Ultimate Guide for Caribbean IMGs: Researching Neurology Residency Programs

Understanding the Landscape: Neurology Residency for Caribbean IMGs

For a Caribbean IMG interested in neurology, effective program research is not optional—it is the core of a successful neuro match strategy. The neurology residency landscape has become more competitive, and Caribbean medical school residency outcomes vary widely by student and strategy.

Before you start building lists or emailing program coordinators, you need to understand three realities:

1. Neurology is IMG-friendly—but not equally everywhere.
   Many neurology programs welcome IMGs, including Caribbean graduates; others rarely (or never) rank IMGs. Knowing which is which will save you time and application fees.

2. Caribbean status matters, but your profile matters more.
   Where you went to school (e.g., SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba, etc.) influences your chances—but USMLE scores, clinical evaluations, US clinical experience, and research can strongly offset school-related bias.

3. A systematic program research strategy beats “spray and pray.”
   Throwing 150+ applications at ERAS without targeted research wastes money and dilutes your efforts. A focused, data-driven, tiered list will improve your interview yield and SGU residency match–style outcomes.

This article walks you step by step through how to research residency programs as a Caribbean IMG specifically targeting neurology residency in the US, with concrete tools, workflows, and examples tailored to your situation.

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Step 1: Clarify Your Neurology Profile Before You Research

Before diving into program websites or FREIDA, you need a clear, honest snapshot of your applicant profile. Without this, it’s impossible to evaluate residency programs realistically.

1.1 Map Out Your Metrics and Experiences

Create a simple self-profile document (spreadsheet or Word/Google Doc) with these sections:

Academic Metrics

• USMLE Step 1: score / pass–fail, number of attempts
• USMLE Step 2 CK: score and attempts
• (If taken) Step 3: score and attempts
• Clinical GPA or class rank (if available)

Training & Background

• Caribbean medical school name (e.g., SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba)
• Graduation year (and if you’re a non–recent graduate)
• Gaps in education or training (and explanations)

Neurology-Relevant Experience

• Neurology rotations (US-based? Academic vs community? Duration)
• Sub-internships or acting internships in neurology
• Neurology research (type: clinical, basic science, case reports)
• Neurology conferences/posters

US Clinical Experience (USCE)

• Inpatient vs outpatient
• University-affiliated vs private practice
• Neurology vs internal medicine vs other specialties

Other Strengths

• Publications, QI projects, teaching experience
• Language skills (Spanish, French, etc.)
• Visa status/requirements (US citizen, permanent resident, needing J-1/H-1B)

This profile becomes your lens for evaluating residency programs.

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1.2 Define Your Competitiveness Tier

As a Caribbean IMG in neurology, you should roughly place yourself into one of three tiers:

Tier 1 – Strong Caribbean IMG

• Step 2 CK ≥ 240 (first attempt)
• Solid US neurology rotations with strong letters
• At least some neurology-related research or scholarly activity
• No major gaps; graduation ≤ 3 years

Tier 2 – Middle-Range Caribbean IMG

• Step 2 CK ~ 225–239 (first attempt or one repeat with explanation)
• Some neurology or IM USCE, good letters
• Maybe limited research, but at least neurology interest shown
• Graduation ≤ 5 years

Tier 3 – At-Risk Caribbean IMG

• Step 2 CK < 225 and/or multiple attempts
• Limited or no US neurology rotations
• Older graduation year (> 5 years)
• Major gaps or red flags (unexplained failures, professionalism issues)

Your tier is not a life sentence; it simply tells you how aggressively you must research and how broad your program list should be. A Tier 3 applicant can still match in neurology, but must be very strategic about targeting IMG-friendly and Caribbean-friendly programs.

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Step 2: Build Your Initial Neurology Program List (Broad Net)

Once you understand your profile, the next step is to generate a broad but targeted list of neurology residency programs to investigate further.

2.1 Use Main Data Sources for a First Pass

1. FREIDA (AMA Residency & Fellowship Database)
Filter by:

• Specialty: Neurology
• Training type: Categorical, Advanced, or Physician-Only (most IMGs prefer categorical)
• State preferences (if geographic constraints) Then review:
• Program size (larger programs may be more IMG-friendly)
• Reported visa sponsorship information
• Program type (university vs community vs hybrid)

2. NRMP “Charting Outcomes” & “Interactive Data” While not school-specific, these can show:

• How many IMGs match into neurology overall
• Average scores for matched vs unmatched IMGs Helps you see where your numbers stand.

3. Residency Explorer Tool If available, use it to compare your Step 2 CK, attempts, and graduation year with previously matched applicants at each program.

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2.2 Identify IMG-Friendly and Caribbean-Friendly Programs

You need to distinguish three levels of friendliness:

1. Historically Caribbean-Friendly Neurology Programs

   • Check individual program websites and past resident rosters.
   • Look for Caribbean schools in PGY1–PGY4 lists (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, etc.).
   • Search “[Program Name] neurology residents” and then scan:
     • Names + med schools
     • Class photos with school labels

2. IMG-Friendly but Not Obviously Caribbean-Focused

   • FREIDA often shows the percentage of IMGs in the program or notes IMGs in training.
   • Program websites may list “Our Residents” including IMGs from non-Caribbean schools.
   • Look at past match lists from your Caribbean school (e.g., SGU residency match lists by specialty). These show where your school’s grads have matched in neurology over the past few years.

3. IMG-Restrictive Programs

   • Explicit website language like “We accept only US MD/DO graduates.”
   • Historical resident data with 0 IMGs over many years.
   • No mention of visa sponsorship and strongly US-focused selection criteria.

Actionable tip:
Create a spreadsheet column called “IMG Category”:

• 1 = Historically Caribbean-friendly
• 2 = Some IMG history but not clearly Caribbean
• 3 = IMG-restrictive or unknown

Prioritize 1 and 2 for deeper evaluation.

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2.3 Start a Structured Spreadsheet

Your neurology residency program spreadsheet should at least have:

• Program name
• State and city
• Program type (university, university-affiliated community, community)
• Categorical vs advanced
• Size (number of residents per year)
• IMG status (1/2/3 as above)
• Visa types offered (J-1, H-1B, none/not stated)
• Notes on prior Caribbean grads
• Competitiveness guess (Low/Medium/High)

You now have a broad but structured working list for your neuro match planning.

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Step 3: Deep-Dive Program Research – How to Evaluate Residency Programs

The next phase is evaluating residency programs in detail: which are realistic, which truly fit your goals, and which should move up or down your list. This is where the phrase how to research residency programs becomes very concrete.

3.1 Program Website: What to Look For (Neurology-Specific)

On each program’s website, focus on:

1. Resident Roster

• How many current neurology residents are IMGs?
• Are there Caribbean schools represented? (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, etc.)
• Are IMGs present across multiple classes, or just one unusual year?

2. Faculty and Leadership

• Any faculty with IMG or Caribbean background?
• PD or APDs with clear interest in education, diversity, or international graduates?

3. Clinical Training Environment

• Stroke center level (comprehensive vs primary)
• Exposure to subspecialties: epilepsy, neurocritical care, movement disorders, neuromuscular, neuroimmunology (MS), behavioral neurology, pediatric neurology affiliations
• ICU rotations and neurocritical care exposure

4. Research Opportunities

• Access to clinical trials, QI projects, or basic science
• Regular scholarly activity expectations (case reports, posters)
• Structured resident research curriculum

5. Educational Structure

• Didactics: frequency, protected time, board review
• Call schedule and work-life balance
• EMR system, presence of advanced practice providers

As a Caribbean IMG, you particularly benefit from structured teaching and support, since your knowledge base may vary based on clinical environments during rotations.

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3.2 IMG and Caribbean Friendliness: Reading Between the Lines

To decide if a program is truly Caribbean-IMG friendly, consider:

Objective signs:

• Multiple Caribbean grads or current residents
• Explicit mention that IMGs are welcome or commonly recruited
• Clear, stated visa sponsorship on the site or FREIDA

Subtle signs:

• “We welcome diverse backgrounds” plus visible IMG faces/names in resident pages
• Affiliation with hospitals that historically have many IMGs in other specialties
• Alumni map showing graduates going into fellowships across the country (indicates program credibility, which can overcome some school bias)

If you’re from a school like SGU that has robust match lists, compare their SGU residency match data for neurology over several years. Identify:

• Which programs have taken SGU grads repeatedly
• Which regions are most SGU-friendly for neurology (often Northeast, Midwest, parts of the South)

The same logic applies to other Caribbean schools; use your school’s match or alumni office.

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3.3 Evaluate Competitiveness Relative to Your Profile

For each program, estimate competitiveness:

Highly competitive neurology programs often:

• Are large academic centers (big-name universities)
• Have strong fellowship placements (top-tier epilepsy, movement, neurocritical care, etc.)
• Attract mostly high-scoring US MDs
• Show very few or no IMGs in resident lists

Moderate competitiveness:

• University-affiliated or hybrid programs
• Mix of US MD, DO, and IMGs
• Decent fellowship outcomes, some research but not research-heavy

Less competitive (but often excellent training):

• Community-based or community-university hybrids
• Higher proportion of IMGs
• Located in less competitive cities or regions (Midwest, some South/Southwest)

Align these with your tier:

• Tier 1 Caribbean IMG: Apply across all three levels, with a meaningful subset of competitive programs.
• Tier 2: Focus heavily on moderate + less competitive; select only a small number of reach programs.
• Tier 3: Concentrate on less and moderate competitive programs with visible IMG/Caribbean presence.

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3.4 Culture and Fit: Beyond Numbers

Look for signs of program culture, which matter especially for IMGs transitioning into a new system:

• Do residents in photos look collaborative and diverse?
• Are there social events, wellness initiatives, and mentorship programs?
• Does the website highlight support for international graduates or visa-related guidance?
• Do they emphasize autonomy with supervision, or is it more hierarchical?

Read between the lines in their mission and resident testimonials. A program that values education and mentorship is more likely to support Caribbean IMGs successfully.

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Step 4: Advanced Program Research Tactics for Caribbean IMGs

After you’ve done basic and intermediate research, use more nuanced strategies to refine your neuro match list.

4.1 Use Your School’s Network Strategically

If you’re from a major Caribbean school (like SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba), your alumni network is one of your strongest tools.

Action steps:

1. Request the last 3–5 years’ neurology match lists from your dean’s or career office.
2. Identify:
   • Programs with repeated Caribbean matches in neurology.
   • Regions especially friendly to your school.
3. Reach out (politely) via:
   • Alumni directories
   • LinkedIn
   • School-facilitated mentorship programs

Sample message to an alum neurology resident:

Dear Dr. [Name],
I’m a current [School] student (Class of 20XX) and an aspiring neurologist. I noticed you’re a resident at [Program Name] and I’m very interested in learning more about how IMG-friendly the program is and what helped you succeed in the application process. If you have 10–15 minutes for a brief call or email exchange, I’d be very grateful.
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]

Ask:

• How supportive is the program for Caribbean IMGs?
• What kind of applicant profile typically gets interviews there?
• Any advice customized to neurology and your school?

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4.2 Leverage Social Media and Online Communities

Modern program research strategy must include online presence:

• Twitter/X (Neuro faculty & programs)
  Many neurology departments, residents, and PDs are active on Twitter/X. Search:
  • “Neurology residency” + [program name]
  • Hashtags like #NeuroTwitter, #MedEd, #Neurology
• Instagram
  Some programs maintain IG accounts showing resident life, wellness, call rooms, and conferences.
• Reddit / Student Doctor Network (SDN)
  Use cautiously, but can give anecdotal info on program culture, workload, and IMG attitude.

What to look for:

• Resident diversity
• How they describe their program values
• Signs of openness to IMGs (celebrating match days of IMG residents, etc.)

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4.3 Clarify Visa and Policy Details Carefully

For Caribbean IMGs needing visas, visa clarity is critical:

• On FREIDA and program sites, note:
  • J-1 sponsorship (most common)
  • H-1B: fewer programs, more selective; often require Step 3 before start
• If unclear, email the program coordinator (briefly and professionally) asking:
  • Whether they sponsor J-1 and/or H-1B visas
  • Whether there are any restrictions for IMGs/Caribbean graduates

This ensures you don’t waste applications on programs that cannot legally train you.

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4.4 Create a Tiered Application List

By now, you’ve evaluated:

• IMG/Caribbean friendliness
• Competitiveness vs your profile
• Visa feasibility
• Culture and training strengths

Turn this into a tiered list:

• Tier A – Reach but possible

  • A bit above your metrics, but at least some Caribbean/IMG presence.
  • You might have a differentiator (research, strong letters, US neurology sub-I).

• Tier B – Realistic core targets

  • Programs where your metrics fit or slightly exceed typical IMGs matched there.
  • Clearly IMG-friendly with some Caribbean representation.

• Tier C – Safety and “must-apply” IMG-friendly

  • Programs with high IMG percentages and known Caribbean presence.
  • Less competitive regions, but solid training and visa support.

For many Caribbean neurology applicants:

• Total neurology applications often range 60–120 programs, depending on competitiveness.
• Balance across A/B/C to avoid all-reach or all-safety lists.

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Step 5: Turning Research Into a Strong Application and Interview Strategy

Research is only worth it if it improves how you present yourself and where you focus energy.

5.1 Tailor Your Personal Statement to Neurology and Program Types

Your program research should shape your personal statement and experiences emphasized:

• For academic research-heavy programs:
  • Emphasize neurology research, conferences, scholarly curiosity.
• For community or clinically focused programs:
  • Highlight patient-centered care, reliability, strong work ethic, broad clinical skills.
• For programs with Caribbean residents:
  • Mention how seeing successful Caribbean graduates there motivates you (without sounding presumptuous).

Keep a core neurology personal statement and slightly tweak paragraphs for different program “types” when appropriate.

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5.2 Prepare Program-Specific Talking Points

Use your spreadsheet notes to create 2–3 talking points per program to use in:

• ERAS program-specific fields (if any)
• Interview day questions and conversations
• Thank-you emails

Examples:

• “I was particularly drawn to your strong stroke program and exposure to neurocritical care early in training.”
• “Your history of training Caribbean graduates who’ve gone on to fellowships in epilepsy and movement disorders really resonated with my long-term goals.”
• “I appreciate the structured didactics and board review curriculum, which will support me as an IMG transitioning fully into the US system.”

This shows programs you did real research beyond a surface website visit.

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5.3 Keep Updating and Reflecting During Interview Season

As interviews come in, use your list to track:

• Programs where you got interviews:
  • Note IMG-friendliness, culture, location, call schedule, fellowships.
• Programs that didn’t respond:
  • Reflect on patterns: Are certain regions or program types not responding? This can inform next year’s cycles for others and your backup plans.

During interviews, ask targeted questions based on your research:

• “I noticed your residents have had strong success with epilepsy and neurocritical care fellowships. How does the program support interested residents in research and mentorship?”
• “As an international medical graduate from a Caribbean school, I’m curious how the program supports IMGs transitioning into the US healthcare system.”

This closes the loop between your pre-application research and your match decision-making.

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FAQs: Program Research for Caribbean IMGs in Neurology

1. How many neurology programs should a Caribbean IMG apply to?
It depends on your profile, but many Caribbean IMGs targeting neurology apply to 60–120 programs:

• Strong Tier 1 applicants may lean toward ~60–80 with more academic programs.
• Tier 2 often need ~80–100 balanced across academic, hybrid, and community.
• Tier 3 may go toward 100–120, focusing heavily on IMG-friendly and Caribbean-friendly programs.

Quality of research matters as much as quantity; 80 well-chosen programs are better than 130 random ones.

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2. How can I tell if a neurology program is truly Caribbean-friendly, not just IMG-friendly?
Look specifically for:

• Past or current residents from Caribbean medical schools (SGU, AUC, Ross, Saba, etc.).
• Your school’s match list (e.g., SGU residency match history in neurology) showing repeated matches to that program.
• Alumni or current residents from your school willing to speak positively about the environment and support for Caribbean IMGs.

If you see Carib grads across multiple years, that program is likely more open to your background.

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3. Should I avoid highly competitive university neurology programs as a Caribbean IMG?
Not necessarily. A smart program research strategy includes a small number of reach programs, especially if:

• Your Step 2 CK is strong,
• You have neurology research or strong US letters,
• Your Caribbean school has a track record of matching into that institution.

However, your list cannot be mostly highly competitive academic programs. Balance is essential; you must include many IMG-friendly programs where you are realistically competitive.

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4. How early should I start researching neurology residency programs as a Caribbean IMG?
Ideally:

• 18–24 months before applying: Start understanding neurology competitiveness and IMG trends.
• 12 months before ERAS opens: Build initial lists, collect data from FREIDA and your school’s match outcomes.
• 6 months before ERAS: Deep-dive into individual programs, refine tiers, and begin networking with alumni.
• 3 months before ERAS: Finalize your program list, tailor your personal statement, and prepare for interviews.

Starting early allows you to align your electives, research, and networking with the neurology programs you’re most interested in.

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By approaching your neuro match with this structured, evidence-driven approach to how to research residency programs, you transform from a passive Caribbean IMG applicant into a deliberate, informed candidate. Thoughtful program research is one of the most powerful levers you control—and it can make the difference between an uncertain cycle and a confident, well-matched transition into neurology residency.