Research and postpone Match application Y/N?

[whoopsidaisy]

Hello everyone,

I'm a expecting to graduate in June '17. I'm interested in anesthesia or IM at academic institutions in the US.

I know this is gonna be a rather particular question but I would like to ask for your input whether I should try to apply for the Match 2018
or postpone and try to do some more research and aim for the Match 2019.

I was offered a potentially funded spot in clinical research (IM) in the US that could start this summer but I know that the PIs are more or less only willing to give me the spot if I commit for more than just one year. This would mean that I would not be able to apply this year.

So this leaves me essentially with two scenarios:
1) Go for the Match 2018, no extra research.
(+) sort of "straight after graduation", in the hope that it's looked upon more favorably
(+) "saves time"(?)
(-) it does leave me with a 1 year gap (of nothing?) between graduation in June 2017 and potential residency start in July 2018 (I hopefully wanted to fill a big chunk of it with my application and interviews)
(-) I'm currently broke and have to take out a loan for the application process
(-) probably more lower-tier academic programs

2) Start some research this summer and apply for the Match 2019.
(+) potentially apply to much stronger academic programs
(+) my research salary = money for the application process (no loans necessary)
(-) time commitment
(-) not "straight after graduation" anymore (2 years) as in "fear that my USCE letters expire"

Step 1: high 250s
Step 2: low 250s
Step 2 CS: results pending
ECFMG certification: hopefully by Sep '17
USCE: 2 months in anesthesia and critical care, 3 months in IM subspecialties
Previous research: at well-known US institution in field related to IM. Resulted in a few co-authorships and a bunch of abstracts

//Don't even know whether it plays any role for FMGs
//School rank: Top 3 in my home country
//Class rank: Probably top 10%
//National rank: Probably top 10%

Your input is really appreciated! Thank you so much for your help!

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[ddjamb]

how the hell people get high 250s?... Apply this year, don't waste time, it is getting hard for FMG/IMG to get spots. With Trump president, you never know what will happen 1 year or 2 down the road....He tend to make decisions early in the morning....lol

 

[Amygdarya]

It sounds like you have plenty of research already and you have almost all of your application ready (hopefully you'll pass CS on your first attempt; make sure to get *strong* LORs, including from your USCEs), no point of delaying by doing more research, it won't really make a significant difference for your application.

 

[Random-IMG]

Apply as early as possible ..

Research benefit is marginal especially with good scores and only helps in academic centers.

Apply broadly and don't be picky.

Good luck.

 

[whoopsidaisy]

Thanks for your quick replies!

So would you generally say "fresh graduate" trumps "(possibly) good research"?

 

[Amygdarya]

Thanks for your quick replies!

So would you generally say "fresh graduate" trumps "(possibly) good research"?

YES.
Especially when you already have published research. Doing more research won't make a difference - in fact, it's a risk because if you don't publish in your research year, it may look bad. So apply this year.

 

[gutonc]

Unless you publish in NEJM during your research time, the only advantage you'll have by taking the research year(s) approach is that you'll already be in the US when it comes time to interview, so travel will be less of an issue. But that's about it.

You're about as solid as any IMG applicant could hope to be, right now. Get in there and find yourself a spot ASAP.

Plus, you never know when Chee-to Hitler is going to get pissed off that Angela Merkel totally owned him and extend his travel/visa ban to German citizens.

 

[whoopsidaisy]

Great, thank you very much everyone for your help!
Do you have any advice on what my prospects are and what my application strategy this year should be?

 

[AdmiralChz]

Great, thank you very much everyone for your help!
Do you have any advice on what my prospects are and what my application strategy this year should be?

Apply broadly in BOTH specialties - try to find programs with some IMG (european) graduates as you probably have the best chance at those places. Ask your school for contact information of recent graduates who successfully matched in the states and see if they can offer up any advice.

You seem to have a strong application, but to be honest it is getting harder and harder for IMGs to match into US programs each year with class sizes expanding. Your good scores, research and clinical experiences are a plus. I agree with everyone else here that a year off for dedicated research won't be too helpful especially in a field like anesthesiology where research may not be as emphasized in most programs.

 

[whoopsidaisy]

Thanks a lot for your frank input!