Quote:
Originally Posted by AUCMD2006
top residencies are tough to get for US grads, they are tougher to get for us making competitive matches anomalies rather than the norm. if you want a highly competitive residency like derm ortho opthto plastics then foreign schools will likely not get you there. for competitive residencies like ER, rads, surgery a foreign school may get you there with great board scores and for obgyn, im, fp, peds, psych then a foreign school is a good alternative to reaching your goals
so first look at US MD/DO schools then i would look at "real" foreign schools that take US students in israel, ireland, australia then the schols with cali approval, then schools with new york, then reasses my qualifications and try again from the top and if all else fails start down further in the list
also tafkas residency is competitive and i know i don't have the scores for it but by no means is it the be all and end all. it is a competitive residency at a community hospital and very doable with great board scores...definitely within reach, just look at match lists from other schools for rads, er, surgery.
not trying to negate the accomplishement but when you are a pre med things are not in good perspective from down there...like the fact that living in england for 2 years seems to stand out more to you than things that really matter and will affect your 40 years in practice
good luck man being post call sucks..slept during the day now i can't sleep
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Good pragmatic advice. I am somewhat familiar with Tafka and his residency program. The hospital is large and well funded in a affluent area and one of the most preferred in that area, out of a region of many hospitals. It should also be noted that Tafka (like other posters said, correctly) more probably arrived due to his stellar board scores and his laser beam like focus on medicine and his career. I might even suggest that he made it as far as he has, inspite of any perceived negatives that may be attached to his medical school affiliation.
You should be looking elsewhere for a good medical school choice - at this point. The priority list noted above by AUCMD2006 is a good one to use.
And as for your family connections, your family's monetary situation, strings being pulled, nepotism "the fun and ease of school and the prestige of a great life, making great coin, having some arm candy, a hot car, and phat crib" etc. Best if you keep those as private thoughts, if it all.
Voicing these things make you seem a whole lot less credible in the eyes of others, who are likely to question your maturity level and ability to make good judgements etc. All crucial in the medical field! (I mention this not to be critical, just to give you some helpful feedback on how an impartial observer might view you).
Good luck on your decision making. Avail yourself of the good advice noted by the older posters who have been where you are now, and have learned some lessons along the way.