thnx step taker
Thanks a lot.
I was really wasting my time thinking about applying this year,,,
Thanks a lot.
I was really wasting my time thinking about applying this year,,,
IMG Residency Application; To Apply or Not? What is the last date for application?
This question has been frequently asked in our forums and so I thought let me write about it a little bit.
The common dilemma is this ... Should we apply in September with deficient profile or should we wait until later on (after few months this year or the next matching season) when the profile is complete?
By deficient profile I mean (not all scores are ready or the ECFMG certificate is not yet ready or no US letters of recommendations are available yet). By complete profile I mean these things are available and complete.
In my opinion it's better to apply with a complete profile even if that means you wait until the next matching season. The reason is that most residency programs (perhaps 80% of them) do not accept "incomplete" IMG applicants and filter them out. Even if they do accept incomplete applications, your opportunity is still low because there are thousands others applying with you who have complete profiles.
So why wasting money? Even if you don't care about the money, it's still not a good idea because residency programs do not like repeated (second year) match applicants, in case you failed in getting a match.
Now the next question is ... Can I postpone my application to a date later than September 1st?
Answer) Most residency programs finish their initial job of selecting candidates for interviews by late October and many of them actually finish the job even earlier in October. Only a small percentage of programs will still be looking for IMG candidates in November. Therefore, the latest date that you can apply and get good chances is the last week of September. I am not saying that those who apply in October do not get interviews, all am saying is that they will have less chances.
Example Number 1:
2009 Graduate, ECFMG certificate will be ready mid September 2011. US LoRs are not yet ready. Should apply in 2011 or 2012?
Answer:
Better to get LoRs and apply in 2012 despite the negative impact of changing from 2 years since graduation to 3 years since graduation. A complete profile is more important than this year of freshness difference.
Example Number 2:
2001 Graduate, Scores and LoRs are ready but the ECFMG certificate will be ready on September 21st. Should apply in September 1st or 21st?
Answer:
Apply on September 21st. Again, a complete profile is more important than losing some chances by a little bit delayed application.
Wishing you all good luck
The common dilemma is this ... Should we apply in September with deficient profile or should we wait until later on (after few months this year or the next matching season) when the profile is complete?
By deficient profile I mean (not all scores are ready or the ECFMG certificate is not yet ready or no US letters of recommendations are available yet). By complete profile I mean these things are available and complete.
In my opinion it's better to apply with a complete profile even if that means you wait until the next matching season. The reason is that most residency programs (perhaps 80% of them) do not accept "incomplete" IMG applicants and filter them out. Even if they do accept incomplete applications, your opportunity is still low because there are thousands others applying with you who have complete profiles.
So why wasting money? Even if you don't care about the money, it's still not a good idea because residency programs do not like repeated (second year) match applicants, in case you failed in getting a match.
Now the next question is ... Can I postpone my application to a date later than September 1st?
Answer) Most residency programs finish their initial job of selecting candidates for interviews by late October and many of them actually finish the job even earlier in October. Only a small percentage of programs will still be looking for IMG candidates in November. Therefore, the latest date that you can apply and get good chances is the last week of September. I am not saying that those who apply in October do not get interviews, all am saying is that they will have less chances.
Example Number 1:
2009 Graduate, ECFMG certificate will be ready mid September 2011. US LoRs are not yet ready. Should apply in 2011 or 2012?
Answer:
Better to get LoRs and apply in 2012 despite the negative impact of changing from 2 years since graduation to 3 years since graduation. A complete profile is more important than this year of freshness difference.
Example Number 2:
2001 Graduate, Scores and LoRs are ready but the ECFMG certificate will be ready on September 21st. Should apply in September 1st or 21st?
Answer:
Apply on September 21st. Again, a complete profile is more important than losing some chances by a little bit delayed application.
Wishing you all good luck
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
2012 residency match when to apply?
- what should be the latest date to apply to programs if not September 1?
- or can I apply to a few programs on September 1 and apply to all others with step 1, 2 CK and CS?
- if i apply with step 1 and cs result on September 1 to all programs and put my step 2 ck on automatic transmission and get my score around mid Oct will the programs still look at my updated application and call me for interviews? I am 2010 IMG, US citizen with 90 on step1, going to give CS in June, 3 months of USCE plz anyone reply
Different for each program. Generally speaking, in the case of IMG friendly programs, late September to early October.
- what should be the latest date to apply to programs if not September 1?
- or can I apply to a few programs on September 1 and apply to all others with step 1, 2 CK and CS?
Yes, it's possible but your chances would be much lower than if you were ready by the beginning of September.
- if i apply with step 1 and cs result on September 1 to all programs and put my step 2 ck on automatic transmission and get my score around mid Oct will the programs still look at my updated application and call me for interviews? I am 2010 IMG, US citizen with 90 on step1, going to give CS in June, 3 months of USCE plz anyone reply
I'd say you will cut 50% of your chances (just a wild guess, not based on any sort of documentation or statistics)
How about graduate 2009, no CS results till end november and no US LORs? should i apply for 2013 instead?:S
Okay thanks a lot StepTaker I think I will take my chances. Can you plz tell me what do you mean by early Oct? plz specify a dateYes, it's possible but your chances would be much lower than if you were ready by the beginning of September.
I'd say you will cut 50% of your chances (just a wild guess, not based on any sort of documentation or statistics)
Very small chances, I'd say close to 0%. So yes, apply for 2013.How about graduate 2009, no CS results till end november and no US LORs? should i apply for 2013 instead?:S
I intentionally did not specify a date because again there's no rule. Each program has different schedules, even the same program itself has different schedules from year to year.Okay thanks a lot StepTaker I think I will take my chances. Can you plz tell me what do you mean by early Oct? plz specify a date
There's no magic date to specify. Some program stop looking at application by September 10, others continue to look until mid November.
However, if you insist, I'd take a wild guess and say October 10th as a deadline date.
I heard that most university based hospital will not review the application until November, is this information valid ? If it's true, we can apply until October, can't we ?
It is true that University Programs review applications "usually" later than community based programs and sometimes they wait until November. But also remember that the reason behind that is that they are waiting for US med students "MSPE" which is released in November, this means that this rule does not apply to IMGs.I heard that most university based hospital will not review the application until November, is this information valid ? If it's true, we can apply until October, can't we ?
Generally speaking, if a program is interested in taking an IMG, then they usually review the applicants earlier than November.
Again, that's a general rule, there are exceptions of course.
even for IMG the eras releases the deans letter n MPSP on 1st nov? Isn't that correct? I was just concerned over the point that what do programs do to applications with score of step 2 CK on automatic transmission do they wait and check again in Oct? so what's better to do, apply on 1st Sept and put scores on automatic transmission or simply apply on Oct 10th?
Yes, the Dean's letter and MSPE for IMGs won't be released until November as well, but it has much less impact compared to the AMG, in fact in many instances, it has no impact at all. Most residency program that do take IMGs do not wait for the dean letter or the MSPE at all, they often send them interview invitations in September and October.even for IMG the eras releases the deans letter n MPSP on 1st nov? Isn't that correct?
Both choices are not good. Both choices will tremendously decrease your chances of getting interviews.I was just concerned over the point that what do programs do to applications with score of step 2 CK on automatic transmission do they wait and check again in Oct? so what's better to do, apply on 1st Sept and put scores on automatic transmission or simply apply on Oct 10th?
But if you insist on which option is better then I may choose applying in early September pending the CK results, but If you do that, I suggest you send specific email to each and every program you apply to and tell them that you will get your CK score soon, hopefully that will prevent getting your application from being trapped out by their filter.
questions questions questions!
wow, this has answered so many of my questions but im left with some more. and though i have a lot to do before coming to them, im still left wondering. So im done with cs, have got my usce, and am going to give the step 1 by june 1st week. that gives me exactly 1.5 months for the CK (yeah i know) to get my results back by last week august or 1st week september (hoping to give exam 1st week august). My question is - how long does it take to be ecfmg verified with everything else in place and only the ck results pending? ?As in how many days would it take for me to get he ecfmg certificate after the results are declared with everything else in place? or is it just instant?
Im trying to figure out if i can make the rush for this year by 1st week september or not...and eventually deciding whether i should apply for match this year or wait another...thanks a lot guys!
wow, this has answered so many of my questions but im left with some more. and though i have a lot to do before coming to them, im still left wondering. So im done with cs, have got my usce, and am going to give the step 1 by june 1st week. that gives me exactly 1.5 months for the CK (yeah i know) to get my results back by last week august or 1st week september (hoping to give exam 1st week august). My question is - how long does it take to be ecfmg verified with everything else in place and only the ck results pending? ?As in how many days would it take for me to get he ecfmg certificate after the results are declared with everything else in place? or is it just instant?
Im trying to figure out if i can make the rush for this year by 1st week september or not...and eventually deciding whether i should apply for match this year or wait another...thanks a lot guys!
Usually you'll get the certificate within 2 weeks. This issue has been discussed thoroughly before, please read the thread listed herewow, this has answered so many of my questions but im left with some more. and though i have a lot to do before coming to them, im still left wondering. So im done with cs, have got my usce, and am going to give the step 1 by june 1st week. that gives me exactly 1.5 months for the CK (yeah i know) to get my results back by last week august or 1st week september (hoping to give exam 1st week august). My question is - how long does it take to be ecfmg verified with everything else in place and only the ck results pending? ?As in how many days would it take for me to get he ecfmg certificate after the results are declared with everything else in place? or is it just instant?
Im trying to figure out if i can make the rush for this year by 1st week september or not...and eventually deciding whether i should apply for match this year or wait another...thanks a lot guys!
Threads Tagged with ECFMG Certificate
Just to be pretty sure!
First thank you so much for this clarifying post.
It´s really awesome and it has been an eye opener for me.
About the Dean´s Letter for IMG do you think it will be safe enough not to worrying in getting it?
I know you´ve been very specific and talked about it..but just to double check...
First thank you so much for this clarifying post.
It´s really awesome and it has been an eye opener for me.
About the Dean´s Letter for IMG do you think it will be safe enough not to worrying in getting it?
I know you´ve been very specific and talked about it..but just to double check...
Yes, it's safe not to worry about the dean letter at all.First thank you so much for this clarifying post.
It´s really awesome and it has been an eye opener for me.
About the Dean´s Letter for IMG do you think it will be safe enough not to worrying in getting it?
I know you´ve been very specific and talked about it..but just to double check...
Hi,
THis post did clarify alot of my questions but still just one more to go
I have passed Step 1 and CS. I am planning to take step 2 CK on 3-4th August 2011. Do you think i will be able to get ECFMG certification within first week of September so that i can apply or should i try to take the exam even earlier like in last week of July ?
Your help will be appreciated. Please do not re-direct to ECFMG Certificate labelled posts as i have already read all of them
Thanks alot
THis post did clarify alot of my questions but still just one more to go
I have passed Step 1 and CS. I am planning to take step 2 CK on 3-4th August 2011. Do you think i will be able to get ECFMG certification within first week of September so that i can apply or should i try to take the exam even earlier like in last week of July ?
Your help will be appreciated. Please do not re-direct to ECFMG Certificate labelled posts as i have already read all of them
Thanks alot
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
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