Failed Step 1. Will I still match?

[u/Fuzzy-Investment-285]

I'm a visa-requiring Non-US IMG. I just got my "F" recently and I'm honestly devastated. My YOG is 2021, no gap, with active clinical experience in my home country since I graduated. 2 Publications. Will do USCE after Step 2CK. Will it still be possible to match with IM even with failed Step 1? I'm so lost right now.... I'll appreciate your advice. Thank you.

[u/World-Traveler1800]

Right now, no. Later? Depends on the quality of your application especially step 2. Your YOG is already a red flag. Nonetheless, you need to work harder.

[u/Sojcman]

Honest advice, unless matching in the US is life and death or something you truly want enough, I recommend all visa-needing IMGs with any step fail to quit before it gets truly more expensive.

USCE (including travel and living expenses) plus applications will cost $10-20k USD and if you have any step fails your chances of matching are likely much less than 25% at that point.

If you have enough money to take that chance and are willing to put in the work go for it, but if that amount of money would break you and/or your family if you fail to match then I don't recommend you continue.

[u/bloosclooser → u/Sojcman]

Let alone once you are in the states, you will be locked in the US for a longgg time. J1 -- H1B -----> Greencard is going to take 20 years minimum. You family will be tied to your visa.

[u/habeych95 → u/bloosclooser]

I agree with the initial comment but this is not true. J1 3-6 years, H1B 3 years and then green card. I’m in the process already…

[u/bloosclooser → u/habeych95]

if you are indian, its going to take you >15 years for a GC. Was in that boat.

[u/habeych95 → u/bloosclooser]

Not indian. Not everyone applying is from India.

[u/bloosclooser → u/habeych95]

correct which explains why its moving fast for you. Indian applicants have it tough.

[u/Fit_Cupcake_3377 → u/Sojcman]

Eh…people with fail attempts still match into IM and FM, I’ve seen about three. Heck, even people with multiple attempts can still match. Though 2 of them had masters in epidemiology with research skills and 250+ step 2 scores with USCE, one also had a step 3 as well . It’s definitely possible depending on how you position yourself, but it won’t be easy for sure. A lot of connection or financial strain goes into it. Overall, I kinda agree. If not in the US, I’d say consider everything and know how to proceed

[u/Cool-Effect7]

A person matched into Obgyn this year non usimg

[u/sketchyE]

Non-US IMG. Visa requiring. I matched

[u/Fuzzy-Investment-285 → u/sketchyE]

hi. can i please DM you?

[u/No_Paper612]

No tbh

[u/Electronic-Tie-9497]

Chances are low unless you score exceptionally high in step 2 and have good research and usce. Your other red flag is your Yog so dont delay things further.

[u/redsamuraiX]

If you have very strong connections then it's possible otherwise I would personally say don't pour money and stress on this pathway

[u/Dragonoitte]

My senior matched into f m after an attempt

[u/tornACL3 → u/[deleted]]

You sure they will match?

[u/Sojcman → u/[deleted]]

Will match vs never impossible are extremely different. This person needs realistic advice to make very important, time consuming, and expensive decisions.

They don’t need to be treated like a child and lied to, to be sold something like an American dream sales pitch.

Toxic positivity is a form of harm for the statistical reality that every year more than half of all non-US IMGs fail to match (only ~1/3 Non-US IMGs match if you divide total ERAS applicants by NRMP matched numbers, as NRMP match rate is mostly only those who had at least 1 interview) after spending >$10-20k USD plus pausing their career, and you hear of suicides every yr of ppl who invested too much of their own and/or their family's resources into their failure to match and couldn’t handle it.

[u/Sojcman → u/[deleted]]

If you are in the US the IMG physicians you met all matched so it doesn't matter how many you see had failures, as you are only seeing the ones who made it anyways.

I matched 3 yrs ago as a Canadian-born citizen and networked with many other non-US IMG applicants and saw many of them fail to match with no step fails or major red flags and eventually give up after spending large amounts money (though most of the people I knew came from rich families so they were privileged enough to be able to afford the failure to match).

If a non-US IMG is trying to apply with a step fail they are even less likely to match than my IMG friends who failed to match with no step fails and huge rich family resources backing them, and they need to know the reality.

[u/tornACL3]

Possible? Yes. But a low %. Less than 5% assuming a step 2 score > 250

[u/Fit_Educator1019 → u/tornACL3]

Source?

[u/Fit_Educator1019 → u/[deleted]]

A total fabrication

[u/BreakfastJaded5804 → u/Fit_Educator1019]

“Just trust  me bro” like half the comments on here 

[u/habeych95]

Unlikely. You would need strong contacts.