old re-applicant seeking for HONEST feedback
Hello,
I need a full consultation with (all of) you in regard of my REAL chances to match at the 2014 season. My story is as follows (omitting no detail):
I graduated from med school in 2006, no mistakes in my school or personal record, and I would say medium to high grades. My USMLE score (I dont remember the 3 digits ones) are STEP 1 75, STEP 2 CK 86, STEP 2 CS PASS, all passed in first attempt. I got ECFMG certified in December 2008. I took the STEP 3 but I failed it and didn't try to retook it. I have done several rotations (what is called observerships) in the US, 2 of them include a little bit of clinical research experience too. From those rotations, I got at least 4 LORs, 1 closed (I waived the right to see it, of Internal Medicine- Endocrinology) and the rest of them are open (2 of Internal Medicine and 1 Pediatrics). As you can imagine, those LORs are VERY old (at least 3 to 4 years) but I believed they' are good, at least that's what they told me when I interviewed (specially the close one). In the 2009- 2010 season, I used your services and I got 9 interviews (between Internal Medicine and Pediatrics). 2 of those interviews where from programs that knew me, one because I did an observership there (Hospital of Saint Raphael in CT) from where I got 2 LORs (one from the former Program Director), and the other program because I did a rotation in an affiliated hospital and the secretary of that program recommended me to the other one.
After 9 interviews and putting all of my effort (hope and money) I did not match. A few days latter after the match, one of the programs (the one that I put as my first option in my ranking list, which is Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston, MA) called me because one of their candidates had a personal problem and refuse his residency spot, so they wanted to re- interview me again. Since I was in Venezuela already doing another residency, I asked them to be honest and tell me my real chances. They said that they were interviewing me and another American candidate, that they believed I was the strongest one but it wasn't necessary to make the paperwork for the visa to the other candidate. I decided to go to the interview anyway; after it they told me that they will contact me no matter if the result was good or bad..... never got a single e-mail from them.
So I decided to pursue a 6 month training in the ER and an Internal Medicine Residency in Venezuela, which I finished in December 2012. At the present, I am living in France because my husband was transfer here due to work, doing nothing medical for the last 7 months (in France if you do not have the language is very hard to study or work).
This is the big picture of me. I would like and honest and straight feedback about my chances pursuing training in Internal Medicine (it is what I like and have experience on it). And perhaps in pediatrics or FM. I would like to know what do you think are my weaknesses and strengths in my application, and how many programs will I need to interview in order to have a chance (if there is one).
I will be waiting for your feedback,
AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,
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