Over the course of my career, I became friendly with many other residency coordinators from other programs and specialties. One of them was the coordinator of a very IMG-friendly university program.

Her program accepted observership as USCE. Come match season, the program was flooded with IMG applications. Flooded.

When she interacted with these applicants, she was cheerful and encouraging. But privately, she was frustrated. Because she knew that she would be dealing with a lot of disappointed people.

There was one big thing that she wished that these applicants knew.

And that is, that if you are applying to a program that only requires observership, you are still competing against people who have elective experience.

And sub-internship experience.

And externship experience. 

Because all of those people are applying to that program, too.

And, all other things being equal, they will all be ahead of you.