Applying this FALL, many concerns as an international student in US

[spinnerette]

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[GopherBrain]

What is your long-term goal? Academics or private practice? Do you define a good neurology program as one capable of turning you into a good neurologist, or one that will look good on your resume and set you up for academic success? The answers to these questions matter significantly when considering your situation.

 

[spinnerette]

What is your long-term goal? Academics or private practice? Do you define a good neurology program as one capable of turning you into a good neurologist, or one that will look good on your resume and set you up for academic success? The answers to these questions matter significantly when considering your situation.

Academics but not basic-science heavy because I want to teach.

 

[cyneuron]

Based on my (i am also applying this year; IMG here) search and knowledge about Neuro competitiveness, you are in a comfortable position.

Traditionally Neuro has been considered less competitive than IM, but more competitive than Psychiatry & Family Medicine & Pediatrics.

(I am not clear about reasons for it. One frequently cited reason is lack of treatment options and procedures and thus less money and interest...any more reasons ?)

USMLE process involves nearly 11 variables, namely Citizenship (US grad or US citizen IMG or IMG), USMLE Score Step 1, 2CK, Step 2 CS pass attempt, medical school, clinical experience, research experience, publications, letter of recommendations, your manifest interest in field, personal statement, networking skills and contacts, interviewing skills and even Step 3 Score if you decide to give it before applying....

And i would also like to make another distinction in USMLE process...getting interviewing calls and getting matched/pre-matched. The former process, that is getting interview calls, is more affected by scores.

So i guess you can never give up the hope...btw above said things apply to not just neuro, rather to USMLE in geenral...

But also depends on your target...if you are thinking of Harvard and stuff, then you might be in a different boat....

further reading - Advice about Neuro Res if low step 1 score

 

[95439]

Hang in there

 

[cyneuron]

One thing though, can people stop saying Neuro is easier to get into than IM? It's not true. There's an idiot at my prelim program (IM categorical obviously), who kept saying that (no offense CyNeuron, I'm not equating you to the idiot at my prelim program). It is NOT true. Look at the stats, talk to your friends. There's so many more IM programs and they're not that hard to get into. (yes there are more IM applicants but more spots per applicant regardless. And check the average scores etc).

Well, if you talk in absolute terms, nothing is easy or difficult than any other thing in real life...its all relative...

if one says getting neuro at harvard is easy than getting im at some community or other low tier university program, its obviously stupid...

if you talk to people in the field (recent applicants, residents, faculty, PD's), nearly all agree with relative competitiveness order, which is, Family Medicine < Pediatrics = Psychiatry < Neurology < IM < Rest all branches.....But be aware, compare it at same level of other variables.

and also, its not huge or any more objective difference, its just a subjective comparison...u can't be objective in making such comparison in a process which involve as many as 11 variables as illustrated above.

and for the original poster, i will tell you something which may help you...it helps me at least when i get anxious about this USMLE part of my life...

"You just need one damn seat....to hell with all stats and what people say....i know what i am doing and i will get my seat"

 

[95439]

Well, if you talk in absolute terms, nothing is easy or difficult than any other thing in real life...its all relative...

if one says getting neuro at harvard is easy than getting im at some community or other low tier university program, its obviously stupid...

if you talk to people in the field (recent applicants, residents, faculty, PD's), nearly all agree with relative competitiveness order, which is, Family Medicine < Pediatrics = Psychiatry < Neurology < IM < Rest all branches.....But be aware, compare it at same level of other variables.

and also, its not huge or any more objective difference, its just a subjective comparison...u can't be objective in making such comparison in a process which involve as many as 11 variables as illustrated above.

and for the original poster, i will tell you something which may help you...it helps me at least when i get anxious about this USMLE part of my life...

"You just need one damn seat....to hell with all stats and what people say....i know what i am doing and i will get my seat"

Well, I just spoke with a "recent applicant and resident"...MYSELF. I applied two years ago. My 2nd choice was IM - it's easier to get into man. I applied at a bunch of IM programs for prelim year too...

Anyway, I'm not going to argue with you bc this info wasn't for you anyway, it was for the poster. Maybe things have changed in a year and a half, but, I doubt it.

My original post went too much in depth, so I deleted it, but basically the message is your scores are pretty damn good for most Neurology (or IM lol) programs. Don't listen to your dean. I listened to an 'expert advisor' at my post-bac program when I graduated and sold myself short in applying for med school. Don't make the same mistake. Better to aim high than low 😉

 

[cyneuron]

Hey bblue... didn't mean no hard feelings or reaction....was just expressing opinion in general...

for OP, take it cool and work on your way through...there are lots of other things to build on

 

[95439]

Hey bblue... didn't mean no hard feelings or reaction....was just expressing opinion in general...

for OP, take it cool and work on your way through...there are lots of other things to build on

None taken and vice versa. You're just wrong but that's ok haha 😛

 

[USC20]

I think matching at a Neurology residency is a lot tougher than IM if you are an IMG..

I'm a U.S citizen from a caribbean school, scored pretty well on the boards and applied to a lot of programs. I got a decent amount of interviews, but they were not any big name programs that you always hear on this forum.

Some of my classmates who matched in IM had lower scores than I did, applied to less programs and received more interviews than I did..The fact that I did not have any research experience obviously hurt me, but in the end, I matched at a pretty decent university program.

Dude, you have a pretty good shot at matching in Neuro. It might be more difficult matching at an academic place, but you are a U.S med student and a lot of great programs give visas..Honestly you won't know unless you apply and try it..




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[spinnerette]

Cool, thanks for the input guys.
I think the problem that my dean sees is that I am not a US citizen/resident. Although historically speaking graduates from my school match well across and I will be an AMG, I still need a visa. So she thinks I need to be much more competitive than the rest of the applicants.
I don't know.... I will see.....