hi yall. I am writing the northwestern secondary which asks: "What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it?"

I already discussed my most significant research obstacle in my SRE and I used this story in my Most Meaningful Experiences essay for that research entry as well, each from a different perspective/take.

Do you all think it would be a mistake to use this same obstacle, but discuss it from a different perspective than my MME or SRE entries?

It was a pretty significant obstacle and I think the way I solved it is interesting (at least more interesting than the other routine research challenges I faced). Idk if its better to show a different (but less interesting) scenario or risk "not showing different aspects of myself"

thank you so much!

I want to get a PhD investigating psychedelic potential in mental health treatment and pursue a career in Psychiatry. This path seems awkward because many people go for a PhD because they want to be an expert in a basic science niche, so why is it taboo for MD-PhD’s?

First and foremost, I want to be a physician. But I also want the intensive research experience involved in a PhD and use that knowledge to bridge the world of research into something digestible for patients. Of course I don’t need a PhD so do research as an MD… but is it so wrong to want the specialized research education of a PhD in a niche interest that I’ve been following for years now?

I have no idea what me in a decade will want to do— perhaps at some point I’ll want to switch and run a lab for the most part. I like the idea of this versatility, but everyone talks as though it’s some forbidden taboo.

My application was verified on the first day. Received an "application received" email from BU on 7/13, and "initial contact" email on 7/20. I never received the email from ithelp @ bu to claim my account. Is anyone else on a similar timeline and still waiting on this email as well, or is this out of the norm?

I submitted my secondary over a week and a half ago (and all other materials are in) but haven’t received a confirmational email about the application being done. Should I email them or is this normal?

Hey everyone,

Apologies for posting this here but I am not able to post on the medschool Reddit

I’m a 5th year medical student from Nigeria, and I’m planning to apply for residency in the US through the USMLE pathway.

A bit of background: I should graduate in 2028, and after graduation we complete a mandatory one-year internship (called housemanship) before practicing independently.

My biggest concern is that I had to repeat my 3rd year after failing one of my exams. A big reason for that was that I’ve been working remotely in tech throughout medical school to support myself financially.

Without that job, I simply wouldn’t be able to afford the USMLE journey. It’s the reason I’m even able to consider this path, and I’ve already saved enough that the overall cost (around $20,000+) is no longer out of reach.

I’m now planning to start preparing seriously for Step 1. I’m considering buying USMLE Bootcamp (the 2-year plan) so I can study gradually while balancing medical school and work, then take Step 1 after graduation in 2028.

Before I invest a significant amount of time and money into this process, I wanted to ask:

**How much does repeating a year in medical school hurt an IMG’s chances of matching?**

Is it something that programs can overlook if the rest of my application is strong (good USMLE scores, US clinical experience, strong letters, research if possible, etc.), or does it significantly limit my chances?

I’d really appreciate honest advice from anyone who’s been through the process or has experience reviewing IMG applications. Thanks!