How to make myself a stronger candidate?

[Elias]

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Hi guys,

I'm a Belgian med student currently in my 4th year of Med school. At the end of our 6th year - which is our equivalent to your MS4 eg a year of clinical rotations - we have to make our specialty choice.

Like in the US we can boost our chances by doing extracurricular acitivities, voluntary clinical rotations and extra research projects.

Now the thing is that I would really like to do extra research and/or a voluntary rotation, but I don't know yet which field I want to go in. Right now I'm interested in pathology, but I would also consider neurology, pediatrics, neonatology, radiology or even pure research.

Is it useful to get involved in research in any of these fields, or should I first know what I want to do? Or would research be a waste of time if it were performed in a different field than the one I would eventually apply for? The same goes for clinical rotations: would there be any benefit in doing a voluntary rotation in neurology if I would eventually apply for pathology, or would that even hurt my chances to get matched? I'd love to do something useful with my extra time, but I want to make sure it would be worth it.

Thanks in advance for your advise!

Elias

 

[Winged Scapula]

Are you asking what would make you a more competitive student for a Belgian or a US residency? I can't imagine there would be many people here who could advise you on the former.

 

[Elias]

Are you asking what would make you a more competitive student for a Belgian or a US residency? I can't imagine there would be many people here who could advise you on the former.

I'd like to apply for a Belgian residency position. I am aware that selection procedures might be a little different, but I can't get any info on Belgian websites whatsoever. So as info is so difficult to find, I thought any info - also from US residents/students/doctors - might be helpful. And if not, I'd still be just interested to know how things work in the US.

 

[Elias]

Today I asked a Belgian 6th year student about this and she confirmed me that extra research is only useful if performed in the field of choice.

Could any of you guys confirm how this is done in the US? Winged Scapula, your question got me thinking actually. Is it even possible to apply for a residency spot in the US as a foreign student and be competitive?

 

[howelljolly]

In the US, the research certainly does not need to be done in your field of choice. It just needs to be done well, and shows that you are a strong worker, that you know how to do good research, and be useful, and have some committment to the advancement of medicine.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Today I asked a Belgian 6th year student about this and she confirmed me that extra research is only useful if performed in the field of choice.

Could any of you guys confirm how this is done in the US? Winged Scapula, your question got me thinking actually. Is it even possible to apply for a residency spot in the US as a foreign student and be competitive?

Yes, currently it is, although it would be dependent on the field you are applying for, your USMLE (US Medical Licensing Exam which is an "entrance" exam of sorts for US residency) scores, the program location, etc. It would be exceedingly difficult, although not unheard of, for a foreign educated, non US citizen to get into a very competitive residency such as Dermatology, Orthopaedics or Plastic Surgery. However, many are able to secure positions in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry.

The number of US medical school matriculants is increasing but the number of residency positions is not; therefore, I imagine as the pool of open positions decreases, it will become increasingly difficult for foreign physicians to get into US training.

 

[radslooking]

Lifting weights?

(runs for the exits)

 

[Elias]

Thanks for your replies guys. Winged Scapula, do you have any idea how tough it would be to get into neuro or path? I'm not even asking about rads cause I heard it's one of the most competitive.

I'll work on the research (and on the weights too lol).

 

[Long Dong]

Lifting weights?

(runs for the exits)

I agree lifting weights would definately make anyone stronger.😀

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for your replies guys. Winged Scapula, do you have any idea how tough it would be to get into neuro or path? I'm not even asking about rads cause I heard it's one of the most competitive.

I'll work on the research (and on the weights too lol).

These two fields tend to be FMG friendly and are less competitive in general. Since most programs will assess your application based on your USMLE scores, it would be hard to assess how competitive you are without those.