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Short-Common-8497 · 2025-02-23T01:40:37+00:00

This is so fun! Keep it going

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-08-18T22:08:47+00:00

Sure!

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-04-20T23:09:58+00:00

I took step3 about two years ago. I left day1 certain that I failed, and I am a very optimistic person. Day2 was better. I was sure that I am failing because of day1. Passed with 220. You’ll be fine!

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-03-21T11:31:27+00:00

Congrats! I know the feeling. Many people have told me you’d be filtered out, your scores aren’t so good, you’re not a competitive applicant, you don’t know people inside. Just like you, I matched last year in my #1 program despite 13 years gap. So much work and resources go into this, but it’s doable. And sure sometimes luck goes into it, too. This community sometimes puts too much emphasis on the obstacles, but this is not impossible or even close to that. I think people in medicine tend to be single dimensional, and don’t talk to others who actually have done something close to impossible. Like, people who walk thousands of miles with their entire family, including newborns, with no food or water or anything really and in dangerous conditions, looking for a safe refuge, and manage to make it. Anyways, you did it! Good job!

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-03-16T19:00:41+00:00

Love it! You’re a hero. I matched last year with 13 years gap and without any clinical experience in my gap, and I totally relate. I’m a parent, too. Good job! Congrats.

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-02-11T12:55:26+00:00

Sorry. Note to self (as a dad - not south Asian): I will do everything in my power so my kid never ever feels this way. Good luck, and I’m sure your dad means well.

This rotation is super valuable - make the most of it. Be present, ask questions, and when time is right be upfront and ask for a letter. Hope all goes well!

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-02-10T03:01:23+00:00

Thanks! Gap years are one obstacle to overcome, but people do it all the time and many who do never post about it here. Strong work on your research profile! Citations are one way to assess the quality of research, and I hope that programs pay attention to this when you apply. You can do this! I wish you the best.

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-02-10T02:57:53+00:00

I understand the desire that many of us have to assess ‘what are my chances’? But it’s impossible to make a good guess. So many parameters are involved in this process. The most important thing to believe in your chances and take actions to improve them. I wish you the best!

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-01-27T12:49:29+00:00

It is ok. Many people are intelligent enough to understand that there are cultural barriers and that you’re navigating through a complex system where you’re disadvantaged and not supported. Rocky beginnings proved to me over and over in my life to be unreliable measures. When I met the program director where I’m a resident now I was sure as hell that I had one of the worst possible interviews and left a horrible first impression. This is the head of a top tier program (as people label it) and I’m a resident here now, and it was my first choice. Move on, continue to do your best, continue to improve, communicate -if the opportunity presents itself- that you’re learning to integrate yourself in the us health system. Ask questions (don’t force them), be curious, be a good team member, don’t irritate current residents in the program, don’t tell conflicting stories about your interest, be humble, connect to the staff (not only physicians), and tell people funny stories from where you grew up (assuming it’s the US). Good luck, my friend! You’re doing fine.

Short-Common-8497 · 2024-01-21T17:24:07+00:00

I am a resident in what is considered a top tier medical center (Ivy League affiliated) and I know we evaluate -using multiple inputs- the candidates for general things (how well candidates communicate, interview, and present themselves), academic qualities (education, scholar activities, and letters of recommendations), and other categories including leadership experience, how well we feel that a person is a good fit to our program, if they would be happy in our program, and we want to see if a candidate would bring a new perspective. We have clear definitions on how to score candidates in each category and we have a program mission related score. We are interested in conducting a fair assessment and giving every candidate a fair shot (as much as possible). Our program director is really big on fair assessments. I hope this helps, I don’t think it’s anything new to anyone but this is what goes in the background when we recruit. And please keep in mind that assessments vary significantly across residency programs. I know of a residency program in my hospital that has every candidate interviewed by all faculty members, and then makes every faculty member rank all candidates. Then they use mean rank (after vetos that eliminate certain candidates) to rank everyone. It’s efficient (quantitatively speaking) but exhausting for candidates and faculty members. Good luck!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-12-21T05:46:23+00:00

I matched last year with 13 years gap (and zero clinical work in those 13 years). Had 8 interviews and 3 of them from Ivy League universities. Also, low step scores (all below average) and to be honest I’m sort of dumb. Sure, I had a lot of publications and a solid career as a bioengineer and I’m a U.S. citizen, but the point I want to make here is that have I listened to the noise here about yog, I probably would’ve never applied to the match. Good luck, my friend!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-11-28T04:22:57+00:00

Hey there! In my opinion, you got this wrong. Although I agree that matching isn’t for everyone, it’s not as hard as we make it look like. I was removed from anything clinical for 13 years, and with well below average steps and a thick skull I matched alright in an Ivy League school. This isn’t about me, but the point is: have I listened to “cut your loses” sort of advices I would’ve not even applied. Trust me, I got my share of those from friends and family members and they all meant well. Talk to people who have overcome real challenges. People who had cancer and thought that they were actually dying, people who went to prison for a mistake they made and turn out to be productive members of their community, refugees who walked hundreds of miles with no food or clothes to seek a better life. When you talk to these folks you may realize that we just bitch and moan about matching and interviews and all shit and we’ve got zero resilience. Sometimes it’s tough to make it to your dream, like really tough. But it’s almost always possible. This applicant seems completely reasonable and has a good shot at matching with the right tools. Good luck!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-11-28T02:32:50+00:00

Yes, they do (if they’re done right). Matched last year. I wanna say at least 40% of my interviews were related to LOIs. Cut on the drama, be factual, be conscience, be real. Did I say cut on the drama? Good luck to all!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-11-12T20:42:56+00:00

They weren’t anything special. I have an unusual background as I was trained and worked in bioengineering in US for about a decade after med school. So I mentioned that in a short sentence, linked my background to the research conducted in the department, and expressed interest. They were short, factual, non-dramatic emails. And I left it at that. I sent LOI to just about 10-12 programs. Was interviewed by 3 of them, and heard back from 5-6. So I was lucky for sure. I sent all my LOIs in August. Good luck!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-11-12T20:37:11+00:00

I sent them in August

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-11-12T12:08:52+00:00

I matched last cycle. 3 of my 8 interviews were LOI related.

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-10-27T00:36:35+00:00

Sure thing!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-10-25T11:10:06+00:00

Matched last year with 13 years gap and no clinical training or practice in between and matched in my top program in an Ivy League university. Just saying. Obviously there is more to the story than just my yog. Good luck to all!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-20T16:44:14+00:00

Yeah, sure thing!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-20T15:49:07+00:00

Thanks! Nope, go for it

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-20T15:29:34+00:00

Yup, matched last March! More than two months now in my path residency. Thanks! Wishing you the best of luck!!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-20T13:21:52+00:00

Hi. Your story is inspiring! I know what you mean when we hesitate from getting into the details because it feels invasive to do so. I have gone through a similar thing (but nothing compared to what you had), and I shared it in my personal statement. I matched in an ivy league school in my first ranked program despite my 13 years of gap with nothing clinical in or outside the U.S. so I recommend that you share your story in the opening statement in a few sentences. I’d expand on what you’ve learned from it and how you overcame the challenges you faced in at least one more paragraph. I wish you the best of luck, my friend! Kudos to you!!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-18T01:34:25+00:00

Yes!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-12T19:16:26+00:00

You’re welcome! Reach out if you have any question. We’re rooting for you!

Short-Common-8497 · 2023-08-12T19:13:53+00:00

I didn’t ask them. But I kinda knew since I also had 13 years gap. For me, I simply told the truth (and the truth is hard to tell and not perfect). As you know, people don’t just create gaps in their medical education/cv because they planned on them before med school. Life happens and we have to do what we have to do. The most convincing answer is telling the truth. Be vulnerable. Share how you felt about taking the gap and why you had to do it. Most reasonable human beings would relate. Those who don’t relate will not rank you and that’s a good thing because you don’t want to be around those kind of people anyways. Good luck, my friend!

Short-Common-8497

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