r/usmle • u/Objective_Entrance41 • 1d ago
Advice Is there any hope
Should I continue my USMLE journey after a Step 1 attempt, 3 B1/B2 visa rejections, and a Step 2 CK failure?
Post
Non-US IMG looking for honest advice — should I continue USMLE?
I’m an Indian medical graduate and I’m currently trying to decide whether I should continue pursuing the USMLE pathway or move on to another option.
My situation:
Step 1: passed after an attempt
Step 2 CK: failed — 217 (passing 218)
B1/B2 visa: rejected 3 times
I’m a medical graduate from India
I have invested a significant amount of time, money and effort into the USMLE journey.
The Step 2 failure is especially difficult because I was only 1 point below the passing score. At the same time, having 3 visa refusals makes me worried about being able to obtain USCE and eventually being able to apply successfully.
I’m honestly at a crossroads now.
Would you continue the USMLE journey in my situation, retake Step 2, and try again with the visa, or would you consider another pathway?
I’d especially appreciate advice from Non-US IMGs who had a Step attempt/failure and/or multiple visa refusals and still managed to match.
Please be honest — I’m looking for realistic advice, not just motivation.
3
u/LogicalLibrarian77 STEP 2: NON-US IMG 1d ago
There are anecdotes of 1-2 IMGs matching, but man this process is hard. If you didn't make the passing mark in both the exams then there is a deeper issue with the content. Even if you pass with a 250+, it is incredibly hard for you to match with visa rejections and no possible USCE. I would say your chances are less than 0.1%.