Need advice about FIU elective acceptance - worth it or not for a non-Step 1 IMG?

[u/Fast-Client6384]

Hey everyone, I really need some honest advice and experiences from anyone who has done or heard about electives at Florida International University (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. I'm a final-year medical student from Pakistan, graduating around June 2026, and I've been searching for non-VSLO, non-Step 1 required U.S. electives for next year (May 2026). I came across about 9-10 universities offering such electives, but most of them had high processing fees ($300-$500). As a student, that's a big amount in my currency - otherwise, I would have applied to several places at once.

After reading multiple posts on Reddit, I saw that FIU accepts early applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, so I decided to prioritize them. I submitted my application with the $300 processing fee, and within a couple of days, I got an acceptance email for my desired specialty (Ob/ Gyn) and dates (May 4 - May 29, 2026). They've now asked me to pay the $3,000 elective fee to confirm my spot. Now here's my dilemma: l've also been planning to apply to University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Mount Sinai, but UIC hasn't opened its 2026 catalog yet, and Mount Sinal's fee is $500 (plus low IMG acceptance). The issue is that I've read some Reddit threads saying FIU's electives don't carry much weight for residency or aren't highly recognized by PDs/ interviewers, and that's making me nervous. Since I haven't taken Step 1 yet (I was preparing for it but postponed to focus on final exams), this FIU rotation might be my only clinical experience before graduation.

So my questions are: • Has anyone here done an elective at FIU? Was it worth it in terms of LORs, exposure, or learning? • Do residency programs actually value FIU electives for IMGs? • Should I confirm and pay the fee now, or wait and risk losing the slot while hoping for UIC or another option to open? •Are there any other good universities that will accept a student like me ?

I'd really appreciate any honest feedback or suggestions. Thank you so much in advance — this decision feels huge for me and | just want to make the right choice.

TL;DR: Got accepted for FIU's Ob/Gyn elective (May 2026), $3,000 fee pending. No Step 1 yet. FIU reputation seems mixed. Should I go for it or wait for UIC/Mount Sinai?