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Need some advice y’all.
I am a mature international student at a US MD school who, due to health reasons, failed my last two courses in first year. I requested a year off (LOA) as I did not believe I was healthy enough to continue at that point and decided to focus on my health. Now that my LOA is over and I am cleared to return, the school has told me they want me to repeat the entire first year.
I did well in my classes prior to my illness, and believe that I will do well if I return. But, when I apply for residency I will be TWO years behind, with a repeat year and LOA to explain. (In hindsight, maybe I should have tunnelled through, but that didn’t feel like the responsible thing to do at the time).
I went into this wanting to be a family doctor. That has always been my goal. But I am very scared I will not be able to match and will instead end up with a paper and more than loads and loads of debt.
One thing working in my favor is that I have spent the majority of my time off covering the school’s curriculum, including traditionally second year material (path and pharm). So I do have the advantage of having pre-studied 2/3rds of the preclinical curriculum beforehand. I also spent a good amount of time refining my studying methods for med school specifically. I think I can potentially translate this advantage into a USMLE score of 240-245 (estimating based on my performance from the half of USMLE-Rx I have done so far).
My questions for you are:
** Do you think I have a decent enough chance at matching into FM to risk the cost of continuing?
** CAN a good USMLE score even compensate enough for my red flags (need visa + LOA + repeat)? (assuming I get a 1-2 honors in rotations and have decent LORs)
For example: if there is a good chance I go unmatched for FM even with a 240 USMLE and otherwise average performance, I would consider myself at HIGH RISK of going unmatched.
For those of you wondering if I have a backup, I do not. I am not sure what I will do with my life if I don’t return. Honestly can’t fathom the thought of not returning, but also very concerned with my situation.
I am also open to any other advice and tips you have for me.
TLDR:
Failed two courses end of first year, took a year-long LOA and will have to repeat first year = will graduate in 6 years instead of four. Want to match into FM, but am concerned I won’t match. Do you think that, if say I get a USMLE score of 240, I have a decent enough chance at matching into FM to risk the cost of continuing?
Thanks!
I am a mature international student at a US MD school who, due to health reasons, failed my last two courses in first year. I requested a year off (LOA) as I did not believe I was healthy enough to continue at that point and decided to focus on my health. Now that my LOA is over and I am cleared to return, the school has told me they want me to repeat the entire first year.
I did well in my classes prior to my illness, and believe that I will do well if I return. But, when I apply for residency I will be TWO years behind, with a repeat year and LOA to explain. (In hindsight, maybe I should have tunnelled through, but that didn’t feel like the responsible thing to do at the time).
I went into this wanting to be a family doctor. That has always been my goal. But I am very scared I will not be able to match and will instead end up with a paper and more than loads and loads of debt.
One thing working in my favor is that I have spent the majority of my time off covering the school’s curriculum, including traditionally second year material (path and pharm). So I do have the advantage of having pre-studied 2/3rds of the preclinical curriculum beforehand. I also spent a good amount of time refining my studying methods for med school specifically. I think I can potentially translate this advantage into a USMLE score of 240-245 (estimating based on my performance from the half of USMLE-Rx I have done so far).
My questions for you are:
** Do you think I have a decent enough chance at matching into FM to risk the cost of continuing?
** CAN a good USMLE score even compensate enough for my red flags (need visa + LOA + repeat)? (assuming I get a 1-2 honors in rotations and have decent LORs)
For example: if there is a good chance I go unmatched for FM even with a 240 USMLE and otherwise average performance, I would consider myself at HIGH RISK of going unmatched.
For those of you wondering if I have a backup, I do not. I am not sure what I will do with my life if I don’t return. Honestly can’t fathom the thought of not returning, but also very concerned with my situation.
I am also open to any other advice and tips you have for me.
TLDR:
Failed two courses end of first year, took a year-long LOA and will have to repeat first year = will graduate in 6 years instead of four. Want to match into FM, but am concerned I won’t match. Do you think that, if say I get a USMLE score of 240, I have a decent enough chance at matching into FM to risk the cost of continuing?
Thanks!
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