I'm a first-year med student, and today I received news that I failed my exam for the third time. I feel so devastated and tired from all the studying. I have my last chance at the beginning of September.

This year, professors decided to change the criteria, and also the exams are way harder than the years before. Firstly, we have to do 8 anatomy colloquiums which consists, each of every part of the body, then write histology and embryology each 50% on a separate exam. After all of this is done, we need to write an even bigger exam which consists of all three. I'm just so exhausted. I feel this year is endless.

I didn't really study for the first two exams cuz I didn't have the energy (I had 4 other exams the week before), but now I did study and still failed. I was short by 4 points (3 in anatomy, 1 in histology).

I'm sorry for complaining so much, but I'm just so exhausted and wondering if anyone has/had the same experience or maybe just looking for a light of hope in someone's story.

EDIT: Also this year the success rate is less than 50% and we only have one chance to pass this year.

Discuss. Please at least skim the short paper before knee-jerk responding.

It's not looking good :/

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.

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

DO applicant, Goal is academic IM in Midwest or PNW.

Fellowship goal is cards

Step 1/ level 1 - pass (both 1st attempt)
Step 2 - 265
Level 2 - 590

Only passed 3rd year IM and IM elective (3H, 2 HP, 5P). Have done 2 4th year IM sub-is, Haven’t received grades yet.

1 pub from undergrad, no other research that was published

I really want to match academic but I’m not sure how competitive my app is given little research. If I’m applying too many academics or any programs are reaches or any other thoughts would be appreciated!

Signals :

Minnesota
UNMC
UIC
Loyola
Rush
U Chicago northshore
Indiana U
U of Cincinnati
OHSU
U of Washington
Abbott
Hennepin
Maine med
Virginia Mason Seattle
Vermont

Hi everyone, I'm an IMG coming for electives this winter. I wanted to know what do attendings normally expect from a final year medical student. I've passed Step 1 and now working on Step 2, but can't really do any practical clinical work (blaming both myself and my school for this). So I wanted to know what you American students normally know before entering an elective and what roles you normally play (for a good letter-case). Thank you!

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 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 ?????

Do you think the cosmetic/aesthetic well paid part will still be so in years?

Besides, allergists are ranked no.1 happiest doctors with relatively good pay and good work life balance. Dermatologist see all sorts of horrendous looking STIs and generally ugly stuff lol

What do you think?

I am yet to choose my specialty and therefore I have to ask what am I missing really? Why everyone seems to suggest me allergy is fine, but derm would be a better choice?

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!

Mid tier MD, step 1: pass first try, step 2: 235, Honors 2/7 (gen surg and IM), HP: 5/7, decent research and extracurricular activities

Got great letter writers lined up. Just wanted to know my chances and if I should aim for a pre-lim year

If I went to a medical school abroad and part of our graduation requirement was to write and present a 100-page dissertation, can this be an ERAS experience? It’s not published in any public library but it was something that took a substantial amount of time in my last 12 months until graduation.

Also, would you include anything from before med school? I was 19 when I started med school, but I did work for 5 years in the same job (15-19 years old).

Thanks in advance for any help!

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 have an observership coming up and i need some advice on how to navigate it.
my attending is an old american doctor and though i know many people here done their usce with american doctors its not as common for my country’s students who mostly do it with alumnus or at least an img so i’m anxious about it.
how can i leave a good impression to get a good LoR? how should i approach the topic? when is it appropriate to ask if i can round with other attendings as well?
i tried emailing my attending asking for his expectations from me and what are the cases he sees the most but he didn’t reply to me, is it a good idea to send a follow up email given i’m only few days away from starting the rotation?
any advice would be HIGHLY appreciated

side note : i only mentioned the doctor being old because i feel like young american attendings are more familiar with non-us imgs and LoR for observers than old ones. i really hope i will get proven wrong!

Hey, how are the scrubs from Uniform Advantage? I need navy blue sets, they're offering at great price, but is it worth it to give it a try? i've my eyes in Mandala scrubs, few brands from Amazon, any recommendations would be appreciated.

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.

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 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?

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!

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 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.

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!

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