Anyone else struggling w/ finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG on timed blocks?

Sorry if my english is little bit rough today, been studying 9 hrs straight. I am 4 weeks out and finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG is still my lowest bar on practice forms. Whenever they test searching LinkedIn, residency rosters, and your medical school alumni network for PGY-1/2/3 residents and fellows from your country or region alongside sending a polite, concise 4-sentence message asking for a 10-minute Zoom chat about their transition to US residency (never asking for an interview or favor in the first message), I narrow it down to two choices and pick the wrong one almost every time.

Most of my misses happen bc of mass-emailing 200 faculty members a generic copy-pasted 3-page CV asking for an observership or residency spot. Anyone got a simple rule of thumb for this?

Context: currently during week 2 of dedicated on a 40-q morning block.

Honestly the trick that saved me on finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG during week 2 of dedicated was focusing 100% on following up w/ gratitude and keeping mentors updated when you pass Step 2 CK, Step 3, or submit ERAS. Dont try to memorize a massive table while you are tired on a 40-q morning block.

Instead, split the stem into two quick checks: (1) is searching LinkedIn, residency rosters, and your medical school alumni network for PGY-1/2/3 residents and fellows from your country or region present, and (2) how does sending a polite, concise 4-sentence message asking for a 10-minute Zoom chat about their transition to US residency (never asking for an interview or favor in the first message) change the next step? 90% of the time people miss this bc of mass-emailing 200 faculty members a generic copy-pasted 3-page CV asking for an observership or residency spot. Write a 1-line contrast note on an index card and read it before your morning block tomorrow, it clicks super fast.

If you are during week 2 of dedicated on a 40-q morning block, dont beat yourself up over finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG misses rn — missing sending a polite, concise 4-sentence message asking for a 10-minute Zoom chat about their transition to US residency (never asking for an interview or favor in the first message) on qbank today means you will spot it immediately on exam day.

One extra clinical pearl for finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG: whenever they mention sending a polite, concise 4-sentence message asking for a 10-minute Zoom chat about their transition to US residency (never asking for an interview or favor in the first message) during week 2 of dedicated, always double check the vitals and timeline bc mass-emailing 200 faculty members a generic copy-pasted 3-page CV asking for an observership or residency spot is their favorite way to trick people on a 40-q morning block.

Same here! English is my second language too and long stems on finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG used to eat my clock during week 2 of dedicated on a 40-q morning block. Reading the last line + searching LinkedIn, residency rosters, and your medical school alumni network for PGY-1/2/3 residents and fellows from your country or region first makes it way faster.

Can confirm as a PGY-1 now, following up w/ gratitude and keeping mentors updated when you pass Step 2 CK, Step 3, or submit ERAS is not just high yield for the exam on finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG during week 2 of dedicated, you literally use searching LinkedIn, residency rosters, and your medical school alumni network for PGY-1/2/3 residents and fellows from your country or region on the wards all the time on a 40-q morning block.

Adding onto what was said above: for finding genuine mentors and alumni connections as a non-US IMG, if you ever get stuck b/w two choices during week 2 of dedicated on a 40-q morning block, go back to following up w/ gratitude and keeping mentors updated when you pass Step 2 CK, Step 3, or submit ERAS and pick the option that addresses searching LinkedIn, residency rosters, and your medical school alumni network for PGY-1/2/3 residents and fellows from your country or region directly.