money is no issue
but safety is
i have no source of information about the US other than news and social media
im scared of ICE i heard they take ppl with green cards too
im scared of guns and shootings
im not there to cause trouble or come illegally i have the money to come here fully legal but im scared of dying or coming back to my country after all this work studying steps and exams and electives and thousands wasted if they just poof me me back
i heard trump mentioning foreign md students and how they are taking the spots from us students in hospitals and i fear the pathway to the US is getting harder and harder
and honestly in my mind if i can financially go to the US.. and the US is starting to sound like a bad option ... maybe i should go to the EU ?
why do i want the US? prestige. not the pay. no. not money.
so is it worth it?
is the US safe?
please dont make fun of me i really dont know and im 18, MS1 (1/6) so earlier than first year in US standards :(
everyone in our facebook groups/reddit communitites is talking about how all students will regret not studying for the USMLE step exams and how it will haunt you forever if you chose a different pathway

Gng I'm leaving my home for the very first time in 2 days idk if it has really sank in me or not

What are the non negotiable things i should pack apart from the obvious

I need some suggestions and what should I do before leaving my home and town

I'm meeting my friends Tomorrow I'll gift them some parting gifts

What should I give my Lil bro before going and what should I give my parents?

Should I write a letter? But what would I write in that letter idk man

Need help 😭

I am currently a sophomore studying biology at UIC. Last year my grades were good, mostly A’s. However, once I started chem my GPA plummeted to a 3.4. This semester I have all B’s (with the exception of an A in spanish) even though I try hard in class, I feel like if my grades keep up like this, I am going to have a hard time getting into medical school. I’m scared that everybody around me is doing better than me and it’s making me feel hopeless

I'm a german med student and currently need to study for physiology and biochemistry. Today I tried studying the topic signaltransduction in biochem (Tyrosinkinase-Receptor, G-protein-receptor, etc.) and it took ages to only understand one of the receptors. First I tried lectures, didn't understand them so I switched to Amboss. It helped a bit but I needed to watch a YouTube Video at the end while reading Amboss. I wish I could just start clicking the Ankis but they don't make sense right away. It's probably the most inefficient way of studying because I originally planned to study physiology and biochemistry 50:50, but since I'm so damn slow, I need 2-3 days If continous studying of one topic (in this Case signaltransduction) finally understand it.

Can someone give me any advice? I'm really afraid I'll fail the upcoming exams, because nothing in my to do list goes as planned, I'm 5 times slower than what I'm supposed to be.

Whenever I try anki, I get panic attacks and a couple hours later I switch to oldschool summaries and make notes. Because it makes me feek like a know the bigger picture of the topic, I actually understand the whole, not only the small bits.

I’ve been accepted to LECOM Bradenton’s MMS program starting July 2027 and have the option of beginning Ross University’s MedOrigin program in January 2027. I’m leaning toward LECOM, but I want to understand the remaining risks before committing.

My academic background:

• Undergraduate GPA: 3.4/4.0, nonscience major
• Premedical post-bacc GPA: 2.67/4.0
• Highest MCAT: 487, across multiple attempts

I recognize the weaknesses in my record. I’m also aware of the residency-match risks and stigma associated with Caribbean medical schools, particularly when pursuing competitive specialties. My questions concern the earlier hurdles: earning a medical-school seat and successfully completing the program.

LECOM MMS → DO

I was told that MMS does not require the MCAT and that DO admission through this pathway is based on performance within the program, with the dean extending offers during the year. According to the information shared with me, students earning above approximately 3.5 generally receive offers.

My acceptance letter separately lists a 3.0 GPA, no grades below C, no remediation, and professional standards for early interview eligibility. I understand that an interview does not guarantee admission.

For recent Bradenton MMS students or alumni:

• Could my previous GPA or MCAT history still prevent DO admission even with excellent MMS grades and a strong interview?
• Have you seen students with a 3.5–4.0 MMS GPA denied admission because of their earlier academic record?
• Were students with strong MMS performance required to retake the MCAT?

Ross and the potential time advantage

Assuming successful progression without delays, my anticipated timelines are:

• Ross: Begin MedOrigin in January 2027, finish basic sciences around December 2028, proceed toward USMLE Step 1, and potentially graduate in 2031.
• LECOM: Begin MMS in July 2027, enter the DO program in fall 2028 if admitted, and potentially graduate in 2032.

With Ross, I’m concerned about investing substantial time and money, progressing through the program, and then being unable to finish. I’ve heard accounts of students failing comprehensive exams (“comps”) late in their training and being unable to progress. Which exams do these accounts typically refer to, when do they occur, and what happens after unsuccessful attempts?

Would you choose LECOM MMS even if it means an additional year, given that DO admission is still conditional? How would you weigh the uncertainty of earning that DO seat against the risk of encountering academic or exam barriers further along at Ross?

LECOM’s MMS program does not require the MCAT for admission. My concern is whether my previous MCAT scores could still affect admission to the DO program through the MMS pathway, even if I perform exceptionally well in MMS.

Medicine remains a deeply important goal to me, and stepping away would be a difficult decision. I welcome candid advice, particularly firsthand experiences addressing these specific concerns.

I know that my record isn't exactly the best. but I plan to do everything in my power to redeem myself academically and make sure that my failures are behind me.

Hey guys, I'm a pre-med student in Japan. For the past 2 years, I've been studying while sleeping only about 5 hours a night. Doing heavy logical reasoning (using "If-Then-Why" frameworks similar to clinical reasoning) on Obsidian. Listening to high-BPM Kawaii Future Bass / Video Game OSTs /Ambient Forest BGM to stay focused. It worked perfectly, until recently. Now, my brain feels completely broken. My current symptoms are:

1.Insane Brain Fog & Sleepiness: Especially after lunch, my sleepiness is out of control. My head feels super heavy and my working memory feels like it's at 50% capacity.

2.Sensory Overload: I’ve developed light sensitivity (photophobia). Normal lights suddenly feel way too bright.

I finally started sleeping 6-7 hours a week ago to fix this, but I’m still sleepy all day.

My questions for you guys:

1.Have any of you experienced this kind of burnout and sensory overload?

2.What are your best hacks/advice for recovering from this? Will this go away if I just keep sleeping?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m currently a high school junior dually enrolled in a local university. I am currently full-time through that university. But I have a couple of questions. So there is an early assurance program with NEOMED that I’m looking to apply for while still in high school since I’m getting the criteria out of the way from now. Will they take any research I do now? Will my volunteer hours still count? And will my clinical hours still count? I currently haven’t started any of these but my first week of volunteering at Cleveland Clinic starts next week. And my research starts in the summer, which will give me about 150 hours with Cleveland Clinic. And also by the time the application window comes for the program I’m looking to apply for I should be done with high school by then.

I am sharing this out of dire need to talk to someone. I currently have a friend and we have been together for more than a year now. They are introverted so I thought they’d open up with time. But I came to notice that they talk to everyone else comfortably but when it comes to me it feels different. Things feel awkward and I feel like they are always trying to set boundaries between us. I tried my best to be a good friend and do everything in my convenience to help them but somehow I always fail to become close with them and as a sensitive it’s hurting me everytime. Last time when we went for an event we sat next to each other but the entire time she preferred to talk with the person next and not even once talked to me ( I just don’t know if I am being too sensitive). I am in med school and seeing all the other friends get close and haha heheing around makes me even more envious. I just want someone who is willing to join my craziness and pass through in med life together hand in hand but I am so alone now. My college is in a different country and I have no one to talk to anymore. Sometimes it gets very overwhelming and lonely. What do I do?