F-1 Student—Should I Mention Plans to Stay in the U.S. Long-Term in Secondaries?

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CitrusJar

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Hi everyone,


I’m an F-1 international student currently applying to MD programs this cycle. I have strong stats, clinical experience (2 years full-time working), long-term research involvement (on my way to completing a PhD degree), and a clear vision of becoming a clinician-scientist. All the schools on my list explicitly accept international applicants.
I plan to stay in the U.S. long-term and am actively working toward permanent residency or citizenship in the future (via EB1A/ NIW). Some secondaries (e.g., “What else do you want us to know?”) offer an open-ended opportunity to share context. I’m wondering:

Is it helpful or risky to briefly state that I am committed to staying in the U.S. and have a viable plan to adjust my immigration status in 3 years? Would that reassure adcoms, especially given that many affiliated residency programs don’t sponsor F-1 visas? Or would it backfire because my status is still temporary?

I’m trying to strike a balance between transparency and strategy. My passion for academic medicine, mentorship, and translational neuroscience is deeply rooted in staying and contributing here. I’d love to hear any advice or personal experiences from fellow international applicants or admissions-savvy folks.

Thanks so much!
 
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