Improve IMG application screening and review
IMG Navigator: Domain 1
Screen IMG applications more efficiently with a mission-aligned approach.
Your IMG Navigator results identified an opportunity to strengthen how your program screens IMG applications. Use these action items and resources to reduce unnecessary filters, prioritize mission-aligned applicants and make application review more efficient.
1. Shift to a "screen-in" strategy
The goal:
Programs must align their initial review with their specific mission rather than blindly screening applicants out. Relying strictly on arbitrary filters to sort high volumes of IMG applications often eliminates highly qualified candidates.
Action items:
- Remove broad, exclusionary proxy filters (e.g., “years since graduation” or "IMG status") from your initial screen.
- Define specific attributes that align with your program's mission to proactively include or "screen in" potential interview candidates.
- Set clear, generous minimum thresholds for USMLE/COMLEX scores (or failure counts) to use as safety screens, rather than over-weighting raw score cutoffs.
Resources:
- AAFP’s Mission-Aligned Residency Application Review: A data-driven guide on how to review residency applications and optimize interviews for candidates that best align with a program’s mission.
- AAMC’s Holistic Review Framework: A framework with mission-aligned strategies across all phases of the admissions cycle.
- Enhancing Residency Selection with the AAMC Holistic Review Framework: A video guide on using AAMC’s holistic review framework.
2. Leverage program signals and geographic ties
The goal:
When faced with thousands of applications, utilizing program signaling as one of your initial screens is far more beneficial than raw test scores to immediately identify genuinely interested applicants.
Action items:
Use program signaling and geographic preferences to narrow down the pool to applicants who are genuinely interested.
Resources:
- AAMC’s ERAS PD WorkStation Resources: A guide to help set-up ERAS including configuring filters, setting up signals, and managing data in ERAS.
- Navigating the PDWS to Drive Mission Aligned Selection and Retention: A video that explains how to create and configure filters in the PDWS to develop a holistic review of applications.
3. Implement efficient, mission-aligned review
The goal:
Mission-aligned review does not mean spending hours on a single application. Establish structured, objective guidelines to efficiently evaluate an applicant's compatibility.
Action items:
Develop and use a short, mission-aligned scoring rubric to improve application review efficiency.
Resources:
- AAFP’s Criteria for Excellence: A comprehensive framework for Family Medicine residencies. Use this overarching guide to ensure your program's mission, recruitment rubrics, and operational structures align with national best practices.
- AAFP’s Mission-Aligned Residency Application Review: A data-driven guide on how to review residency applications and optimize interviews for candidates that best align with a program’s mission.
- AAFP’s RPS Express Consults: Custom, one-on-one expert consultations. Ideal for highly technical or program-specific challenges
- AAMC’s Holistic Review Framework: A framework with mission-aligned strategies across all phases of the admissions cycle.
- AFMRD’s PD Toolbox (Member Access required): A repository containing actual selection rubrics and interview templates used by other FM directors.
- Designing a Holistic Review Process Using Cortex and Thalamus Core: A video that reviews guidelines for developing evidence-based and holistic selection processes and how to use Cortex.
- Enhancing Residency Selection with the AAMC Holistic Review Framework: A video guide on using AAMC’s holistic review framework.