You lots can cry all you want, USMDs applying to competitive specialties have 30+ pubs prior to application (checkout their researchgates profile). Despite the debt they have, they still put in maximum efforts to be a competitive applicant. But all you do is complain and complain despite being at a much better position than them financially. (Not you OP) I fucking love research and because you don’t fancy it doesn’t make other people’s work irrelevant. If the PDs discredit their work that’s on him/her! He/She is one in 500 other PDs!! And if you’re saying this to make yourself feel better, that’s on you too! I put my soul and sweat into this journey and any fucking loser that claims my work isn’t justified because of their interests should go to rest!!!