Can any Polish medical school alumnis share some of their experiences with getting a residency in the US. I hear from some places that US citizens studying in foreign medical schools is a very bad choice and others say it has a limited effect on obtaining a solid residency. Can anyone share?

If you're planning on a super-competitive residency, then your chances are slim unless you have some connections.

However, if you're planning on a not-so-competitive residency like say psychiatry, family medicine, or pediatrics and you have solid USMLE scores, then you'll be fine. That is, provided that you choose from a good mix of academic and community training programs and in various locations that are open to foreign grads.

__________________
Class of 2008, 4yr MD
Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Poznan, Poland

Student Website: www.poznanmedicine.org

University Website: www.ump.edu.pl

NY Admissions Office Website: www.mdprogram.com

"Dispel from your mind the thought that an understanding of the human body in every aspect of its structure can be given in words..."

- Leonardo da Vinci

A good USMLE score can give you a chance to think about more competitive residencies. My friend ( who graduated from my university PAM ) has just begun the anesthesiology residency program.

__________________
Medical student
Szczecin, Poland
http://www.pam.szczecin.pl/
http://www.pmuweb.com/

Intenal, OBGYN, Family, Peds and Surgery are all possible. I know folks from my class with interviews in all of these. I have had 18 offers to interview and my scores are just over 200 and in the 80's. There is much more to it than scores. They look at the whole package. My background has been more the topic than my scores or grades.

Hey Narcan,

That's encouraging to hear. Since you're going through the residency process now, are they any tips for a first year medical student studying in a foreign medical school regarding residency applications? What steps did you take throughout the past few years to improve your chances for acquiring residency? And what are some of the things you wish you'd have done?

Thanks!

Start studying for the Steps from Day 1 of medical school. Apply early for the Match. So you need to get letters in order early. Do everything early. There are always delays coming from non-US schools. Learn as much as you can about the Match and the Steps. Our school offered little support for either. The education is good, but no guidance as when to do what.

Narcan:
Would you recommend letters from US sources, or from Euro professors... or a mixture? I worry about the English grammar in letters from some (otherwise extremely intelligent and capable) foreign profs, you know?
devildoc8404

__________________
MS3/6 - Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria
M.S. (Health Sciences) - Brigham Young University @ Provo, UT
B.A. (German Language & Literature) - University of Oregon @ Eugene, OR
Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) - 2nd Marine Division / 4th Marine Division

"Pains nor toils nor trials heeding, and in heaven's own time succeeding..."
Wm. E. Hickson (1803-1870)

US letters are usually better for US residency. Mine were a mix.

Hey Narcan,

Thank you for your reply to my earlier post. I just had another question:

How did you set up clinical rotations in the US? Was it mostly thru your school's affiliated US hospitals or on your own?

Also, did you have any date conflicts btwn the time that you finished the academic year (June?) and writing the USMLE??

Thanks again!

I did all my electives in Poland. And I had no problems with time frames.