11-29-2018, 06:10 PM
I’m in the same boat guys. I got motivated to take usmle exams after meeting a classmate 10 years ago, who was going for residency interviews, while my journey had not even started. I thought if she can do it, so can I and I took on this huge responsibility on myself. I was foolish and immature to think like that coz both our circumstances were different. She was single and had this flexibility to study and go for interviews and no responsibilities, but I was not and Was already drowned in numerous responsibilities. I took one step at a time slowly, passed my exams on first attempt but with very very low scores. By the time, I was done with my step exams, My year of graduation was past 5 years, then I started doing internships here and there, trying to do more internships to build contacts and get lors. I only got lors and none of the contacts helped me much. Every year I applied and remained unmatched, like throwing away money in the garbage on these residency applications. I came in contact with some other applicants and they only helped me publish so I can get some publications to make my resume stronger. Still unmatched. Then everybody advised me to do research. I applied to many places and finally got an unpaid research position in an academic hospital. I applied again for match, with internships, research experience, publications and good lors. Still unmatched. Then people started advising me to do masters degree. I enrolled in a masters degree program in a great Ivy League University Hospital and also continued doing research and publications on the side. During this time I worked very hard and inspite of my bad scores, managed to get a good lor from the Chairman of the Department at the Ivy League hospital. I applied again this year, but 0 interviews. Only rejections!
I have now started to look at other career options coz I’m sick and tired and financially drained! I got my masters degree but now I’m drowned in student loans too. But all these years, seeing some people who were in this journey with me who managed to get residencies, I have concluded that there r 2 types of Img candidates who make it:
1. Those with good scores. I’m saying this coz good scores trumps everything else: visa, yog, attempts and all other red flags. No matter how many publications u have or how many masters degrees, at the end of the day Img programs finalize their decisions 95% of the time based on scores.
2. Connections: knowing people is one thing and that does not matter. True connections r those who will really do something for u, like those who can get u interviews, vouch for u,... those who r there to sincerely help u, not give u lors and say good luck. I have seen people with lower scores than mine, with attempts, gaps, yog 10+ years, get interviews and match thru connections.
Unfortunately, I have very low scores and my yog is 10+ years too running after this career. Although, I made couple of connections during my 10 year journey, but they did not help much, just gave me lors and said good luck. Now With a very heavy heart I work in clinical research, I see doctors everyday and it breaks my heart and almost makes me want to cry with tears when I see them discuss patients on morning rounds. I understand and acknowledge every medical case they talk about but they r MDs and practicing, while I’m just listening to them everyday... I have been thru hell and now I have decided to move on and accept this as my fate... good luck to you all applying! I hope and pray nobody has to go thru what I have been thru...
I have now started to look at other career options coz I’m sick and tired and financially drained! I got my masters degree but now I’m drowned in student loans too. But all these years, seeing some people who were in this journey with me who managed to get residencies, I have concluded that there r 2 types of Img candidates who make it:
1. Those with good scores. I’m saying this coz good scores trumps everything else: visa, yog, attempts and all other red flags. No matter how many publications u have or how many masters degrees, at the end of the day Img programs finalize their decisions 95% of the time based on scores.
2. Connections: knowing people is one thing and that does not matter. True connections r those who will really do something for u, like those who can get u interviews, vouch for u,... those who r there to sincerely help u, not give u lors and say good luck. I have seen people with lower scores than mine, with attempts, gaps, yog 10+ years, get interviews and match thru connections.
Unfortunately, I have very low scores and my yog is 10+ years too running after this career. Although, I made couple of connections during my 10 year journey, but they did not help much, just gave me lors and said good luck. Now With a very heavy heart I work in clinical research, I see doctors everyday and it breaks my heart and almost makes me want to cry with tears when I see them discuss patients on morning rounds. I understand and acknowledge every medical case they talk about but they r MDs and practicing, while I’m just listening to them everyday... I have been thru hell and now I have decided to move on and accept this as my fate... good luck to you all applying! I hope and pray nobody has to go thru what I have been thru...