Hi everyone!
I’m an IMG who graduated from a European medical school in 2025. I’ve passed Step 1 in 2025 and I’m planning to take Step 2 CK in late June this year. Since graduation I’ve been applying for jobs in the UK, Ireland and Australia with no luck, so I’m starting to look into the US pathway more seriously.
I’m interested in IM or Peds, but I’m starting to worry my timeline for the 2026–2027 Match might be too tight. I currently don’t have any USCE or US LORs (I have LORs from profs/drs from my medical school but I heard non-US LORs are considered “weak”), and the earliest I’d realistically be able to do observerships would be July–September this year.
My biggest concern is how my YOG and lack of post-grad clinics experience might affect my chances of matching, especially if I delay applying by a year.
That doesn’t leave much time before ERAS submission to secure strong LORs, and I’m concerned that rushed LORs could hurt my application. I also have minimal research experience.
So I’m deciding between:
Option 1: Get whatever observerships I can during July–September this year, secure LORs, and apply this cycle.
Option 2: Take an extra year, aim for a strong Step 2 CK score, gain more meaningful USCE and stronger all US LORs and apply for the 2027–2028 Match.
Would really appreciate advice, especially from IMGs or those who matched into IM/Peds. Is it worth trying this cycle, or better to take the extra year and strengthen everything properly?
Thanks in advance!!