This study compared the performance of family practice residents selected through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) with those selected outside the NRMP and that of US medical graduates (USMGs) versus international medical graduates (IMGs).Surveys were mailed to all 470 US family practice residencies asking Match status and USMG versus IMG status of graduates accepted into their programs from 1994-1996.Of 3,222 residents, 2,815 (87.4%) were accepted through the Match, 159 (4.9%) before the Match, and 248 (7.7%) after the Match; 2,874 (89.2%) were USMGs, and 348 (10.8%) were IMGs. Residents accepted after the Match versus residents selected through the Match were more likely to leave their programs early (14.5% versus 4.8%), score in the lower 10% of their In-training Assessment Examination (ITE) (11.7% versus 2.2%), and require remedial programs (12.9% versus 2.6%). A lower proportion of residents accepted after the Match scored in the top 10% on the ITE examination (5.6% versus 15.2%). IMGs were more likely than USMGs to leave the program be fore graduating (8.0% versus 5.2%), to score within the lower 10% on the ITE examination (7.8% versus 2.5%), and to require remedial programs (7.8% versus 3.2%).Although a large majority of the residents studied here performed well, somewhat less-favorable performance was seen among residents accepted after the Match and among those with international medical degrees.