I just came across a post on a different site and was wondering if any part of it is true??
hi all,
all the best to all of you preparing for step1. I am trying to explain how important step1 score is
for getting a GOOD residency especially for NON-US IMGs who need visa - H1/J1. When I gave my step1, I thought I knew this, but I now realize and I didn't quite know how important step1 score really is.
I am applying for residency this year - in fact this is my second year of applying. I got some interviews, but I might not be able to get into a program I had initially hoped for.
I have good scores (99-237/99-243), lot of clinical experience and even research experience and excellent LORs from US doctors. However, I got only a couple of interviews from University programs which are my top priorities.
this info is for IM - internal medicine.
when I compared myself with other non-us IMGs who got several university IVs, I found only one main difference - their step1 scores were higher.
If you want good university programs, make no mistake a low 99 is NOT going too cut it - you need HIGH 99s. In fact the higher the better.
If you want top university programs (top 10, top 20 programs), 270+ scores are almost necessary. I have not seen any non-US IMG get into top 20 programs without a super high score.
For a top 50 / top 100 program, you'll need 260+ for sure.
And to get into any good univ program with a fellowship, you'll need 250+.
If you don't have a 250 and are a non-US IMG and need visa, you have very low chances of getting into a university program with a fellowship, which is what I aimed for.
I had thought a double 99 would get me a university program, but I can't believe how wrong I was. If I were to do it again, I would not settle for low 99s. even if I had to put several months more of preparation, I would sure work for high 99s.
Please don't make the mistake I made in underestimating the imp of step 1 score - even if you have to prepare for a few months more.
Please, please, get high score - step1 score is the Single MOST important credential in getting a GOOD residency. of course, clinical experience, us lors are important too, but step1 score is by far the most imp.
good luck to all of you..
hi all,
all the best to all of you preparing for step1. I am trying to explain how important step1 score is
for getting a GOOD residency especially for NON-US IMGs who need visa - H1/J1. When I gave my step1, I thought I knew this, but I now realize and I didn't quite know how important step1 score really is.
I am applying for residency this year - in fact this is my second year of applying. I got some interviews, but I might not be able to get into a program I had initially hoped for.
I have good scores (99-237/99-243), lot of clinical experience and even research experience and excellent LORs from US doctors. However, I got only a couple of interviews from University programs which are my top priorities.
this info is for IM - internal medicine.
when I compared myself with other non-us IMGs who got several university IVs, I found only one main difference - their step1 scores were higher.
If you want good university programs, make no mistake a low 99 is NOT going too cut it - you need HIGH 99s. In fact the higher the better.
If you want top university programs (top 10, top 20 programs), 270+ scores are almost necessary. I have not seen any non-US IMG get into top 20 programs without a super high score.
For a top 50 / top 100 program, you'll need 260+ for sure.
And to get into any good univ program with a fellowship, you'll need 250+.
If you don't have a 250 and are a non-US IMG and need visa, you have very low chances of getting into a university program with a fellowship, which is what I aimed for.
I had thought a double 99 would get me a university program, but I can't believe how wrong I was. If I were to do it again, I would not settle for low 99s. even if I had to put several months more of preparation, I would sure work for high 99s.
Please don't make the mistake I made in underestimating the imp of step 1 score - even if you have to prepare for a few months more.
Please, please, get high score - step1 score is the Single MOST important credential in getting a GOOD residency. of course, clinical experience, us lors are important too, but step1 score is by far the most imp.
good luck to all of you..