In the month of March, thousands of Medical Residency applicants eagerly wait at NRMP to know whether they are favored by a slot to pursue Residency or they are sentenced by being offered nothing, and having to wait for the next cycle. Being matched into a residency program of your choice is getting increasingly challenging, due to programs not expanding the incoming cohort size, despite the pressure of demand. In 2016, of the total number of PGY-1 filled positions, which was 27,860, the US Seniors filled over 60%, and the international applicants made up about 36%, and the rest was filled through SOAP matching process. This only shows the composition of the fill-up, and not how many applied. The break-up trend is almost close over the last 4 years. The international students have more obstacles than the US seniors for several reasons, beginning with USMLE, an American way of testing which rewards depth in understanding, and penalizes fact hoarding, to getting, perhaps fighting for, a clerkship or an observership opportunity in the US to searching for schools and triumphing in the interview, and, not to say, the financial hardship they have to bear upfront, when the outcome of ponying the money is yet uncertain. Given these, what these international seniors can do to improve their chances. One thing these seniors should do is get the experience of clerkship / externship at an American medical setup, and do a good job understanding the system, and, if allowed, contribute decisively at work. By doing this, you get a good recommendation that is specific and real, which would be highly valued, and, second, you have something significant to write in your personal statement. Remember, personal statement is not about why you chose medicine. If you only state that you are like a person on a date, telling the girl why your dad is impressive. It makes the other wonder your judgement. As much as the girl might be interested in the present you, the Residency programs will be interested in knowing why you choose a residency in a particular area, and not why you chose medicine. Your application presumes that. To the topic back, get a great clerkship / externship/ observership, and this is non-negotiable. If you get one, it improves every aspect of your application, from your essay to recommendation letters and the interview as well. Finding one may be laborious, but what in the world that’s good comes without expense and effort. One last thing, consult NRMP stats, and without it you apply blindfolded. The stats is a guide, use it to informedly make specialization choices.