IMG repeating a preclinical year

[Bigchau]

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context: am an "IMG" in an Australian MD program, whio will potentially have to repeat a preclinical year (m2) due to a failed exam. There will be an F on my transcript for M2.

How will this affect my
1. application for internships/residencies in australia?
2. application for residenicies in USA/ other countries?

Is having to repeat a year more damning for IMGs than is it for domestic applicants?

Thank you for any input.

 

[IMGASMD]

I think you’re pretty much DOA for US residency.

 

[Goro]

I think you’re pretty much DOA for US residency.

I agree

 

[GoSpursGo]

To expound a little on the responses above, the bar for an IMG is much higher than a domestic applicant because PDs in the US just don't know anything about the quality of medical training in another country. That's not to say your training is BAD--they just don't know, and being pretty risk averse folks you need to present a compelling case for why they should accept you over a US applicant for whom they can have some reasonable baseline for what they learned. You need a glowing review from your school--if even your school says you struggled (ie repeated a year), that's a major red flag for a program. You also need to use the one equalizer you have available to prove yourself against US applicants: the USMLE exams.

Technically, there is probably some super high score you could get on the USMLEs to redeem yourself for a chance at US residency. But realistically, getting such a score is pretty unlikely if you're struggling enough that you need to repeat a year.

I don't know enough to comment on how this will affect applications to Australian residencies.

 

[IMGASMD]

You’re not an “IMG”
You’re an IMG.

I am sorry but I will get on the soapbox for a few. This is precisely the reason why Americans should improve themselves before you’re going aboard for medical school.

You get at most three chances in medicine.
1. US/foreign medical school. If you choose Caribbean/Ireland/Poland/Australia you already used up your first one.
2. Actually graduate on time. If you aren’t. You used up your second chance.
3. USMLE score. If average or below. That’s it.

As a US grad, you probably would get one more. Meaning location/caliber of your residency program. If you choose BFE, you can probably make it.

Good luck, OP. I would suggest stay put in Australia. Maybe practice for a few years before thinking about coming (back) to US.

 

[deleted731525]

I think you’re pretty much DOA for US residency.

Disagree. I am also an IMG and I have classmates who have failed clerkships and are still getting interviews. It will be much harder but I dont think OP is finished.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Disagree. I am also an IMG and I have classmates who have failed clerkships and are still getting interviews. It will be much harder but I dont think OP is finished.

I think repeating a preclinical year is much different than failing clerkships. The former shows issue with the basic sciences compared to clinical skills which can be gained during residency.

 

[deleted731525]

I think repeating a preclinical year is much different than failing clerkships. The former shows issue with the basic sciences compared to clinical skills which can be gained during residency.

I was always under the impression that failing a clerkship is worse, as preclinical grades are not valued nearly as much as clinical grades.

 

[Goro]

I was always under the impression that failing a clerkship is worse, as preclinical grades are not valued nearly as much as clinical grades.

Correct about preclinical grades, but failing and repeating a year are two very different things

 

[deleted731525]

Correct about preclinical grades, but failing and repeating a year are two very different things

I should have been more clear. At my school, if you fail a clerkship, you need to take the rest of the year off and start from that clerkship again the following year(all the third year students do the same clerkships, in the same order)

 

[DrStephenStrange]

I was always under the impression that failing a clerkship is worse, as preclinical grades are not valued nearly as much as clinical grades.

Preclinical grades aren't as important if you pass, but failing and repeating a year is a huge red flag which shows that you have poor understanding of the basic sciences. Don't get me wrong Clinical grades are absolutely important. Failing one of your rotations is definitely also a red flag, but I think programs will be more willing to take chances on someone with poor clinical skills than someone with poor basic science knowledge. The latter is more unteachable IMO, plus you can still graduate in 4 years, so it might less a red flag than failing during preclinicals.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

I should have been more clear. At my school, if you fail a clerkship, you need to take the rest of the year off and start from that clerkship again the following year(all the third year students do the same clerkships, in the same order)

That's weird. They're setting people to fail then. It's not like that at my school. We have a month vacation and a non-clinical month both in 3rd and 4th year we can use as a backup plan.

 

[Goro]

I should have been more clear. At my school, if you fail a clerkship, you need to take the rest of the year off and start from that clerkship again the following year(all the third year students do the same clerkships, in the same order)

From everything I've read posted by our wise SDN residents and attending, both are just as bad for an IMG. As medical educator, I'm concerned when someone has to repeat a year for academic reasons.

For US MD/DO students, failing and repeating a year is more likely to shunt one into the easier specialties to get into.

 

[libertyyne]

context: am an "IMG" in an Australian MD program, whio will potentially have to repeat a preclinical year (m2) due to a failed exam. There will be an F on my transcript for M2.

How will this affect my
1. application for internships/residencies in australia?
2. application for residenicies in USA/ other countries?

Is having to repeat a year more damning for IMGs than is it for domestic applicants?

Thank you for any input.

Are you australian or american ?
1. You should ask about your australian chances from your advisors they would have more insight into the sitation.
2. It will negatively impact your chances for residency in the united states. It will destroy any chances of competitive specialties. Who knows what the rest of your chances are for an FM position in an undesirable area.

Having to repeat a year is obviously more damaging for an IMG than it is for domestic graduates. IMG match rates are much lower compared to US grads.

 

[dragon18]

So for St.george's in Caribbean,I’ve heard online that there are a decent portion of the students there who had to repeat their first year in medical school. Would they have greater difficulties when they try to return to US after graduation?

 

[IMGASMD]

I was always under the impression that failing a clerkship is worse, as preclinical grades are not valued nearly as much as clinical grades.

If you believe the numbers around..... maybe 60-70% actually get into residency.

My best guess would cut that in half..... so 30%?

 

[Goro]

So for St.george's in Caribbean,I’ve heard online that there are a decent portion of the students there who had to repeat their first year in medical school. Would they have greater difficulties when they try to return to US after graduation?

Two red flags:
Repeating a year.
Being IMG.