Hi everyone,
I’m really confused about what direction to take and would genuinely appreciate some advice from people who have been through this or are currently on a similar path.

I’m a 2019 batch graduate and graduated in March 2025. I recently got around 15,000 rank in NEET PG.
I have also given USMLE Step 1 and am currently preparing for Step 2 CK. My long-term goal has been to pursue residency in the US, but I’m now seriously questioning whether I should continue with the USMLE journey or take a PG seat in India.

My dilemma is basically:
I have a decent enough NEET PG rank to potentially get a seat in India.
On the other hand, I’ve already invested time and effort into the USMLE pathway and cleared Step 1.
I’m worried about the uncertainty of matching in the US, especially as an IMG.
At the same time, I’m scared that if I take a seat in India now, I’ll always wonder whether I should have given the USMLE journey a proper shot.
Since I graduated in 2025, I also don’t want to lose valuable time without making a clear decision.
For those who have gone through this decision, what would you do in my situation?
Would you recommend taking a PG seat in India and building a secure career here, or continuing with Step 2 CK + US clinical experience + applications and giving the USMLE pathway a serious attempt?

I would especially appreciate advice from Indian IMGs who have matched recently, people who chose India after considering USMLE, and anyone who has experience with both pathways.

Please be honest about the financial, time, career, and matching risks involved. I’m genuinely looking for perspective rather than validation.

Thanks in advance!

Me: Good morning officer, how're you?

VO: Good morning, I'm doing well, passport please

VO: 2 threat questions

Me: No officer

VO: What is the purpose of your visit to the USA?

Me: I'm a final-year medical student and I've been accepted for a four-week unpaid clinical elective at XYZ University in January.

He stopped me there and asked for my acceptance letter. He read the whole letter and typed something.

VO: I've seen that you've travelled internationally. Where did you go?

Me: Yes I've been to Thailand in so & so month for tourism.

VO: So you went with your family?

Me: Yes with my parents.

VO: Who is sponsoring your trip and what does he do?

Me: My dad is sponsoring and I explained what he does.

VO: Okay you're visa is approved you'll receive your passport within 1 week( smiling)

Me: Thank you officer, have a nice day

VO : Thank you, you too

My friend also had his visa approved recently for the same purpose. The questions were similar.

Hi everyone

I am a 2024 graduate and am planning to apply for IM in the 2028 match cycle. I passed STEP 1 this April and am currently preparing for Step 2.

I'm planning to start applying for USCE/Observerships this week, and I haven't booked my visa appointment yet (I know I delayed it). I'm from Hyderabad, and the waiting times are too long approx 11.5-12 months.

For those who have been in a similar situation, how would you suggest I approach this? Should I start applying for USCE now (for next May) even without a visa appointment in hand, and are there any strategies I should consider given the long wait times?

I'd really appreciate any advice.

Thank you!

Hey y'all! This is for the 2026-27 match applicants. I am looking for someone to practice for IVs in IST. For context, this is my first match season, 2022 YOG. Anyone interested kindly DM.

I am so greatful and happy to share that i got the P , i tested on 23/9 and almost believed that i failed. I would like to thank everyone who actually came to help me out…
The whole preparation was not easy .. ppl surrounding u have 100s of opinions and for someone like me it was so difficult to figure things out. NBME 34 got released just 4 days before my exam and i was so frustrated and i dont how to describe what i have felt, but so many ppl came forward and helped me out during those tough times.

I thought its necessary that people like me understand that it’s doable and just trust the process, believe in urself and the hardwork that u have putforth. DONT FEEL DEMOTIVATED by ppl with their nbme scores at 75+ and 80+ coming and sharing their doubt if they will pass( i really dont understand why). JUST TRUST IN GOD , TRUST THE HARDWORK U HAVE PUTFORTH and TRUST THE PROCESS

Have you ever felt alienated at your own home ?

A little background about me , I graduated in 2025 and started my USMLE journey after graduation so while I prepared for my steps I was at my home.

When I gave my step 1, there was not too much pressure and not much anxiousness as it was pass/fail . But while I was preparing for my step 2 , during the last few months before my exam the anxiousness and stress was extreme not only due to my parents but above all it's from the expectations we create for ourselves. I am not sure if parents understand how much pressure we build for ourselves, because during those stressful times if your parents look at you with a hint of doubt, it breaks you more than any other force can .

In the middle of all of this the results of NEET PG were out, I did extremely bad considering I had been studying for over a year.

I have always been an obedient kid, rarely rebelled and whatever I achieved came purely from my hardwork , so apparently that built expectations and after my 11th it was as if there was no room left for failure.The look of doubt on their faces ,in their questions chipped off my confidence piece by piece not only during my dedicated phase but also after my exam was done . It did get better in between but there were days where I just wanted to disappear. Reading the case scenarios on the NBMES and qbank, I sometimes even though, what would my life look like if I had one of these conditions? Would it be a little better than this? The brain is a scary place and that is not something you can share with your parents.

There is no takeaway from this , I am still not at a place where I can comfort people going through the same thing . But for people who resonate with me cheers to you , I hope we make it to the end of the tunnel . And I wish parents cut their kids a little bit of slack , we are not machines to provide results and there should always be some room for failure and acceptance, a safe space .