IMG Readiness Self-Evaluation

Most IMGs know something is missing from their application, but not which gap to fix first. This evaluation asks a few direct questions about where you are, then turns your answers into a short, ranked plan.

What you get #

• A snapshot by area. Each area is marked Needs attention, In progress or On track, so you can see what is already fine and stop worrying about it.
• Three things to do next. Ranked by what holds up everything else, each with a short reason and links to the guides that explain how to do it. The rest are collected below them.
• Service suggestions, last. If a gap lines up with something USMLE Wise offers, it is listed with the reason it came up. You can ignore it.

How the ranking works #

The order follows the same logic as the application timeline planner: things that cannot be fixed later, or that block everything else, come first.

1. Eligibility and certification come before anything else, because exam scores cannot fix an ineligible school or graduation year.
2. Exams come next. Failed attempts and missing Step 2 CK results rank above polishing your application.
3. Experience and letters follow, because they take the longest to arrange.
4. Application materials, the program list and interviews matter most once the earlier items are in place, and rank higher the closer you are to the season.
5. Visa planning is always shown, and rises sharply once you have matched.

Your stage changes the order. Someone who did not match is told to look at SOAP and reapplication first. Someone who matched is not asked about exams at all.

How services are suggested #

We sell coaching, Match support, research programs and rotations, so you should know how the suggestions are made:

• A suggestion appears only when a specific answer points to a specific gap.
• Free guides always come first. Nothing is hidden behind a purchase.
• You see at most three suggestions, each with the reason it came up.
• If you are on track, you are told so and nothing is suggested.
• Visa and immigration steps never carry a service suggestion.
• We link only to services that are open today and describe them in the words of their own pages. Check each page for current details before you decide.

What it cannot do #

• Predict outcomes. It does not estimate your chance of matching.
• Judge quality. It records what you have done, not how well it is done. A "polished" application can still be weak, and a rough draft can be strong.
• Replace official guidance. Confirm rules and dates with ECFMG, USMLE, AAMC and NRMP, and visa questions with your program or an immigration professional.
• Know your whole story. Gaps, unusual training paths and personal constraints change the right plan. A mentor who knows your situation will do better than a short quiz.

Using the result well #

1. Do the top step first. The ranking exists so you do not spend a month on a personal statement while an eligibility question is unanswered.
2. Come back after you finish something. Your answers will change and so will the plan.
3. Share the plan with a mentor using Copy my plan as text. It is plain text, so it is easy to paste into an email.
4. Pair it with the timeline planner to put dates on each step.