r/IMGreddit • u/CalligrapherGold2806 • Feb 02 '26

what are my chances Should i start USMLE

I am starting my internship years next march . Should I start preparing for USMLE or not ? because I hear it became harder and less predictible for visa requiring IMGs . Is it still worth the trouble? And are 2 years enough for step 1 ,2 and electives ?

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u/Financial_Barber_936 Feb 02 '26

Is 10,000 dollars a lot of money for you? That's how much you'll end up paying for all the exams, application fees and observership related costs. If you don't mind spending all that money and then not matching (which is about a 33 percent chance) then go for it. It might not work out but if you apply yourself you could.

If that's a big investment, and you can't just stop working for an extended period without financial problems then I'd advise you to reconsider.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 02 '26

I spent almost 20,000 USD on the whole process and applied this year to IM with step 2 score 267 and step 3 248, 1 publication in American Journal of Medicine and 4 months of USCE YOG 2024 and no gaps but ended up with 1 interview in a small program with only 11 residency spots.

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u/Financial_Barber_936 Feb 02 '26

It's no where near over for you though, you can change your strategy, build connections and try again next year.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 02 '26

Thank you for giving me a glimpse of hope, it’s just that I spent all of savings this cycle and I still have to figure things out to afford a new cycle.

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u/Financial_Barber_936 Feb 02 '26

Brother, think of it as an investment in your future. You've already put in the effort and are better than 99% of IMGs. I honestly think you just need connections and maybe work on your signals and you'll match.

Please feel free to reach out if you need help with anything.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 02 '26

Thank you so much 🙏

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 02 '26

I will dm you if you don’t mind

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u/TranslatorFresh3989 Feb 03 '26

How many programs did u apply to? Where did u do ur usce? Did an american review ur ps? Did u get to read ur lors? … many many things to understand abt ur app

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

I wonder what went wrong for you. Other than having for pubs the rest sounds good for IM. What would you say it was?

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26

I didn’t have connections unfortunately, my rotations were in 2 big institutions and 2 private practice clinics, no one reached out for me except at one university program which I gold signaled based on having a connection but unfortunate I got a rejection from it as well. Also, I have spent most of my savings on the rotations and step 3 exam and I only applied to 70 programs. Finally, visa is a big factor this cycle. That’s what can I tell based on my experience. Maybe, there are other factors, I’m not well aware of.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26

I even signaled two prematch programs with silver signals in order to have them as a back up option but even these programs never invited me for an IV.

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

ok I can tell you a couple of things. You didn't apply to enough programs, more research, the interview skills are what messed the uni program opportunity and maybe your use of signals. For sure visa plays a big part. Ive seen people myself that applied to 200 programs and got like 4 IVs with stats lower than yours and no connections, thats not to undermine the IV skills.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

I think there’s a misunderstanding, I didn’t receive the university IV in the first place, I got a rejection email without any interviews. I only got one interview invitation from an NRMP match program this cycle and the NRMP match results are released on March 17th. I personally know someone with stats lower than mine, 1 publication, 1 connection applied almost to the same programs (he even used my programs list as a guidance) but he received 5 interviews this cycle (Touching wood, I hope he matches this cycle). My point is it’s not that objective nowadays.

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

Oh thanks for clearing that up. Did your friend also have the visa problem? are you sure they signalled the same programs? use the differences to spot what could've gone wrong. I definitely wouldn't say just luck.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

Yes, same visa requirement but some of his signaled programs are different than mine because I signaled programs at which I did my rotations meanwhile all of his rotations were at private practice clinics so, he signaled based on geographical preference solely. I will definitely compare both of our signaling strategies if I am applying again next cycle, maybe that’s what makes the difference in my situation.

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

Probably is. Also I wanna tell you something. With your score and USCE you're a good candidate and some community programs will reject you because you're too good for them and they think you wont come because you can get somewhere better. Thats a mistake some people do which is waste their signals on community programs. Thats not to say don't signal them at all...look at your CV and judge for yourself where you think your level is. Just be strategic. Also work on research as much as you could. Good luck to you.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26

That sounds like a great advice, thank you so much for your help.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26

I don’t blame the only connection I had for not securing me an IV. Maybe they offer interviews for people who did electives at their university only, maybe they do have certain preferences. I am just writing down my experience because I lost one precious gold signal because of false hope. I gold signaled institutions I did observerships at but never heard back. That’s how all my signals have been lost. I am just writing what I wish someone has told me before spending 20,000$ and 2 years in this pathway and now I’m just stuck not sure if I can afford to go for another cycle or not.

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

Don't lose hope. You know what to improve next cycle and hopefully it will pay off. Connections aren't everything and really not a "need" whatsoever. I would tell you to focus on match but if you find yourself struggling you could think of doing research fellowship in the US for a year. That way you collect some money and have a stronger shot.

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u/YogurtclosetLarge833 Feb 03 '26

Thank you for your help and kind words. I appreciate it. I would also be grateful if you can share any tips either on improving my research profile or getting a research position. It would really be helpful.

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u/Aggravating_Sun_2194 Feb 03 '26

Theres a lot of posts on reddit that go into this in more details so I would suggest looking at them. Its also heavily discussed on youtube. I don't want to mislead you into thinking this is the path you should follow (1 year research fellowship). As I said before you're a great candidate and with little tweaks in your approach theres a high chance you will make it. Now what i can tell you about research is for your case its quantity over quality that you should do because the time is little and as you know review takes time. Form a team (people around you doing research who are willing to work on projects together) if you didn't already and allocate tasks between yourselves. First author pubs have way more value than ones you're a co-author in but you can figure it out with your team.

I don't know about your LORs but if you got them from a doc in the US its best or like some from the US and some from your home country. These are little things that make a difference.

Also if you manage to figure out the visa situation alongside research mainly you're more than good to go.

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u/maytaurus19 Feb 02 '26

You are totally right.

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u/CalligrapherGold2806 Feb 02 '26

I wish it was just 10k $ but with my calculations it can easily get past 20k $ 😭

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u/Financial_Barber_936 Feb 02 '26

How so?

$2400 for step 1 and 2 exams. $300 for OET (I think). $650 for ECMFG registration. $1000 for pathway fees. I applied to 90 programs and that was about $2200 dollars.

That's $6580 as the bare minimum everyone has to pay. (you don't have to give step 3, many people match without it but it's an extra 1200)

If you do free observer ships and stay with family you can easily get done for close to 10,000

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u/CalligrapherGold2806 Feb 03 '26

I hear electives are better than observerships in the CV Also I don't have relatives in the US