[Jenish44]

I've heard that connections/contacts could help you match even with low scores and no USCE.. I don't know if my question sounds funny to you but I want to know what kind of connection can help this way.. In simple words, connections of what people is helpful for the match?

 

[lee-usmle]

If you can reach the progam director

Your ultimate goal is the program director.

If you can reach to the program director and let somebody ask him/her to send you for an interview then you'll most likely get the interview.

In the interview, it's you job to convince them that you are good.

So you should be looking for current residents, or current attendings, or even any employee in the residency program who may have good relation with the program director.

Your question has also been discussed previously here
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usce-cl...do-i-make-connections-get-into-residency.html

 

[hope490]

importance of contacts....

For how much limit the CONTACTS help u??
I mean if u have good contacts, is it easy to get into residency?? suppose anyone has mediocre marks like mid 80"s and 5 year out of school. Can contacts bypass this???
plz tell in detail.

Thanks

 

[Sabio]

Connections and contacts are very powerful tools to get into residency programs.

The US Health Care system is built in a way so that personal recommendation from someone you trust will have great impact.

So if you have somebody in a residency program who can recommend you that would have a great impact.

However, there's no hard rules here. I will give you two examples to explain the situation.

Example 1:
Candidate got 99 and 99 in both steps. He's IMG and he has second attempt in the CS exam. He knows a resident in a program. That resident went and talked to the PD. The PD agreed to send for an interview (despite the fact that that program does not send for IMGs who have second attempt in the CS). Eventually they liked the candidate too much in the interview and they matched him.

Example 2:
Candidate got 82 and 85 in both steps. He's IMG and his CV is wonderful except for his low scores. He knows somebody who knows the PD of a great program. The PD refused to send him for an interview because he is so determined not to send for IV for anyone who has less than score 90.

So connections can help to get your file be seen by the PD or the selection committee but there's no guarantee that you will be sent for an IV if the PD is strict and does not go by personal recommendations.

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[hope490]

....

SABIO..my father in law is a faculty member.u mean he can help me a lot?i want to ask that suppose i dont fit into criteria of a program for example graduation date and low marks, can he still help me to enter into that program?? will it not be injustice with other applicants if anyone who doesn't upto criteria still gets job there???

 

[ambition4]

It is True, good luck to every one including me

 

[Sabio]

SABIO..my father in law is a faculty member.u mean he can help me a lot?i want to ask that suppose i dont fit into criteria of a program for example graduation date and low marks, can he still help me to enter into that program?? will it not be injustice with other applicants if anyone who doesn't upto criteria still gets job there???

There is no legal rules and restrictions, residency programs can take whoever they like to take even if that person did not meet the criteria.
These criteria are put to limit the number of applicants but they are not really strict State or Hospital or ACGME criteria.
So yes, your father-in-law can get you there.

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[yashwant]

I just now completed my final year....I have no contacts in U.S....so should I stop thinking of usmle.IS HAVING CONTACTS THAT IMPORTANT?Can i manage to establish contacts when i go for my clerkship after getting my step 1 score....please give me ur advice