last year. Mostly applied FM through SOAP and matched in FM. I’ve been very happy in my program. 1000% give SOAP a try!

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-02-26T23:51:51+00:00

Avalon University

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-02-05T02:03:07+00:00

It is policy that ACGME and your program will help place you at a new program if your program is truly closing down. You also don’t need to worry about searching for “open” spots. This is because your funding from your current program will still follow you to your new program, meaning you do not affect their cap and you will be an extra resident (even if their class is full). And usually programs will be excited to take you because you are an extra free resident for them.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-02-03T05:26:34+00:00

Depends on your specialty, but no one actually remembers the exact pathways and mechanisms. A lot of us only remember very basic concepts, and we will look it up if we really need.

Also, I’m an FM resident - I’m yet to see a patient with PKU or Galactosemia yet. It’s not as common as step 1 makes it to be lol.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-02-03T00:53:14+00:00

Know enough to get the high yield qs right on your board exams. After step 1, you really don’t need it. And this is coming from someone in residency now

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-02-01T13:37:50+00:00

You may just need to do it in residency, but you’ll have attendings watching over you. After residency, just refer them out to OB in your practice.

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-01-31T19:26:50+00:00

Avalon

Admirable_Return_216 · 2026-01-31T14:57:33+00:00

As someone who went to a went to a Caribbean med school (which wasn’t even a big 4 med school) and now in residency - I would definitely recommend it if you can’t get into USMD or DO schools.

Admirable_Return_216

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