Is it even worth applying with red flags?

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

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Sorry if this is irrelevant but I really need advice - I feel /like this whole thing is pointless.

Basically the title? I have a failed year in med school, and I’m gonna be applying without ECFMG Certification (graduating in January). Planning on applying IM, + am a Citizen

I do have a Pass/250 on my steps, working on getting 2-3 months of usce, and very low level research.

 

[Crayola227]

If you want an answer, you may need to clarify your first sentence to indicate if you more narrowly mean your career vs something mental health related. If you are at risk of harming yourself, I would urge you to reach out for someone in real life as the help this forum can provide for some issues is quite limited.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

If you want an answer, you may need to clarify your first sentence to indicate if you more narrowly mean your career vs something mental health related. If you are at risk of harming yourself, I would urge you to reach out for someone in real life as the help this forum can provide for some issues is quite limited.

It’s more career related, sorry ab that - I just really need to know how ****ed I am

 

[Apollyon]

If you're not ECFMG certified, you aren't matching anywhere.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

If you're not ECFMG certified, you aren't matching anywhere.

Can’t you match with ECFMG verification? With everything sans a degree?

 

[Apollyon]

Can’t you match with ECFMG verification? With everything sans a degree?

You have to have it to start. Just in case I wasn't clear (perish THAT thought - me? Never!), if someone doesn't have their ECFMG cert by the time they show up for their residency, they are out of a job. Not to match, but to start.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

You have to have it to start. Just in case I wasn't clear (perish THAT thought - me? Never!), if someone doesn't have their ECFMG cert by the time they show up for their residency, they are out of a job. Not to match, but to start.

Yepp thanks! - I will have my degree by Nov of the same year, so well before residency start date
I was just wondering how much it’d impact the IVs I get as an IMG

 

[Apollyon]

Yepp thanks! - I will have my degree by Nov of the same year, so well before residency start date
I was just wondering how much it’d impact the IVs I get as an IMG

That it shouldn't. One thing about programs that they expect about FMGs is that they'll be certified by start date. So, if they offer you an interview or not, it is not incumbent on that.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

That it shouldn't. One thing about programs that they expect about FMGs is that they'll be certified by start date. So, if they offer you an interview or not, it is not incumbent on that.

Awesome, thanks man

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You'll be able to add your ECFMG cert to your application once you get it. It won't be a problem at all -- many carib grads apply during their MS4 and won't have their cert until post grad.

Failing a year - depends on the reason to some extent. The solid S2 score will help, suggesting whatever problem it was is now in the past.

Depends on school, and what type of USCE.

You're not matching to Ortho. But if you apply wisely, chances are you'll get interviews.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

You'll be able to add your ECFMG cert to your application once you get it. It won't be a problem at all -- many carib grads apply during their MS4 and won't have their cert until post grad.

Failing a year - depends on the reason to some extent. The solid S2 score will help, suggesting whatever problem it was is now in the past.

Depends on school, and what type of USCE.

You're not matching to Ortho. But if you apply wisely, chances are you'll get interviews.

Thanks! I had to take time off due to a family thing, and missed my finals - they let me take them 3 months later (which I’m counting as a fail”)

I’m planning on applying IM btw

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Thanks! I had to take time off due to a family thing, and missed my finals - they let me take them 3 months later (which I’m counting as a fail”)

I’m planning on applying IM btw

Did they actually give you a failing grade or were you just delayed due to timing of the test?

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

Did they actually give you a failing grade or were you just delayed due to timing of the test?

I was just delayed, technically didn’t fail

 

[ThoracicGuy]

I was just delayed, technically didn’t fail

So then you don't have a failed year. Don't give yourself more problems.

 

[comp1]

Goodness, work on your phrasing for all of this before you actually apply anywhere for anything.

 

[Ladholyman]

Thanks! I had to take time off due to a family thing, and missed my finals - they let me take them 3 months later (which I’m counting as a fail”)

I’m planning on applying IM btw

How is this a fail? Did you pass the finals or not?

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

I was just delayed, technically didn’t fail

IMO your inability to accurately communicate basically anything about your situation in the OP is probably going to be your biggest barrier to success.

I mean that sincerely btw, if you go into an interview and bring up failing a year or some crap like that, the interviewer is going to assume you did fail a year and they just overlooked it in your application. Then when they bring it up in the rank list committee someone might correct them and they will all assume you are nuts.

 

[shaggybill]

I was just delayed, technically didn’t fail

Whaaaat? Why on earth would you intentionally present a simple delay as a failure? You understand there is a colossal difference in how those two things will be viewed by an admissions committee, right? HemeOncHopeful is spot on. Whatever the motivation was behind catastrophizing a non-opitimal situation and labeling it as something different and 10 times worse for absolutely no good reason is far more worrisome than anything else you posted. I mean, what's going on here? Self-sabatoge? Shame? I don't get it.

 

[WolfParkinsonBrown]

Whaaaat? Why on earth would you intentionally present a simple delay as a failure? You understand there is a colossal difference in how those two things will be viewed by an admissions committee, right? HemeOncHopeful is spot on. Whatever the motivation was behind catastrophizing a non-opitimal situation and labeling it as something different and 10 times worse for absolutely no good reason is far more worrisome than anything else you posted. I mean, what's going on here? Self-sabatoge? Shame? I don't get it.

The problem is my college is malicious and may present it as such. Also, they may refuse to give me an mspe based on this

 

[dozitgetchahi]

The problem is my college is malicious and may present it as such. Also, they may refuse to give me an mspe based on this

Why? How?

Are they going to represent it that way, or not? How do you know?

What kind of school won’t give an MSPE because you passed one set of tests later than they were supposed to be taken? Are they going to let you graduate?

You need to get this figured out before you put it in your app, or start doing interviews. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out how your school intends to represent this.