Chicago Clerkship Review
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It DOES exist, and it's wonderful
Hi All,
I'm an IMG from Japan. Being a very old IMG (11yr since graduation), I had to have some USCE for my residency application. I chose Chicago Clerkship, after going through several websites, because their price was reasonable and the owner (Lori) was always professional and answered all of my questions. I can't believe some people wonder if it exists... it certainly does, and I recommend that you go to their website and contact Lori directly and speak with her. She will answer your call, or will return your call very quickly. She will try to meet your needs, and even picked me at the airport (don't know it it's going to be her in your case). She knows how USCE is important for IMGs, and knows how difficult match can be without it. Another lady, T.B. (not sure if I can put her name here so I'll use her initials), is so kind and helpful. If anything occurs, you can talk to her and she will listen to you very sincerely.
They also provide you a list of homes you can stay during externship. I enjoyed my home stay with a kind lady, and the neighborhood was safe. Supermarket and drug stores are all in the walking distance. To the clinic/hospital, there is a shuttle that comes right on your street or a block away, so there is no need to rent a car or use public transportation. There may be only you in the shuttle, or up to 3 other students at a time, depending on each clinic's schedule. I met many nice international students, mostly from India or China. Surprisingly, most of them were still students or fresh grads. I saw only one older IMG. The shuttle picks you up at the clinic before dinnertime, so you won't be waiting or working after dark. I was worried about the safety and cold weather in Chicago, but everything was so fine. I was there from early Feb to mid March 2013, very little snow, and you need one good coat but that's it. Inside the apartment, it was very warm. I attended IM clinics, and got a very nice LOR. I also ate well there, since there were two health food store/supermarket in my walking distance. Overall, I enjoyed the time in Chicago much more than I expected. Hope it helps, and good luck!!
Hi All,
I'm an IMG from Japan. Being a very old IMG (11yr since graduation), I had to have some USCE for my residency application. I chose Chicago Clerkship, after going through several websites, because their price was reasonable and the owner (Lori) was always professional and answered all of my questions. I can't believe some people wonder if it exists... it certainly does, and I recommend that you go to their website and contact Lori directly and speak with her. She will answer your call, or will return your call very quickly. She will try to meet your needs, and even picked me at the airport (don't know it it's going to be her in your case). She knows how USCE is important for IMGs, and knows how difficult match can be without it. Another lady, T.B. (not sure if I can put her name here so I'll use her initials), is so kind and helpful. If anything occurs, you can talk to her and she will listen to you very sincerely.
They also provide you a list of homes you can stay during externship. I enjoyed my home stay with a kind lady, and the neighborhood was safe. Supermarket and drug stores are all in the walking distance. To the clinic/hospital, there is a shuttle that comes right on your street or a block away, so there is no need to rent a car or use public transportation. There may be only you in the shuttle, or up to 3 other students at a time, depending on each clinic's schedule. I met many nice international students, mostly from India or China. Surprisingly, most of them were still students or fresh grads. I saw only one older IMG. The shuttle picks you up at the clinic before dinnertime, so you won't be waiting or working after dark. I was worried about the safety and cold weather in Chicago, but everything was so fine. I was there from early Feb to mid March 2013, very little snow, and you need one good coat but that's it. Inside the apartment, it was very warm. I attended IM clinics, and got a very nice LOR. I also ate well there, since there were two health food store/supermarket in my walking distance. Overall, I enjoyed the time in Chicago much more than I expected. Hope it helps, and good luck!!
My expectations were met
I recently had externship with Chicagoclerkship and I was satisfied with its service. Chicagoclerkship wasn't business minded but attended to individual preferences and needs. The price was affordable too. I was in rotations that Caribbean medical students rotated too. So it was the closest thing one could find to medical education system in US. During my stay in Chicago Lori was always there to help and she was more than happy to provide help. Chicagoclerkship provided help in all aspects. One of the best things was that it provided help in finding homestay that can be a real hassle without help. Overall I recommend using Chicagoclerkship service to all people.
I recently had externship with Chicagoclerkship and I was satisfied with its service. Chicagoclerkship wasn't business minded but attended to individual preferences and needs. The price was affordable too. I was in rotations that Caribbean medical students rotated too. So it was the closest thing one could find to medical education system in US. During my stay in Chicago Lori was always there to help and she was more than happy to provide help. Chicagoclerkship provided help in all aspects. One of the best things was that it provided help in finding homestay that can be a real hassle without help. Overall I recommend using Chicagoclerkship service to all people.
ey. very good observation. went through the posts again after i read your post. and you are right. those who post the good comments about chicago clerkships may not be genuine...they only have or 2 posts in their profile.
i was about to get carried away with those posts and was thinking of going for chicago clerkships. I'm currently in the process of figuring out where to get my externship. fmg portal or americlerkships. any help?
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278 Posts
The organizations you listed are great options.
Our Medical Residency Track program may be a better option for you.
Contact us for a free evaluation.
Best - Victor
Our Medical Residency Track program may be a better option for you.
Contact us for a free evaluation.
Best - Victor
I just wrote about my real experience which well lived up to my expectations. We only can tell about our experiences and it's up to you to decide for yourself but the last 2 comments written in the same day just 1 hour apart seemed fake counter attack from the same person advertising for rival companies. I could choose the above advertising companies too at the same time that I applied for Chicagoclerkship and in fact I started up with their application process at the same time but they weren't as transparent and attentive as Chicagoclerkship is about its service and I found Chicagoclerkship more helpful in any aspect that I wanted and closer to my expectations.
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127 Posts
Chicago Clerkships Responds
Hello everyone! Wow, what a lively thread! First of all, thanks to all of you for your interest and your efforts in posting here. And thanks to USMLE-Forums for their excellent work in providing education and resources. Everything, even the controversy, is much appreciated because it stimulates people to research and get the information they need to make better choices.
Chicago Clerkships, Inc. is indeed a real company. We are a corporation registered in Illinois and with the IRS. We consider ourselves a "social enterprise" because our staff are from the non-profit sector and we were founded to provide a social benefit and be self-sustaining as well. Actually, the idea for Chicago Clerkships grew out of our personal experience of how IMGs are often exploited in their quest for USCE. We wanted to offer an alternative. Some of the posts speak to the fact that we are not all about the business or the money. I'm so glad that has come through because that is who we are.
When our clients complete their rotation(s), we ask all of them to review us on this forum because it is the largest and best organized (we think!). Naturally, not every rotation is going to be perfect so we are taking a risk in doing this. Some of our clients visit here for the first time when they write their review. You can see from above, not all the reviews are stellar, but most are positive. We try our best to make the experience excellent for each client, but in this business there are many moving parts and we cannot control every minute of every rotation (much as we would like to do so!).
That being said, we believe that our service is the best. We provide a localized, personalized, customer-focused approach that is honest and transparent. Our clients appreciate that we not only care about their training but about their housing and transportation needs, about their transition to a new culture, and about their professional development. That is to say, Chicago Clerkships strives to treat each client with the dignity they deserve as human beings, and the respect they merit for their goal of serving humanity as healers.
We invite you to view videos of our clients talking about their experiences (we've posted them on our Facebook page), and to visit our website. If you have questions or need information about rotations or preparing for the match, we are happy to help by phone, skype, email, or Facebook message. Best of luck to all of you and thanks for your interest in Chicago Clerkships. We hope to see you in Chicago, the great "City of Big Shoulders," soon!
Lori Ramos, CEO
Chicago Clerkships
Hello everyone! Wow, what a lively thread! First of all, thanks to all of you for your interest and your efforts in posting here. And thanks to USMLE-Forums for their excellent work in providing education and resources. Everything, even the controversy, is much appreciated because it stimulates people to research and get the information they need to make better choices.
Chicago Clerkships, Inc. is indeed a real company. We are a corporation registered in Illinois and with the IRS. We consider ourselves a "social enterprise" because our staff are from the non-profit sector and we were founded to provide a social benefit and be self-sustaining as well. Actually, the idea for Chicago Clerkships grew out of our personal experience of how IMGs are often exploited in their quest for USCE. We wanted to offer an alternative. Some of the posts speak to the fact that we are not all about the business or the money. I'm so glad that has come through because that is who we are.
When our clients complete their rotation(s), we ask all of them to review us on this forum because it is the largest and best organized (we think!). Naturally, not every rotation is going to be perfect so we are taking a risk in doing this. Some of our clients visit here for the first time when they write their review. You can see from above, not all the reviews are stellar, but most are positive. We try our best to make the experience excellent for each client, but in this business there are many moving parts and we cannot control every minute of every rotation (much as we would like to do so!).
That being said, we believe that our service is the best. We provide a localized, personalized, customer-focused approach that is honest and transparent. Our clients appreciate that we not only care about their training but about their housing and transportation needs, about their transition to a new culture, and about their professional development. That is to say, Chicago Clerkships strives to treat each client with the dignity they deserve as human beings, and the respect they merit for their goal of serving humanity as healers.
We invite you to view videos of our clients talking about their experiences (we've posted them on our Facebook page), and to visit our website. If you have questions or need information about rotations or preparing for the match, we are happy to help by phone, skype, email, or Facebook message. Best of luck to all of you and thanks for your interest in Chicago Clerkships. We hope to see you in Chicago, the great "City of Big Shoulders," soon!
Lori Ramos, CEO
Chicago Clerkships
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I am currently doing the 3 months rotations with Chicago clerkships. I am done with my first rotation. I am doing my second rotation. My first one was in internal medicine. I never expected such a great hands-on experience. All my friends told me that none of the externships will be helpful. But to the contrary, I rotated with a IM physician who had more than 30 yrs experience. First the first 2 - 3 days i had to just shadow him, and i thought that it is going to be like this for the rest of the rotation. But to my surprise, my physician told me that, u saw me how I see and talk to patients, now go ahead and see patients. Man, I was totally amazed and by the last week I saw atleast 12 - 15 pts on my own! All I can say is that its worth your time and money and the best hands-on( i think i got it). I was very new to chicago and Lori Ramos helped me with Housing and travel. She is the best!! Thanks Lori for your help! Hope my next rotations will also be like this. Will keep posted.
I am used this forum for my step 1 and 2 CK prep, so to contribute from my side if anyone have any questions regarding rotations, DM me. Atleast I can do this help!!!!
I am used this forum for my step 1 and 2 CK prep, so to contribute from my side if anyone have any questions regarding rotations, DM me. Atleast I can do this help!!!!
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662 Posts
What's the format of the LoRs?
I'm thinking on doing Surgery rotation, but I'm wondering how's the LoR they give you? Is it a white paper or is it with the hospital letterhead?
they are too expensive..costs around 7.5k usd...if money is not a problem then u should go for it
thats my question tooI'm thinking on doing Surgery rotation, but I'm wondering how's the LoR they give you? Is it a white paper or is it with the hospital letterhead?
7.5k usd for 3 months? Do you mean ACA?
sorry my mistake.its now like this in aca...
MST is currently offering Tuition Assistance Grant Discounts and payments plans. If you qualify your total tuition for MST can be reduced to as little as $9,700-$10,500
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78 Posts
Any more experiences on chicago cleriships? I'd it possible to get clinical hands on experience after graduation?
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Of all the reviews posted here only two seem to come from people who did externship with Chicago clerkship. I'm interested in reading more REAL reviews; no 1-2 post history, or reviews from those who just joined the forum...
Thank you Chicagoclerkships
I recently had hands-on clinical rotations in psychiatry and IM with Chicagoclerkships and I was really satisfied with its services. I had inpatient and outpatient rotations in which Caribbean medical students rotated too. Actually I did not expect such a great hospital-based rotation before starting my rotations specially in psychiatry that is mostly clinic-based. During my stay in Chicago (3 months) Lori was always there to help me with everything specifically with reviewing my CV and PS that was critical to me. Nancy and Caitlin were also really helpful. Overall you never feel like you are alone until the last minute of your rotations. Lori answered my every questions even after finishing my rotations. Another point I found as an IMG was that the clinical rotations greatly helped me with my Cs exam. Doing clinical rotation just 1 month before exam made me more confident and less anxious about taking exam. The price was affordable too because you receive a lot of services that are included. Overall I recommend using Chicagoclerkships service to all people specially for those looking for USCE and IMGs who are about taking Cs exam. Thank you everybody in Chicagoclerkships
I recently had hands-on clinical rotations in psychiatry and IM with Chicagoclerkships and I was really satisfied with its services. I had inpatient and outpatient rotations in which Caribbean medical students rotated too. Actually I did not expect such a great hospital-based rotation before starting my rotations specially in psychiatry that is mostly clinic-based. During my stay in Chicago (3 months) Lori was always there to help me with everything specifically with reviewing my CV and PS that was critical to me. Nancy and Caitlin were also really helpful. Overall you never feel like you are alone until the last minute of your rotations. Lori answered my every questions even after finishing my rotations. Another point I found as an IMG was that the clinical rotations greatly helped me with my Cs exam. Doing clinical rotation just 1 month before exam made me more confident and less anxious about taking exam. The price was affordable too because you receive a lot of services that are included. Overall I recommend using Chicagoclerkships service to all people specially for those looking for USCE and IMGs who are about taking Cs exam. Thank you everybody in Chicagoclerkships
Chicago clerksship
Hi all. All the posts are positive. I just hope its true. Does anybody know which are the hospitals Chicago Clerkship puts the imgs in during rotations. I just want to have idea about it as I am thiking about doing externship soon. Thanks
Hi all. All the posts are positive. I just hope its true. Does anybody know which are the hospitals Chicago Clerkship puts the imgs in during rotations. I just want to have idea about it as I am thiking about doing externship soon. Thanks
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