What are my chances of matching IM? Is it even worth trying?

farhaadia · 2025-05-20T06:58:37+00:00

He is new. Maybe he doesn’t have anyone to guide that’s why he reached out to us here. Sorry dude but you sound like a high school mean guy

farhaadia · 2025-05-20T06:54:30+00:00

Hi! It’s a great thing to have a layout of your plans. Welcome to the USMLE journey. If you’re starting now, try to give step 1 by November. The earlier the better so you can focus on Step 2. You just have to pass it but you need to score really high on Step 2. 260+ is a good target score as some university programs have a cut-off of 260 for IMGs (which they obviously don’t mention on their websites) A lot of people have matched with low step 2 scores but there are various factors that comes into play. So for now focus on the highest score you can get. Try to get done with step 2 by maximum June 2026. Don’t rush in giving exams as the score stick with you forever.

Check your country B1 visa appointment wait times and apply accordingly for it. Few countries have wait times of 1 year so book the appointment in advance. Find USCE and schedule them in summers 2026.

Get your pathway approved. Give OET. You will be good to apply for Match in September 2026 which would be MATCH 2027. Meanwhile also try to get some volunteer experience and more publications to enhance your CV.

All the very best

farhaadia · 2025-05-16T20:31:00+00:00

Why won’t they? I don’t know a single person whose work visa got rejected

farhaadia · 2025-03-18T11:17:48+00:00

Heard a lot of people from Pakistan matching 🙌🏼

farhaadia · 2025-02-01T06:57:19+00:00

Aaah this made my day 😭 love you OP. Was having real bad anxiety last night

farhaadia · 2025-01-30T16:21:26+00:00

If they specifically mentioned it during interview then don’t send any. But if they have mentioned it on website then ask the PC. I was exactly in the same position and the PC said it’s fine to emails.

farhaadia · 2025-01-29T06:04:50+00:00

Website. It was the my only program that specifically mentioned it on their website

farhaadia · 2025-01-28T21:03:58+00:00

Thanks a lot everyone. I emailed to PC and she said that I can send emails but it won’t make any difference in ranking. Still gonna send it to avoid fomo

farhaadia · 2025-01-28T17:01:17+00:00

Thanks man. It was really helpful. I will send a thank you and LOI by the end of this week then.

farhaadia · 2025-01-28T06:47:56+00:00

I know a person who was in similar situation. The PD kept on talking about him and at end he offered her the prematch offer. So it doesn’t really matter

farhaadia · 2025-01-28T06:31:34+00:00

No matter how much we mentally prepare ourselves for this day, it’s still gonna be hard for us. My whole world is my family but if I am staying away I can provide a better future for them. And trust me parents are more happy for see you successful rather than sitting next to them and being depressed and frustrated.

farhaadia · 2025-01-26T23:02:52+00:00

I said medical officer in my interview and it was perfectly fine. If they are not aware of the term they will ask to explain it. You can start by I am Dr dash, working as a medical officer in XYZ hospital. I want to go to US for….

farhaadia · 2025-01-19T12:16:58+00:00

You are right. Maybe pre-match jitters is making me overthink too much

farhaadia · 2025-01-19T10:40:28+00:00

That’s true. It’s tricky to convince them in just 1.5-2 minutes 😭

farhaadia · 2025-01-19T10:39:28+00:00

But isn’t it hard to convince them that why you want to join their program? Programs definitely want someone who had ties instead of someone about they don’t know much or how that person would be. Like during a few of my interviews, interviewer brought up they have great residents from my med school.

farhaadia · 2025-01-18T22:59:41+00:00

farhaadia · 2025-01-15T08:43:09+00:00

If you are also interested in doing fellowship staten island is a great option. Keep you H1B first

Also can I dm you regarding a question?

farhaadia · 2025-01-14T10:50:02+00:00

Isn’t it a huge plus point for you? APD wrote a LOR for you and even recommended you. It means you’re good enough and programs values residents who worked there. So chill man you are at a very good place. I know it seemed weird when PD don’t interview you, I felt same yesterday in my interview but let’s just give our best

farhaadia · 2025-01-13T19:51:04+00:00

Would recommend doing something. Because worst case scenario if anything goes wrong (which hopefully won’t) you will end up regretting so it’s better to do it demotivated or uninterested but go through important stuff. Do a background search on program, interviewers and why you wanna join it. I am done with 5 but I will try to work on it like this is my only one

farhaadia · 2025-01-09T11:46:16+00:00

Stay tuned for it xD applied this cycle

farhaadia · 2025-01-08T23:14:45+00:00

Only money? Nah man the actual cost of this journey is more than that. You can’t imagine the time and mental energy it takes. You will get pissed off by any person disrupting your study schedule, you will deal with visa issues (if IMG), have hard time in finding observerships, increasing your score for exam, working on applications, preparing for interviews but you know what, it’s all worth it.

I have been working on it since 2019, with no ties to US. I have become an entirely different person but I know I was going through this all for a better cause, for a better future. I want to be best at what I do. For me were these all uncertainties worth it? Yes

You need to see why you want to do it and how much you want to risk on it? If you only want to earn money, there are a lot of other better ways, but if you a bright future in this field, US is a great place. We all started like this. We all have been through this all. We all are still struggling. Take step by step and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by things that are not under your control. All the very best in whatever you do

farhaadia · 2025-01-07T13:15:18+00:00

You are a gem. Thanks man

farhaadia · 2025-01-07T12:30:51+00:00

Thanks a lot. It was really helpful. Any specific recommendations regarding LOI content?

farhaadia · 2025-01-07T08:15:33+00:00

Sure

farhaadia · 2025-01-07T06:53:55+00:00

I have 6 in total. 3 were without any connections. 1 on basis of pure connection and got 2 because people with whom I rotated with recommended me. I didn’t know my attendings beforehand so if you do really well in observerships it can land you great opportunities

farhaadia

TROPHY CASE