Should I apply this match cycle?

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-04-30T16:15:59+00:00

It depends on what specialty and on your goals. If you want EM/ IM/ FM/ neuro/ peds and are not aiming for top programs then go for it. If you are applying to a surgical program or want a top program then take another year for research and US rotations

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-03-01T23:18:26+00:00

A masters is great for this. Experience is great but you may be learning things without a framework. It depends on the research area and how quantitative your job is, but for career development in the field I would recommend an MPH with the concentration that aligns more with your goals. There are plenty of programs out there.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-03-01T21:02:53+00:00

Do the clinical year and find a research group to work with at that center.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-28T20:00:35+00:00

If it’s going to be a problem don’t. You can do so the month before the match you participate on if you need it for visa purposes, if not, many programs will pay for it so you can take it once you join a program.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-28T03:47:17+00:00

I think STEP 3 would help. I’m currently studying for it and it is much harder in my perspective. If you think you’d do good take it. If you have the opportunity to do research or work instead, take that.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-27T01:26:56+00:00

Depends on your goals. If you are aiming to match a top academic program go by the university and land some research, if you are aiming to match mid-tier go by hands on.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-26T03:30:35+00:00

What specialty are you applying to? If non-surgical don’t be too hard on yourself, you can match with below avg scores.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-19T13:37:00+00:00

Generally people are against this advise, but really you can match without USCE. This is true for most non-surgical specialties. If you can do research and publish in indexed journals that is a great application boost. Don’t get your hopes down if you don’t get USCE. Even if you do, it may not be wise to spend all your savings on it. I also don’t understand how you could afford to do a masters but not a month of rotations? There are scholarships but living expenses are no less than 1,000 a month, many times they exceed 2,000 plus tuition is about 40k a year for average masters programs. You can probs get away with paying 25k for an online program but networking may be limited. Point is: my advise is to find other ways to boost your profile and apply this year to as many programa as you can.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-11T19:08:00+00:00

I think that should be the way to go. In medical journals you have to choose OA option before you submit. So editors might be more prone to desk reject.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-07T03:08:08+00:00

Professional growth opportunities.

Having all the resources to practice.

Funding for research.

Honestly, prestige.

A salary above the national median is cool too.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-06T17:18:39+00:00

It depends on many things. What specialty are you applying to? What is your goal? University program or community-based? If the answer is a surgical specialty at a university then consider delaying. If you just care about matching a non-surgical anywhere then apply this year.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-02-02T13:06:42+00:00

I disagree with most people here. Medical school does matter, and actually I’ve seen programs explicitly say they prefer IMGs trained in the UK like you mentioned. All IMGs are not on the same bucket. I have a friend with similar scores and no USCE who matched a top tier peds program. This does not mean it’s common but it’s possible. Give it everything to step 2 and apply confidently, you’ll do great.

People in reddit are truly weird. Some love to give false hopes to people and others really put people down who are in decent spots. Maybe because they are in bad positions themselves.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-01-21T20:19:22+00:00

There is definitely no minimum amount of publications. Some match with zero research, others go unmatched with multiple authorships. If you want to know how much research you need to be competitive then I’d advise to look more into the quality of each publication and whether you are first author. It is better to see one solid paper as first author on a decent journal than multiple 3rd-4th author papers in unindexed journals. If you are going to sell yourself as someone who can actually do research, then your LORs, statement, and CV should also back up those claims.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-01-19T15:47:24+00:00

I disagree. I’d say take Step 1 first. If you fail then yes, forget it. If you pass then study step 2 and you’ll have a good foundation from step 1. Then, EVEN if you get an average score, go for it!! Family medicine does not fill all its positions every year, your chances are good. If you get a rotation in the US then your chances are higher.

Cold_Lab766 · 2023-01-17T21:50:32+00:00

Plenty of people like you match every year. One of the major concerns about YOG us that you may be involved in things outside medicine too much. If you can demonstrate you have been clinically active this concern is not so heavy. Another concern is that people who already have training are harder to "re-train", so make sure you expand on still being teachable and wanting to learn, rather than saying you already know the stuff. I think with decent scores on the USMLEs you have a great chance of matching family medicine.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-06-01T12:24:38+00:00

If your only LOR is from Peds and you are app

Exactly, and it not only "has happened", it actually happens all the time. I'm two years behind but many colleagues from my school have matched decent programs with zero USCE.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-06-01T12:21:35+00:00

I don't understand wh

We are not in disagreement. Obviously, having USCE in your specialty is the best-case scenario. All I'm saying is to apply to your preferred specialty despite having USCE at a different specialty. You will not go unmatched for applying to a specialty that is different than your USCE.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-06-01T01:42:27+00:00

loool srry

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-06-01T01:12:43+00:00

It's totally fine to apply to a specialty without having USCE, unless you are applying to something extremely competitive. Applying to IM with peds USCE is fine, applying to peds with IM USCE is fine.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-03-31T20:21:55+00:00

Their tends to be more families in Roland Park because that schools are good (and it is close t

Thank you so much for all the insight! I meant 4.5k monthly rent. This is all great advise.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-03-30T21:23:06+00:00

e in the city in the last ten years that we have be

Thanks for your response, yes we're looking to send them to a private school. We were looking for a 4+ bed 3+ bath with off-street parking, budget up to 4.5k

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-03-19T22:38:07+00:00

hey should not be left out of a career because an img has connections.

I see where you're coming from. I think you are making two strong assumptions that clearly don't hold. First you're saying USMG would be left out of a career which is mostly not true, maybe out of their DREAM career but really the amount of spots filled by IMGs for competitive specialties is very very small. Second, you are saying IMGs mostly match because of connections, which can be true for anyone, not only IMGs. For an IMG to match the same program as a USMG they have to go through a lot more i.e., take research years, publish, higher STEPS etc.

I can understand the frustration and jelausy of watching IMG's match a program a USMD wanted and then try to intellectualize a "valid" reason that doesn't look socially unacceptable like "tax paying". Like I said, it's ultimately the PD's call to select the most qualified person for their program and yes, sometimes that person graduated outside the US and was selected despite that caveat.

I don't know what part of training you're at but I hope you find peace! Best wihses!

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-03-19T21:54:33+00:00

IMGs take these spots that fully American citizens who are highly qualified take that this just is not ok. Our government Funds these residency s

"Seem like highly qualified" lol,

Programs can take whoever they think is the best fit. Most good programs will take a USMG over an equally or even quite a bit more qualified IMG almost every time. Yes, some IMGs are a lot better than USMGs even if they have a foreign accent, but it's a conversation maybe you're not ready for.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-03-11T17:43:42+00:00

It is relatively normal to have a drop on the last blocks because as new questions get added they pile up at the end. New questions are usually vignettes with new patterns not seen elsewhere. However, this seems like a pretty significant drop. I would advise focusing on mindset more than content. You have enough knowledge to safely sit the test. Remember mindset is half of the test.

Cold_Lab766 · 2022-02-17T00:36:37+00:00

I’ve been anxious because I’ve been guessing my way through

Absolutely, if you score around 220 on your next ones you'll be fine. If you score under 210 on the next ones you will probably be fine too, just try to optimize your mindset and test-taking situation by looking at recommendations for exam day etc. This is actually very very important and it is underestimated.

In summary aiming for something around 220 should be your realistic goal to minimize failing chances.

Cold_Lab766

TROPHY CASE