I would say that orthopedics is very competitive in the US with an abundance of US applicants. Therefore, it is very hard for IMGs to get a residency slot.

Just because it's difficult to get a spot doesn't make the specialty "IMG hostile". You make it sound like IMGs are treated poorly and seated separately at interviews or something. I totally disagree. Orthopedic programs are not "known to be IMG hostile" at all. It's the wrong message to send to realize that IMGs have a tougher time getting in and translate that to "hostility".

I would say that orthopedics is very competitive in the US with an abundance of US applicants. Therefore, it is very hard for IMGs to get a residency slot.

I agree We just can not compete very well with American grads.....and this is huge issue....it is almost fatal for us...when they discard our applications they do it NOT because they hate us...NO they have do it to not waste their time later....because as I was told ...even if you have everything almost perfect....because nobody know your medical school when they compare applications side by side after interviews ?you very probably will be out of game. But some programs welcome best of us. In USA there are about 40 FMG residents in Ortho even programs like Mayo (graduated last year) . The only way to get in ortho for IMG is to let them know you better and personally prove that it is worthy to spend time for reviewing your application or might even get you on board Good luck, only strongest will not give up

Sorry that I conveyed the wrong message by using the word "hostile" I didnt mean that in a literal sense. My question why IMG's who already have had their ortho residencies from outside US find it extremely hard to get into a residency here? I am sure Orthopedic Surgeons from US attend International Conferences and keep in touch with Surgeons in other countries, then why when it comes to "reccos" there very little value given to "reccos" from Professors of Medical schools outside US? Sameer

"reccos" there very little value given to "reccos" from Professors of Medical schools outside US? Sameer

""reccos" from outside of US have no value 90% of the time you need american LORs and from "prominent" people

Well as an FMG... I will go over of a pretty obvious facts: is really hard to get in an ortho program even if you are an american graduate. Usually the americans graduate get 5 to 10 interviews... as a FMG you will probably get 1 or maybe 2 if your are a super star!!! and usually those interviews are in places where they know you (because you are/were a research fellow, or you rotate for months in there). The ortho programs usually discard the FMG applications without even look at them, and I believe that is "Hostile" in the first place (I don?t mean it in the wrong way, what I try to say that is not really fear), but that is just my opinion. They say that there is no way to compare the grades from a Foreign school with an american one... Then you have a second handicap, the visa thing, usually the programs do not want to deal with all the paper work that involve getting the visa, either the J-1 or the H-1B. Even for the american graduates, to be able to get a spot in ortho, you need to be a ?good candidate", and everybody known that means good scores PLUS good contacts. In conclusion, a FMG, in an already difficult path, have a harder way to go. GOOD LUCK TO EVERY ONE!!!