FAQ Section   1. Is Step 1 still scored? No, Pass/Fail since Jan 2022. Passing is essential, but more importantly, Step 1 builds the foundation for Step 2. 2. So which score matters now? Step 2 CK. Scored 1-300; Pass = 218; Average = 245-247 As part of their holistic...

After months of applications, interviews, second-guessing your rank list, and counting down the days until Match results, residency applicants finally arrive at the moment they've been waiting for: Match Week.   For many medical students, Match Week is equal parts excitement, anticipation, and anxiety. It's the culmination of years of...

This article was updated on June 19, 2026, by Rebecca Lapides to reflect the most current information and recommendations.   The final year of medical school marks the start of your residency application journey. To succeed, you need a clear understanding of the application process and its key milestones. For...

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has announced an important update to its test accommodations request process that will affect all Step exam candidates, including international medical graduates (IMGs), beginning June 1, 2026.   If you plan to request testing accommodations for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, or...

  Applying to residency as an international medical graduate (IMG) can feel like navigating foreign territory. Between understanding the nuances of ERAS, optimizing your application, securing interviews, and preparing for the Match, there are countless moving pieces, and unfortunately, plenty of opportunities to go wrong.   Over the years, I’ve...

The medical school application process is one of the most competitive and challenging journeys you will undertake. Many people will often say, “the hardest part of medical school is getting into medical school!”. Almost every year, the number of people applying to medical school increases and it is becoming evermore...

If you’ve spent any time on medical school or residency forums lately, you’ve probably seen headlines about new state laws allowing physicians, especially international medical graduates (IMGs), to practice without completing a U.S. residency. It can sound surprising, even a little confusing, especially if you’ve always thought that residency is...

If you’re a medical student who feels like you’re studying all the time but your scores aren’t budging, you’re not failing, you’re just using a strategy that doesn’t work as well as you’ve been told.   You reread First Aid for the third time. You watch every video in your...

For international medical graduates (IMGs) aiming to secure a residency position in the U.S., the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step scores play a crucial role in determining competitiveness. The "Charting Outcomes in the Match" 2024 report by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) provides valuable data on the...

If you’ve reached the point where you’re staring at your ERAS interview spreadsheet, a color-coded Google Doc, and five half-finished notes titled “RANK LIST???” - congratulations. You survived residency interview season. Now comes the part that feels both empowering and terrifying: making your rank list.   Ranking residency programs sounds...