Another academic IM program list
Hi everyone, I'm having a hard time coming up with an effective program/signal list and gauging how competitive I am for academic IM programs (plans to pursue competitive subspecialty). I might need a reality check. I'm aware some parts of my app are very competitive and I am thankful for that, but other parts are not as impressive. I think my signals are top heavy, at least my golds, but I'm otherwise unsure how to rank them as the silvers signal programs I'm most interested in are mostly "low yield golds" based on last year's data. I would appreciate any help or advice anyone has for me!
STATS:Â
-Mid tier USMD, no red flags
-Good diverse extracurriculars (in my opinion haha)
-LORs: internal medicine sub-I, IM subspecialty, different IM subspecialty, IM chair
-H all clerkships, sub-I, ICU, electives except HP obgyn, psych and P family med, great comments on all
-Step 2: low 270s
-No AOA chapter, not GHHS
-Research: 1 manuscript journal pub, 1 currently submitted case report, 5 posters (2 from undergrad), 2 peer-reviewed online pubs (school's journal), 1 additional ongoing research experience listed in 10 experiences
-Geo preferences: pacific (many ties), mountain (many ties), and east north central (no ties whatsoever I just like a lot of those programs haha).
PROGRAM LIST/SIGNALS:
-Gold signals: UW, UCLA, UMich
-Silver signals: cleveland clinic, ucsd, colorado, utah, ohsu, u wisconsin, USC, uc irvine, uc davis, u arizona phoenix, u chicago, wash u (not in geo pref)
-Non signals: mayo scottsdale, u arizona tuscon, UNM, tulane (not in geo pref), u iowa (not in geo pref), mayo rochester (not in geo pref), ohio state, case western, cedars sinai, northwestern, u minnesota (not in geo pref), ualabama (not in geo pref but have ties), u virginia (not in geo pref but have ties), u cincinnatti, indiana u
Posted Sep 13, 2025, 10:48 PM UTC