How to make your NRMP rank order list for the Match
 
They are numerous factors that you should consider as an international medical graduate or IMG, while making the rank order list for your USMLE residency match. Below are the most important 15 factors we recommend that you should consider when making your rank order list for the NRMP match. Remember each situation is different and each applicant has a unique set of circumstances to consider. So as you prepare your ROL, read the article below. NRMP does suggest some of these factors, but we have customized it for IMGs
 
1. University vs. community program 

Pros: You probably already know this, but University programs are
More research oriented
Have greater publication opportunities
Have a large resident pool easing the workload on a single resident
Have a highly structured curriculum,
Offer more teaching exposure as residents may have to teach medical students
Graduating from University programs will allow you to get into fellowship programs easier as compared to community programs.
 
Cons: Limited exposure in specialized fields as they have more fellows.
 
Community programs
Pros
Community program have small friendlier (in most cases) environment
More flexible curriculum
More hands-on exposure in specialties
 
Cons:
Limited research opportunities
Harder to get into fellowships.
 
2. Career path of recent graduates
This is important if your choosing between a fellowship vs primary care physician. Recent Graduates list will give you an insight into how many applicants have got into fellowship programs and how many opted for Primary Care.

3. Cost of living
It is an important factor to consider if your having a family, in most cases however, programs in more expensive cities offer higher salaries then those in lower cost cities. Still you should do a rough back of the envelope calculation to compare. There are several cost-of-living calculators out there for you to use.

4. In-house fellowship
The likelihood of being selected in an In-house fellowship is greatly increased if you have graduated from that program. For applicants seeking to do a fellowship, ranking programs with in-house fellowships higher is considered favourable. The catch here is to make sure the in-house fellowships are in the specialty you want.

5. Geographic location
Not an important factor for most IMGs, But geographic location could be a preference for some on personal basis, especially if you have family within the vicinity. Also, location becomes important when you are looking for a fellowship or a job. Your mentors or PIs are likely to be better known to other programs within the city/state, than in other states

6. Research opportunities
Some programs may have more research opportunities than others. Research is important for those applicants seeking fellowships. Therefore, the importance of this factor is obvious.

7. Quality of faculty
This is important factor, but please note the training in most programs is the same, since all of them follow the ACGME accreditation requirements

8. Program reputation
This is of importance when applying for either fellowships or job as primary care physician.

9. Infrastructure and facilities available
During the interview and second visits, you should have seen the infrastructure and patient care facilities of the program. Make an objective assessment and a relative comparison

10. Size of program
The smaller the program the better the opportunities and vice versa, however this should also be considered in lieu with the number of admitted patients, Residents have a cap of 6-8 patients per day and it may vary depending on the program.

11. Social/recreational opportunities in the area
This is important for specially those IMGs with family and kids.

12. Visa you want
A very important factor for those IMGs needing a visa. We do have guidance on the visa so be sure to read that article.

13. Program support for fellowship
Most programs will extend beyond their way to have their applicants match in the fellowship of their choice. However, in some programs you are on your own. It is important for you to understand what you are getting into.
 
14. Cross institutional collaboration
Several programs will allow you to collaborate with faculty in other programs/hospitals for research. This becomes crucial if you are in say a community program but have access to data from top university program for research and collaboration. Likewise many programs will allow you electives and other rotations for a couple of months at other university hospitals, during PGY2 and PGY3. This can be very useful to expand your knowledge base, your network and explore post residency opportunities.

15. Diversity of resident nationality
This may not seem an important factor, but having a diverse resident population gives an applicant an opportunity to learn about different cultures and is great for getting some leadership and teamwork skills in the truly multi-cultural settings.

Useful Videos for IMGs

How will programs rank you? Discussion with a former Program coordinator

Second visit to residency programs

How to prepare your rank order list