Internal Medicine Residency Match: Beat over 10,000 Other Applicants

What are the most important criteria to match in Internal Medicine?
Understanding the most important criteria for internal medicine program directors and admissions committees will enable you to position yourself as well as possible to match in the specialty. It is critical to understand your competitiveness in internal medicine by reviewing data published by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). This data set contains Charting Outcomes in the Match for applicants, both US IMGs and non-US IMGs. We will outline what you should do to match by summarizing this data and our own knowledge of what makes a successful applicant!
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Internal Medicine Residency Match Data
In 2022, there were a total of 9,809 internal medicine positions offered in the NRMP match and a total of 11,598 applicants for those positions. Out of 9,809 spots, there were a total of 1,054 matches for positions in internal medicine for US IMGs and 2,431 for Non-US IMGs. 

A total of 11,598 applicants preferred Internal Medicine (or ranked an Internal Medicine program first), among whom 1,809 were U.S. IMGs (1,054 matched and 755 not matched to Internal Medicine) and 4,200 were non-U.S. IMGs (2,431 matched and 1,769 not matched to Internal Medicine). For each of the 9,809 Internal Medicine positions, there were 1.18 applicants who preferred the specialty.

Summarizing for Internal Medicine:​​
Total Matched
9,809
US IMGs matched
​1,054
Non-US IMGs matched
2,431
Internal Medicine Residency Match Data
Whether you are a US IMG or Non-US IMG, it is critical to look at the data of matched applicants in Internal Medicine as you are exploring your residency match chances

US IMGs
In 2022, 11,598 applicants applied for 9,809 offered positions in internal medicine residency. There were 1,809 IMGs from the United States who applied for positions in internal medicine. There were a total of 1,054 matches for positions in internal medicine for US IMGs

So while the overall match rate for US IMGs is 1054/9809 - 10.7% 

The competition within the US IMGs can be assessed at 58.2% (1054/1809) - which implies that more than 1 in 2 US IMGs who applied in internal Medicine matched!

Below is the data for those US IMG applicants who matched successfully:

  • Mean USMLE Step 1 score: 225
  • Mean USMLE Step 2 score: 235
  • Mean number of research experiences: 2.2
  • Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications: 2.8
  • Mean number of work experiences: 4.8
  • Mean number of volunteer experiences: 5.0
  • Mean number of contiguous ranks: 8.6
  • Mean number of distinct specialties ranked: 1.3 
  • Percentage who have a Ph.D. degree: 0.4
  • Percentage who have another graduate degree: 17.4​
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Program Directors: All Specialties Combined
Specialty
Mean Step 1 score
Mean Step 2 CK score
Mean number of abstracts, presentations, publications
USMLE Step 1 Score
95.2 ​
3.8
Family Medicine
​90.5
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
88.1
3.7
​Grades in required clerkships
83.3
​3.7
Any failed attempt at USMLE
​83.3
​4.7
* Not Applicable for IMGs.
* Not Applicable for IMGs.
* Not Applicable for IMGs.
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Neurology

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - ​Neurology
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
96.6
3.7
Personal statement (overall)
93.1
4.5
Diversity characteristics*
89.7
3.8
Perceived commitment to specialty
72.4
3.9
Having overcome significant obstacles
82.8
4.4
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
93.1​
4.2
​MSPE​
86.2
3.9
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.9
3.8
​Grades in required clerkships
93.1
4.3
Any failed attempt at USMLE
79.3
3.9
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Neurology 

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
79.3​
3.7
MSPE*
82.8
4.4
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
72.4
3.7
Class ranking/quartile
69.0
4.1
Any failed attempt at USMLE
58.6
4.6
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
93.1​
4.8 
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
89.7
4.9
Feedback from current residents
82.8
4.5
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
86.2
4.8
Diversity characteristics*
58.6
4.4
* Not Applicable for IMGs.

Psychiatry

Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Interview - ​Psychiatry ​
​
Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
​Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
65.6
3.4
Personal statement (overall)
90.2
4.0
Diversity characteristics*
73.8
3.5
Perceived commitment to specialty
72.1
4.0
Having overcome significant obstacles
75.4
4.3
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Letters of recommendation in specialty
93.1​
4.2
​MSPE​*
86.2
4.3
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
75.9
4.4
​Grades in required clerkships
93.1
4.5
Any failed attempt at USMLE
79.3
4.3
Characteristics Considered in Deciding Whom to Rank - Psychiatry ​

Top Five Educational and Academic Performance Characteristics Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
Importance Rating (out of 5)
USMLE Step 1 Score
50.8
3.6
MSPE
62.3
4.1
USMLE Step 2 CK Score
59.0
3.8
Class ranking/quartile
55.7
3.6
Any failed attempt at USMLE
54.1
4.3
Top Five Personal Characteristics and Other Knowledge of Applicants Factors Cited by Program Directors
Factor
% of PDs citing
​Importance Rating (out of 5)
Interpersonal skills
85.2
4.9​
Interactions with faculty during interview/visit
90.2
4.9
Feedback from current residents
78.7
4.6
Interactions with house staff during interview/visit
78.7
4.8
Diversity characteristics*
82.0
4.4
​* Not Applicable for IMGs.
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We hope you found the data from the 2021 NRMP Program Directors Survey report useful!

The residency application process frequently leaves applicants feeling lost, confused, and overwhelmed. This is where USMLESarthi can help. We have successfully matched hundreds of applicants. Whether you require assistance with your personal statement, an interview strategy, in terms of rotations, research, or any other aspect of the residency match, contact us today! 
contact@usmlesarthi.com