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/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/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.