Hey everyone, I’m an international student (i.e. need a J-1 or H-1B visa sponsorship for residency) at a US DO school. As a second year, I have the option of taking the USMLE step 1 for a P/F score in January 2022. This is assuming the timeline, for P/F implementation, doesn’t change much. Even then, I could potentially take it as P/F if it got delayed a little further.
Unfortunately, I had to repeat my first year of medical school for academic reasons secondary to personal/family matters. I realise this would be a major red flag for residency applications, but I take full responsibility for this and have tried to take the right steps to ensure that my academic performance is not affected in the future (did significantly better in repeat year and now in 2nd year).
For what it's worth, my specialty interest is internal medicine. I might also be interested in one of the competitive internal medicine sub-specialities like heme/onc (I know :/). However, I don’t have any geographic restrictions when it comes to residency programs. Low tier academic, community, rural, I’ll go pretty much anywhere that accepts me.
My question is that should/can I take USMLE step 1 as P/F in January 2022 (as a 3rd year student) if I feel like my performance could potentially be poor if I took it scored? This is especially given my academic history with having to repeating first year of medical school.
TL;DR International student at US DO school. Had to repeat 1st year. Need visa sponsorship for residency. Interested in internal medicine (maybe heme/onc). No geographic restrictions. Currently studying for USMLE step 1. Potential for poor performance, so should/can I take it as P/F in 2022 as a 3rd year?
TIA to everyone! This sub has always been a source of great information and guidance. Stay safe out there.
Unfortunately, I had to repeat my first year of medical school for academic reasons secondary to personal/family matters. I realise this would be a major red flag for residency applications, but I take full responsibility for this and have tried to take the right steps to ensure that my academic performance is not affected in the future (did significantly better in repeat year and now in 2nd year).
For what it's worth, my specialty interest is internal medicine. I might also be interested in one of the competitive internal medicine sub-specialities like heme/onc (I know :/). However, I don’t have any geographic restrictions when it comes to residency programs. Low tier academic, community, rural, I’ll go pretty much anywhere that accepts me.
My question is that should/can I take USMLE step 1 as P/F in January 2022 (as a 3rd year student) if I feel like my performance could potentially be poor if I took it scored? This is especially given my academic history with having to repeating first year of medical school.
TL;DR International student at US DO school. Had to repeat 1st year. Need visa sponsorship for residency. Interested in internal medicine (maybe heme/onc). No geographic restrictions. Currently studying for USMLE step 1. Potential for poor performance, so should/can I take it as P/F in 2022 as a 3rd year?
TIA to everyone! This sub has always been a source of great information and guidance. Stay safe out there.
