can't make up my mind~ residency or research? - ljistrong

[ArchivalUser]

please help me with any kind of input....any input would be greatly welcome

I'm a 2005 graduate and I was thinking of residency in IM, so I started preparing for USMLE at that time.
My grads: step1 94, step2 89, cs pass, all first attempt.
I realized that I had only a moderate USMLE score and nothing else as credential, no GC, so I did not apply. I started residency in IM in my country.

Now I am completing IM residency, and will take the boards this year. And I have better credentials than 4 years ago.
publications: 1 original paper in oncology, 1st author (impact factor around 3)
1 case report, accepted
2 case reports in submission
1 review/meta-analysis of case series, in submission
all 1st author
However, I have no GC or citzen.

So here comes the question: I'm sort of stuck on whether I should try apply for next year's match. I can get 1 LOR from a US physician, I did a rotation as med student at Duke for 3 months. I hope to apply for a university program in IM or at least univ affliated program, and hope to apply for oncology subspecialty later on.
can anyone just give me a gut feeling on my chances? because I was also thinking of applying for phd in mol bio, and becoming a cancer biologist. This decision may actually influence my lifelong career.
I have a good interest in mol bio, and research is appealing to me. however, I have been hard trained in clinical grounds for the past 3 years and to give up clinical skills and start a brand new life is a pretty big decision.
I used to be a worshipper of this forum 2 years ago, but then I got busy and am unfamiliar with the current trend or status of IMGs applying for IM now, especially if aiming for more prestigious univ programs.

please give any input if you can. Thank you a lot.

[ArchivalUser]

simply marry an american girl .. U will get where you want ..

Even if u donot and would stay in this country for long .. your kids or grandkids will evenually marry americans only ..

[ArchivalUser]

I think doing a residency is better since it helps you keep all doors open. If you want to complete your fellowship and then go into an academic career, you can still do it. But if you go into Phd now and later want to do clinical work, it will be more difficult to get into a residency or to start all over again. Your chances are pretty good to land a residency in 2010, in my opinion. Try to get a research job, apply for residency while you are working and take it from there.