I matched this year into a good university program however my visa application was denied and my b1 b2 visa was revoked. What should I do rn
And if I couldn't get the visa this year is it true that our next match opportunities will be so scarce cause we didn't started our residency the year before
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Hi everyone,
I’m an IMG with Step 2 CK: 236, graduating April 2026, planning for the 2027 Match.
I’m deciding between Internal Medicine vs Family Medicine (not aiming for top programs, just want to match into a decent one).
Quick questions:
With my score, is IM realistic or should I lean toward FM?
Is Step 3 before applying worth it for someone like me?
What should I prioritize this year: USCE (how much?), externships vs observerships, or research?
Would appreciate honest advice, especially from IMGs with similar scores.
Thanks!
I am currently an mbbs intern (india) i want to go for an international sponsored rotationship/elective after my internship preferably south korea can anyone guide me how to apply how much it costs any recommendations for good programs out there
Hi everyone,
I’m an IMG from India who recently completed MBBS and I’m planning to apply for an ObGyn residency in Canada through CaRMS. I understand that ObGyn is highly competitive, and I’m finding the amount of information online overwhelming and often conflicting.
I’m planning to take the MCCQE next year (likely in the first session), so I have some time to prepare. I’d really appreciate guidance on:
What should my preparation roadmap look like?
Which resources are considered the best for MCCQE and NAC OSCE preparation?
What QE1 score should I realistically aim for to be competitive for ObGyn?
Besides exam scores, what can I do over the coming year to strengthen my CaRMS application (research, electives, volunteering, certifications, etc.)?
Are there any common mistakes that IMGs should avoid?
I’d be grateful for any advice, especially from IMGs or residents who successfully matched. Thank you!
I’m non US-IMG, facing issues regarding visa( my visa got rejected on usce in May, then apply emergency request on step 3 basis that got denied yesterday)
I’m 2022 graduate with 1 year housejob in home country, I don’t have usce,and step 3 yet, my step 2 score is 257
Someone please suggest me do i apply in this match cycle or not? Was interested in IM!
What are the secondary options i have now?
I’m stressed out as i have gap years and no usce!
Is there any option for applying in FM or peads without step 3 and usce!
I am a non US IMG wanting to apply to internal medicine, I did three rotations this year and also am a fresh graduate. I am preparing for my step 2 and was hoping to apply this season but I feel like my scores are not satisfactory enough give the exam soon. Should I try to give the exam this July before match even tho I might not be ready (NBME- 230s) or apply next season?
I’m a non us img from a banned country. I have pending green card status married to a US citizen.
Step 1- pass on first attempt
Step 2- 254
Step 3-235
Publication: 6
Usce-3months
Yog- 2023
Need advice on whether to wait till my green card is approved before applying and what are my chances of matching also how best to navigate my immigration status during application since I’m from one of the banned 39
I recently spoke with an attending physician about doing an observership with him. He told me that observerships are essentially useless for older IMGs.
According to him, my best options would be either:
1- Go back to a Caribbean medical school for about 2 years to gain recent clinical experience and refresh my year of graduation, or
**2-**Return to my home country and practice there to obtain more recent clinical experience.
He also said that Internal Medicine has become very competitive and that most programs will filter me out because of my old year of graduation.
Nb: - got US CITIZENSHIP through naturalization
- Specialty of interest is IM
- yog 11
I’m honestly feeling lost and confused after hearing this, >!what do you think the best option for me?!<
If anyone's reading this and can advise, it'd be truly appreciated!
Essentially, I passed step 1 (late May) and have step 2ck booked for the 20th of August - 7 weeks. So far I've done zilch..
(Took a hit from that delay step 1 score release)
Anyway we move, Is it even possible for this to be done? - Looking at the 240-250 range
I plan on flying to the U.S. in the winter to visit family, and honestly I just wanted to relax throughout the match season. I don’t care to do anything after the ERAS deadline is up in September, but attendings in my family claim that being inactive during interview season is a bad look apparently.
They claim that what you say you’re up to in the interview really matters, even if it’s something that didn’t make it to your ERAS application in time. My parents are suggesting I could be away from home for a whopping 4 months just to do something in the U.S. (October through January). It doesn’t make sense to me, as I can’t imagine a PD rejecting you just because you’ve been relaxing since September.
During an interview, would programs care at all what I’’d currently be up to, especially since it won’t be mentioned in my ERAS application? I don’t have anything planned, but my family suggested research, working as a physician assistant, etc.
Don't underestimate the power of your hobbies in your application. These can be included in the Hobbies/Interests in ERAS, your PS, or as an experience if you are very involved in your hobby. Often this will come up during your interview.
Use the hobbies/interests section if you have an important/interesting/unique hobby. If you include a hobby, don't just go generic and list generic hobbies (e.g., reading, hiking, listening to music). Oftentimes, hobbies can garner the reviewers’ attention and other times they become part of the interview conversation. Don’t see the hobbies as a throw away. Rather than just saying, Hiking, say: Hiking—My goal is to hike the complete Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles). So far I’ve completed 434 miles. Or Reading: I’ve read all 35 of John Sandford’s “Prey” series and all 12 of the “Virgil Flowers” series. Reading is a good way for me to clear my mind after a long day at the hospital and studying.
FYI: The hobbies section is fairly limited in the # of characters.
You may have had to put your hobbies on the back burner during med school. If so, focus on hobbies you had prior to med school and/or hobbies that you would continue to participate in if you had more time.
You can also use hobbies in your PS to give the readers information about you as a person not just someone interested in medicine. Doing so will go along way towards a stronger overall application and giving your interviewers talking points in your interview.
Think about what characteristics the hobby shows about you (and how these characteristics might connect to you being a strong resident). Something like:
I started training for triathlons (swimming, biking, running) after a particularly challenging time in my life. Triathlon training taught me how to push through the "wall," a skill directly applicable to grueling hospital shifts and long call hours. Just like waking up at 4:30 AM for a brutal workout in the rain, residency requires showing up for patients when you are exhausted.
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Hi everyone!
I have my OET Speaking test in 2 days, and I have a few last-minute doubts. I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have recently taken the exam.
Introduction: Do you always confirm the patient’s name (e.g., “Can I confirm your name, please?”), or is it okay to introduce yourself and go straight into the consultation depending on the scenario? For example, in an emergency department role play where the card already says you’re speaking to the patient or their relative, can I simply say:
“Hello, I’m Dr. Xxx , one of the emergency doctors looking after you today. I understand your father has been admitted…”
without confirming the name?
Is it okay to start with something like “How are you feeling today?”, or should the opening depend entirely on the scenario?
Finally, is everything that needs to be covered in the consultation included in the role-play card, or are the tasks just mentioned, or are there things the examiners expect us to ask or do even if they’re not mentioned on the card?
Also, if anyone could share how they felt immediately after their Speaking test and what score they eventually received, that would be really reassuring and helpful to hear.
Any last-minute speaking tips would also be greatly appreciated.
Im waiting for my visa. Program told it will wait for sometime. I just want to know if the program wants to take a waiver on me, they can do it themselves without any intimation to me or any approval for me? Just wanted to know if it’s one sided or mutual, so that I can be less stressed thinking about stuff.
Has anyone ever worked or done a rotation there? Can we email docs from the same specialty or do they all discuss and make you sound desperate? Lil help here😅
Why are some residents so rude to observers during an observership? I’ve noticed that some of the residents who come across as rude are immigrants (not all) themselves. The same residents are very good towards medical students. Why might that be?
I have faced this thing during my recent observership. I felt so bad about it.
Basically the question above. I’ve been seeing posts about aspirants saying their publications are not strong and I’m not quite sure what that means?
YOG: 2026
US citizen
Step 1: passed on first attempt
Step 2: pending
Passed all cores but :/ (65 in surg, 67 in fm, 72 in IM, 76 in OBGYN, 88 in psych)
Finished medical humanities selective.
Publications: none
2 psych LORs and one IM LOR
Work experience: 5 years in skilled nursing and hospice home healthcare, 6 months in applied behavioral analysis with children on the spectrum
🚩11 month total combined LOA time: 9 mo towards CBSE/Step 1 before rotations, 2 months for a medical LOA. All mentioned in MSPE.
🚩Have a criminal background: basically 14 years ago at age 18 I got arrested for speeding 109 on a 65. I paid fines and lost my drivers license for a year. Charge was misdemeanor speeding. I was driving to school and it felt like I was going at the pace of vehicles around me so I was shocked when I got pulled over. I was apologetic and was taken with no issue. All in all a charge of reckless driving and unsafe lane change were dismissed only the speeding stuck. I was also charged with a misdemeanor larceny charge for stealing makeup from tj maxx. I paid fines and find community service and the charge was dropped. These were stupid choices and I regret them heavily to this day. Ever since then I have not gotten into legal trouble. I have no excuse for this recklessness. I was navigating an extremely stressful home environment but so what? People go through worse and don’t do these things. All I can say is a focused on moving onward and leaving it all behind me after i apologized and made necessary amends.
🚩 during a period of mental health crisis i missed a week of rotations. This was fixed by my hospital coordinator where one rotation became 3 weeks and another became 5 weeks. During the 5 wk rotation I missed a week again to be determined how this will reflect on my MSPE.
🚩 all cores and electives done in the exact same hospital. I tried and could not find availability in other hospitals.
Please help. Anyone who can share any advise please do. This is regarding 2027 match.
I don’t know what to do and I would appreciate it if someone with experience can point me in the right direction. Basically, I am an IMG of Syrian nationality. I graduated in 2020 from Ukraine and I passed step 1 in 2024 (second attempt) and recently passed Step 2 ( 227 😔). I have 3 publications but they’re not that strong and no USCE due to travel restrictions. Is the US path pretty much over at this point? I know there is always hope but is it realistic or am I just chasing waterfalls?
And if possible what programs should I aim for?
I always liked research, is pivoting to a research position a good career path?
This is all with the hopes that the travel restrictions get lifted, but what can I do meanwhile?
Thank you in advance for any advice 🙏🏻
I have my interview tomorrow at the Karachi consulate.
What's the good answer to the question: Why have only Pakistani doctors offered you observerships?