How our algorithm works.

It collects program-specific data—Step/Level score ranges, USCE and publication expectations, interview trends, and visa sponsorship policies—from verified sources including program websites, ACGME, FREIDA, and Residency Explorer. Every recommendation is grounded in accurate, up-to-date information rather than guesswork.

After gathering each program's criteria, SmartPick profiles your application—Step/Level scores, clinical experiences, years since graduation, visa needs, and preferences—and measures alignment against the program's thresholds. Programs where your profile clears the critical metrics rank higher than those where it falls short.

Each program receives a composite score built from indicators such as program competitiveness, median Step scores, IMG friendliness, applicant-type tendencies, and regional preferences tied to your background. Predictive analytics on historical match trends then estimate your likelihood of an interview, and programs are ordered by that fit.

Yes. As part of fit optimization, SmartPick identifies where your specialty signals are most likely to be recognized and acted on, so a limited resource is spent on the programs most likely to respond positively to your profile.

Visa sponsorship policies and IMG friendliness are factored directly into scoring and filtering. The model surfaces programs that have historically interviewed applicants with backgrounds like yours, instead of ones that quietly screen them out.