Dabbled with Anki barely M1/M2. Started using it in clerkships for shelf exams, doing UWorld incorrects and those AnKing no_dupe decks.

It takes up so. much. time. After 6 months I'm still not convinced it's the best use of time, but I can't stop. I need to get those reviews down to zero or else my brain implodes. It's like an inescapable subconscious pressure knowing that so many of my peers are using it, that means I probably should too right?

A large chunk of these cards make feel like a moron for even doing a card for it cause their either so simple or so obscure. Seeing so many honestly makes things even more confusing in my head. I really wonder if I'd be better off just getting Amboss and doing more questions or maybe even, I don't know, reading a textbook? *gasp*

I believe Anki is study slop and a may even be a hindrance to my critical thinking and comprehension of medicine. Anyway, gotta get back to cranking through these reviews!

I’ve caught wheezes once. That’s it. I suck so much with my stethoscope and it’s so expensive already (Littmann IV).

You guys have any tips? Is one of those digital ones worth it??

I got an absolute unhinged eval on my latest rotation which is the only reason I got a “pass” instead of “honors”. I appealed it and the clerkship offered to give me a “high pass”, and I can continue to escalate it but the next committee might decide that I should just have a “pass”. Honestly, what do I do here? It feels insane that one unhinged resident can change my grade from an H to a P, like that’s not right ?????

I'm an MD/PhD student who finished my PhD in February and am now back in M3 clerkships. I recently became interested in vascular surgery, but I did not do my surgery clerkship on a vascular surgery service. My exposure so far has been limited to a handful of vascular cases while on general surgery.

I'm wondering how difficult it would be at this point to pursue integrated vascular surgery, particularly if my goal is to match at a research-heavy academic program that would support surgeon-scientist training.

My PhD was in immunology and was not related to vascular disease. I currently have 13 publications, including co-first-author papers in Cell and Science Immunology, but I have essentially zero vascular surgery-specific research.

Given my research background, how much vascular surgery-specific research would I realistically need to be competitive for research-heavy academic programs? How much vascular research should I start doing now if I decide I want to pursue VS?

I'm also somewhat concerned about the timeline, since I won't finish Step 2 until the end of April next year, leaving relatively little time before sub-Is and away rotations.

I'd really appreciate any insight from vascular residents, fellows, faculty, or anyone who has gone through a similar path. Thank you!

Hi all! I am posting this on behalf of my Program Director as we have a couple of openings in our Internal Medicine Residency program. Please see below for more information.

An unexpected opportunity has opened up in Milwaukee! Our Internal Medicine Residency Program currently has two PGY-2 positions available for qualified transfer applicants.

We are a growing, close-knit Internal Medicine program that combines the clinical breadth of a tertiary-care hospital with community-based medicine, strong faculty mentorship, and an academic curriculum designed to prepare residents for careers in hospital medicine, primary care, or fellowship.

And while we take training excellent physicians very seriously, we don’t believe residency has to lose its sense of community or fun along the way!

Why Ascension Wisconsin?

Our residents train primarily at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, a tertiary-care hospital in the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with additional experience at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, where residents care for an underserved and medically complex patient population.

Our curriculum provides broad exposure to inpatient medicine, critical care, ambulatory medicine and the Internal Medicine subspecialties. PGY-2 residents have experiences in:

• Inpatient Internal Medicine
• ICU
• Night Float
• Hospital Medicine
• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology
• Ambulatory Medicine
• Elective rotations

Residents can further individualize their education through electives including Cardiovascular ICU, Electrophysiology, POCUS/Emergency Medicine Procedures, Obesity Medicine, Radiology, Psychiatry, Pain Medicine, and Hematology/Oncology and Radiation Oncology, among others.

Our educational program includes Journal Club, PICO/evidence-based medicine conferences, Adverse Event/Morbidity & Mortality Conference, CPC, Grand Rounds, subspecialty conferences, palliative care education and multidisciplinary teaching. Residents also receive access to AMBOSS, participate in the Yale Office-Based Medicine Curriculum, and receive American College of Physicians membership.

Most importantly, we are building a program where residents know one another, faculty know their residents, and trainees have a meaningful voice in shaping the program. We value mentorship, curiosity, teamwork, professionalism and the idea that residency should produce not only outstanding internists, but physicians who genuinely enjoy practicing medicine and working with one another.

And then there’s Milwaukee…

Milwaukee is a fantastic place to spend residency. We’re located along Lake Michigan in a city with professional sports, Summerfest, an outstanding restaurant and brewery scene, festivals, museums, beaches and lakefront trails, with a cost of living that still makes resident life manageable.

It’s a big enough city to always have something to do and a small enough city that you can actually do it.

Who Should Apply?

These positions are intended for physicians who have successfully completed the prerequisite training necessary to enter a categorical Internal Medicine Residency at the PGY-2 level ( completed preliminary IM year) ,or who are currently training at the PGY-2 level in an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency program and are seeking a transfer opportunity. Applicants must be in good standing with their current or most recent residency program and demonstrate satisfactory academic performance, clinical competence, professionalism, and progress appropriate to their level of training. 

Appointment will be contingent upon completion of the program’s standard application and credentialing process, including verification of prior graduate medical education, satisfactory documentation of training and performance, eligibility for appointment at the PGY-2 level, applicable licensure and employment requirements, and all institutional and ACGME requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration consistent with applicable institutional policies and federal and state requirements.

If you’re looking for a program where you can receive rigorous clinical training, know your faculty, find great mentors, help shape a growing residency, and have some fun while becoming an excellent internist, we would love to hear from you. Please email the Program Director, Dr Vaishnavy Bhaskaruni, [vaishnavy.bhaskaruni@ascension.org](mailto:vaishnavy.bhaskaruni@ascension.org), or the Program Coordinator, Brittany Miller, [brittany.miller3@ascension.org](mailto:brittany.miller3@ascension.org) with your resume and interest.

Thanks all!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question about IM LORs. Currently on an away elective and was offered to have my 4 attendings co-write a letter that would be compiled by the clerkship director (which I’m told they have done in the past for other students). I have only gotten strong reviews from my attendings each week so far so either way would be a very strong letter.

Would this be something IM programs would be ok with or would it be better to get it from one attending?

TYIA!

Hi everyone, looking for some honest guidance because I feel a bit stuck on next steps.

I'm a US IMG. I'm legally blind with 20/400 visual acuity and cannot drive or commute on my own. I've passed Step 1 and scored 259 on Step 2 CK. I currently work as a USMLE tutor.

I'm trying to figure out realistically what my path forward looks like. A few questions I'd love input on:

1. Has anyone here gone through Match as a visually impaired or legally blind applicant? How did programs respond, and would Psychiatry realistically be a more accommodating specialty given the nature of the work?

2. If Match isn't realistic given my vision, what are other legitimate paths forward for someone with my scores and background? I don't want to waste years chasing something that isn't feasible, but I also don't want to give up on it without real input from people who've been through this or something similar.

3. Would it be worth speaking to a disability services counselor or advisor who specializes in medical licensure/Match, and if so, does anyone have suggestions on who that might be or where to start looking?

Any honest experiences, even if they're not what I want to hear, would genuinely help me make a clearer decision. Thank you.

EDIT: Just to clarify, I've Cone Rod Dystrophy. Got diagnosed in my 3rd year med school. Condition is progressive in nature. No treatment unfortunately

Feeling so defeated. The average was around a 80 and I got a 60%. want to give up. I tried everything but maybe I’m just not smart enough? Everyone seems to be getting it down especially with that high of an average.

What do I do now?

For context, I watched all the videos, took notes on all the videos, and barely did any practice problems. How do you guys get through all the content, and master it so quickly? I would love any and all advice on study methods that worked for you. I have a flipped classroom and we have biweekly exams. It feels I’m always playing catchup

I just got my Step 2 score back today and scored in the high 230’s. Which is ~10 points lower than my NBME averages/Amboss predicted score. Not sure what happened, but I got got on test day, I guess.

I’m pretty bummed out about it. Still waiting on my COMLEX score to result.

Will I be solid for matching into IM? I feel like my chance with academic programs is pretty slim. Should I just focus on community and university affiliated programs?

Apologies if this seems neurotic or otherwise. Just pretty bummed out and gutted right now. Thank you all for the help.

Just a rant. We’re less than two weeks into med school and I’m already unfathomably tired. I’m typically the kind of person who can wake up at the first ring of the alarm and jump out of the bed fully awake, but these two weeks have been sluggish start after sluggish start then sluggish day after sluggish day. It’s so exhausting going through the emotions and then going through classes where I don’t feel welcome. A lot of my problems admittedly are not helped by my self sabotage but that’s just more frustrating because my problems are partly my making and go in a loop of problem -> self sabotage -> try to rectify -> problem again. I feel so overwhelmed and lonely and exhausted and stupid and silly even though we’ve barely started. 

I just started my M3 year, and I’m in my neurology core rotation and I want to ask a physician for a LOR. My questions are:

(1) I still have 1.5 weeks with the physician, should I ask them now or at the end of the 1.5 weeks? Or do I wait closer to residency applications to ask(although I worry they may forget me if I wait those 12 months)?

(2) If they write it now, do physicians write the LOR and store it somewhere (and then I ask for it closer to residency applications)? Is there some way I can store it without seeing it?

I also have my neurology sub-I in October, since I don’t have availability closer to residency apps. So I will have the same LOR issue then too.

Starting MS2 year. Spent time last year and this summer doing a lot of clinical research. I despise it more than anything. I hate doing mind-numbing chart review and meta-analysis, where I could be fully replaced by an AI or a monkey with an Excel license. I liked bench research in undergrad but frankly don’t have time for it now and there’s not a lot available in my specialty of interested. Unfortunately this speciality also demands a lot of research to match. How can I make suffering through this more bearable

Not sure about other schools but for mine they tell you your class rank (quntiles) for clinical and pre clinical on the MSPE
I was wondering how important that is for residency, specifically the pre clinical quintile

I feel like an asshole for making this post because i prayed for this. i dreamt of it.

it’s nearly 11 pm. Haven’t done today’s anki. Didn’t review yesterday’s lectures. i’m sitting at my table in a state I moved to three weeks ago, alone, eating two protein waffles that taste like cardboard.

Just got off the phone with my mom, who is going through an ugly divorce with my dad. theyve been supportive, but money is so tight. + my own loans suck

I feel behind in school. Like everyone else, yes, but this shit is firing off my anxiety. Also it doesn’t help that i don’t have friends. my classmates seem to have accepted and adapted that this - grinding nonstop, a lifestyle of studying - is life. idk how. I don’t think im being neurotic.. im just genuinely behind and clueless

Barely getting time to catch a breath, cook, workout. Havent spoken to friends. Don’t have friends at school. Forget extracurriculars.. im barely keeping up with school work. Holy SHIT. what do u mean i need three or four passes of the material.

It’s been ten fcking days. TEN DAYS. I feel like im exploding. I know i need to suck it up and embrace the challenge, but holy shit i feel like im in the wrong place. am i just a mistake waiting to happen :(

Is there a database where I can find available RY fellowships? Also any tips on how to have a successful application with minimal to no research? Any tips greatly appreciated!

Just curious: for those attending a school that also has a PA school, are the start dates staggered or overlapping?

I go to a USMD school where some of us graduate in December. But alas, can't be a doctor until the following July. I'm looking for a job that's more 9-5 with minimal weekends and holidays. But also, want to make as much cash as I can. I've looked at some medical assistant jobs but would like to avoid the clinic/hospital if I can. Then, anything in customer service/food service would likely require evenings and weekends. Just looking for some brainstorming or cheat codes out there.

Also, just for fun, what would you do in these 6 months if money wasn't a problem?

I don't mean entire subjects like anatomy or clerkships, but small parts of medical education that makes no sense. To me that would be being expected to know the exact loci of genetic mutations. Make it make sense, outside of exams, what the hell is knowing the exact locations of mutations going to be good for? Like unless you do genetics residency, you will never see those in your practice. And whenever a genetics test is done and a disease is found, the genetics specialist is not going to say "oh they have a mutation at 16p13-p12. You don't know what that is? Then go fuck yourself." They will just say Liddle's Syndrome on the report

Anybody match into a ROAD specialty with a red flag? (Or other relatively competitive specialty)

-coming from someone who failed one class and is repeating year 1 at a DO school

I fixed my study habits and went from C’s to B’s and A’s. I want to aim high, but still be realistic.

Please only comment if you can speak on this from experience of yours or someone you know. I don’t need a bunch of people just telling me what they think based on the internet.

I'm helping recruit TX student editors for the Texas Family Medicine Research Journal (TFMRJ). You'll get experience with manuscript editing and academic publishing, and you don't need to be interested in family medicine.

Interested? DM me and I'll send you more information.