Dropping a course during MS2

[20000Leagues]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone,

I attend a caribbean medical school. I completed MS1 with fantastic grades, but at the start of MS2 I was diagnosed with celiac disease and had to drastically change my diet all of a sudden. I fell behind in one of my classes and as a result I may have to drop it. This means I will take an extra 4 months to complete MS2.

My question is, will this have a big impact on the residencies I am able to obtain? I feel like it would put a red flag on my application. Would having a good Step 1 score overshadow it?

If you are unfamiliar with caribbean schools, please speak as to how you think it would affect you as a graduate from an American or Canadian school.

Thanks.

 

[J ROD]

I think it will be much harder for you coming from the Islands.

All you can do is well on Steps and try and explain.

But, any red flag is not good coming from the Islands.

 

[b-real]

Agree w/ above. You already have a significant red flag in being a FMG. It would be in your best interest to have a flawless record otherwise. What specialties are you thinking about, because the most highly competitive ones (PRS, ortho, derm, rad/onc) are all but closed to you as it stands.

 

[20000Leagues]

Yes, I am not expecting to obtain any of those residencies. I knew that when I came down here. It's hard to make a choice without completing clinical rotations, but I am looking at Family Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Pathology. Many students from SGU obtain these residencies. You can see the list here (https://baysgu35.sgu.edu/ERD/2014/ResidPost.nsf/BYPGY?OpenView&RestrictToCategory=PGY2&Count=-1)

Of course, having a flawless record is important, but barely being able to scrape by MS2 due to a health issue could hurt me more in the long run when it comes time to write the USMLE STEP 1 (I haven't picked up the material properly so far this term). Dropping the class gives me a chance to regroup and STEP 1 is infinitely more important that your basic science years, right?

In addition, if I don't drop the course and end up failing the class, I would have absolutely zero chance of continuing along this path.

 

[padfoot777]

if i were you id try and hold it together, but if its too rough put you first and drop the class. Its almost impossible focusing on anything when you're having gi problems- i know the feeling. i highly doubt a PD will tell you to piss off if you explain to him you were diagnosed with celiac that year and still pulled off a respectable board score.