Impact of multiple course failures in the residency match soon

[Katrinastormy]

So I am currently a third year medical students who is becoming increasingly concerned that I will not have much of a chance to match if I attempt to do so next cycle. First off, I am an US international student who spent two years teaching myself everything down in the Caribbean before I failed two classes in my last term and was forced to remain on the island for another term. I have since returned to the States, passed the USMLE Step 1 (with a low 212 score) and have begun my first rotations at a hospital in California. I would like to consider with all of this information whether or not I even stand a realistic shot of getting matched into any residency program at this point. Is there anything I can do at this point out to improve my chances, or am I more likely that not to graduate with a useless MD and an unquantifiable amount of debt. Any input on this would be nice.

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[Goro]

I surmise that your chances are best with programs that have taken your graduates in the past. But you definitely need a Plan B

 

[Kuratz]

Here is the most objective resource I can give you:

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Charting-Outcomes-in-the-Match-2018-IMGs.pdf

Based purely on your US-IMG status and Step 1 score alone you have a 55% chance of matching FM or Peds, 50% pathology and 45% IM.

I admittedly don't know much about the Caribbean clerkships or the ins-and-outs of how to match as an IMG.

The advice I can give, however, is that for the next year the only thing you should focus on is grinding. Work your ass off to score as high as possible on Step 2. Work your ass off on the wards to get good marks and build connections. I would also suggest not doing clerkships in a desirable location like California if at all possible. If you can go to a less desirable location with a FM or IM residency, network like hell and prove you are a stud then I would imagine your chances increase dramatically. Do as many sub-Is as feasible where you can maintain a good performance. Apply very broadly. Perhaps look at programs that have a track record of taking IMGs and consider rotating there. Casper, WY or Rapid City, SD (both of which I love) may sound terrible to someone from SoCal, but are fine cities and are totally worth going to for a mere three years if it means you get to use your MD for the rest of your life. Work your ass off and good things can happen. Let us know how things end up!

 

[Katrinastormy]

Here is the most objective resource I can give you:



Based purely on your US-IMG status and Step 1 score alone you have a 55% chance of matching FM or Peds, 50% pathology and 45% IM.

I admittedly don't know much about the Caribbean clerkships or the ins-and-outs of how to match as an IMG.

The advice I can give, however, is that for the next year the only thing you should focus on is grinding. Work your ass off to score as high as possible on Step 2. Work your ass off on the wards to get good marks and build connections. I would also suggest not doing clerkships in a desirable location like California if at all possible. If you can go to a less desirable location with a FM or IM residency, network like hell and prove you are a stud then I would imagine your chances increase dramatically. Do as many sub-Is as feasible where you can maintain a good performance. Apply very broadly. Perhaps look at programs that have a track record of taking IMGs and consider rotating there. Casper, WY or Rapid City, SD (both of which I love) may sound terrible to someone from SoCal, but are fine cities and are totally worth going to for a mere three years if it means you get to use your MD for the rest of your life. Work your ass off and good things can happen. Let us know how things end up!

Yes, I have seen this data and am more than willing to do the things you mentioned. However, I am still concerned whether the marks on my transcript alone could make things even worse for me.

 

[deleted480308]

Yes, I have seen this data and am more than willing to do the things you mentioned. However, I am still concerned whether the marks on my transcript alone could make things even worse for me.

Yes. Of course they make things worse. But they happened and you cannot change that, move forward with the gameplan

 

[Planes2Doc]

I would study your ass off for Step 2. Also taking Step 3 and rocking that may help as well. The biggest concern PDs seem to have is about board pass rates, or at least that's what I keep hearing them talk about around here. You definitely can't change the past, so try not to dwell on it, and only work on the things that you can actually change.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

However, I am still concerned whether the marks on my transcript alone could make things even worse for me.
Of course they could, it's up to you to make things better. You dug the hole, now it's up to you to crawl out. You have received excellent advice from other members. Only you can decide the best way to use their advice. I believe now it's just a matter of how bad to you want it and are you willing to pay the price to achieve your goal. Get busy! Best wishes and good luck!