Researching Which Programs to Apply To

Once you have decided on a specialty, it is time to begin looking at various sources of information about programs within that specialty. Many specialty organizations maintain databases on accredited programs, searchable by state/location. Often, the listed program names are links to individual program websites. Alternatively, you can use the official database, called FRIEDA, which lists all accredited programs in all specialties and is searchable by many criteria. The data in FRIEDA is always fairly accurate, but is updated most frequently during the active months of the matching cycle (September-March).

Another source of information about good programs to apply to is your own network of IMG physician colleagues and the staff at your Kaplan Center. These individuals usually have a working knowledge of where other IMGs found program interest, either in the form of offered interviews or where they actually matched.

Your own research can lead to other prospects by making use of the Unfilled Position lists from previous cycles of the NRMP match. We suggest that you limit this to the 3 most recent match years because program policies and their openness to IMG applications do change over time. Most medical school reference libraries will have copies of the Unfilled Position List booklets, or the booklets may be ordered online at the www.nrmp.org website. Once you obtain the lists, scan within your specialty of interest to find programs that have not always filled in the 3 previous matches. In the lists, this is indicated by subtracting the program Quota number from the Filled number listed for each program. Programs which have experienced problems in filling all the positions offered in the match are often more receptive to considering internationally trained applicants.

Once you have identified a number of programs that look interesting and potentially open to IMG applicants, visit their individual program websites to read about what they offer.