[khanar]

Dear friends,
I was asked by the forum staff to share my experience,

So here's my short story

I am an IMG, 7 years since graduation. Step1 92, Step2 99, CS first attempt.
Back in my country there's nothing special in my CV.
But when I came here in US I spent 14 months after doing my USMLE doing the following;

• Observership in Houston 6 months
• Research in Cleveland 3 months
• Externship in Boston 2 months
• Externship in Oklahoma 3 months

I applied to neurology only, applied to 54 programs.

5 of those 23 interviews are completely IMG non-friendly programs (the message here is that you should apply everywhere and don't listen to MatchAResident!)

I spent lots money for accomodations and transportation and I was away from my family for most of the time but I know I feel the pay back

Bottom line, connections connections connections + descent scores and you'll get it even if you are old IMG grad.

Wish me luck in my interviews

 

[khanar]

Can I ask you how much exactly $$ you spent during these 14 months!

 

[khanar]

Can I ask you how much exactly $$ you spent during these 14 months!

More than $12,000

 

[Seetal]

Thank u Jajeek and good luck with yr interviews.

i guess ill be following yr footsteps too cos i cant afford the electives now. so i wanna work a couple of years before doin the observership. but how long should the observership be for? and how much? also, did u study for the step 2 cs in yr country before going there to take it? did u have to take the step 2 cs before observership or after? and during yr research do they pay u? i have a BSc. Biotechnology background would that be of any good in the research aspect?

sorry with the blast of questions.

lastly, how long did it take u to study for the USMLE step 1? pls tell me if im doing this rite. i study the kaplan notes along with other reference if i dont understand. then i do the kaplan lecture notes questions. then after another topic, i re-do the previous questions. then i move on in that fashion and keep re-doing questions after ive left it for sometime just to see if i can still remember. well the more i do the higher chance of a full mark. and of course i reason the answer each time. but is this the right way? im aiming for a full 99 score in my step 1. pls tell me if im doing this rite. i too have an american dream.

 

[khanar]

Re: Seetal

Hi Seetal,

OK I'll answer your questions one by one:

--The longer observership the better, there is no limit to it. Externship and research is better than just simple observership in your CV.
--I did not prep for CS before coming here. I just did UW CS cases, FA and practiced two days with my friend.
--I did all the externships and research after finishing my exams and taking my ECFMG certificate.
--They did not pay me a single penny in research. It was a volunteer job!
--BSc in biotechnology will certainly help in getting you a research position.
--I took 10 months of full time study for Step1 and 5 months for CK and one month for CS
--The way you are prepping is not bad. However, I think you don't need to redo the questions. Just move on and do more and more questions no need to repeat the questions that you already did. You need to repeat Kaplan notes at least three times before you take the exam.

May God fulfill your American Dream

 

[Seetal]

wow

only 10 full months for step 1? u must've like spent at least 6 - 8 hrs a day. or u must be a fast reader.

ok thanks Jajeek. im all geared up now. cos i plan to take the exam in sept 2010. which means i would've studied for 11 months. so then its not impossible!! i am going to nail this!!!

thank u thank u!!

 

[khanar]

only 10 full months for step 1? u must've like spent at least 6 - 8 hrs a day. or u must be a fast reader.

ok thanks Jajeek. im all geared up now. cos i plan to take the exam in sept 2010. which means i would've studied for 11 months. so then its not impossible!! i am going to nail this!!!

thank u thank u!!

If you look at this poll
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-step-1-forum/364-time-needed-prepare-usmle-step-1-a.html
You'll see many people voted for 6-9 months prep time

 

[Seetal]

If you look at this poll
http://www.usmle-forums.com/usmle-step-1-forum/364-time-needed-prepare-usmle-step-1-a.html
You'll see many people voted for 6-9 months prep time

the same amount of ppl voted for 1-1.5 years!! u're smart dont be modest. im gonna be doing it yr style!!

 

[ahassan]

congrats!

If u don't mind cud u tell me where did you manage to do extern ship in Boston?

i MEAN IN WHICH HOSPITAL?

Thanks, n GL

 

[moumita84584]

Hi Jajeek,

Your post was very valuable. A first hand experience is always more convincing. I have too many querries. How did u get the observerships & externships in US, i mean how u came to know of the medical colleges that would provide them? thro' some agency or something?
U mentioned of having connections in the US as an advantage for getting residency . pls elaborate how it helps, i mean does a LOR by US doctors help to get externships ?
I'm scheduled to give Step1 in March, I score between 65-70% in UWorld. Is that Ok?
Thank u once again. Pls send your mail id if possible.

 

[khanar]

RE: moumita84584

Hi Jajeek,

Your post was very valuable. A first hand experience is always more convincing. I have too many querries. How did u get the observerships & externships in US, i mean how u came to know of the medical colleges that would provide them? thro' some agency or something?
U mentioned of having connections in the US as an advantage for getting residency . pls elaborate how it helps, i mean does a LOR by US doctors help to get externships ?
I'm scheduled to give Step1 in March, I score between 65-70% in UWorld. Is that Ok?
Thank u once again. Pls send your mail id if possible.

I used Americlerkships.org in the beginning but then afterwards as you start doing the externships and clerkships you'll have more and more friends and you'll find your way toward more places.
Connections means that the people whom you did with them externships and observerships are now know you and like you and they will call you for the interview
If you are doing 65-70 and this your first time doing UW then I suggest you go and take the exam right now don't wait until March as the information may go out of you brain, anything above 65 in UW means above 95 in the exam.

 

[lemontea88]

Hey Jajeek,

Can you tell me more about what exactly are the differences between observerships and externships? And may I ask why did you decide to do them in different places?

 

[khanar]

Hey Jajeek,

Can you tell me more about what exactly are the differences between observerships and externships? And may I ask why did you decide to do them in different places?

I was looking for externships mainly but when I don't get it then my second target was observership.

 

[lee-usmle]

observership externship differences

... what exactly are the differences between observerships and externships? ....

have a look at this thread

http://www.usmle-forums.com/general-topics-forum/108-externship-observership-difference.html

 

[moumita84584]

Thank u Jajeek. U told me to take up the test right now, but I'm actually stuck in the form fill up process, so it should take some time.
But it was very comforting to hear that such scores in UW wud b ok to get >95 in step1.
there r a few more querries, i ask in case u cud help. I want to do in O&G as i did my d.g.o here. how difficult it is to get a residency in O&G?
Regards, Moumita.

 

[khanar]

Thank u Jajeek. U told me to take up the test right now, but I'm actually stuck in the form fill up process, so it should take some time.
But it was very comforting to hear that such scores in UW wud b ok to get >95 in step1.
there r a few more querries, i ask in case u cud help. I want to do in O&G as i did my d.g.o here. how difficult it is to get a residency in O&G?
Regards, Moumita.

Oh yes,
My cousin applied for 30 O&G programs this year and she got 5 IVs
Her scores are 95/97/CS pass,
IMG + 2006 grad + short O&G observership in Wiskonsin

 

[moumita84584]

Thanx ya ! u r amazingly helpful.
even if i dont get i can peacefully study now.

 

[indian]

wooow
that's a great story
hope I can follow your path

 

[AmeriClerkships]

Oh yes,
My cousin applied for 30 O&G programs this year and she got 5 IVs
Her scores are 95/97/CS pass,
IMG + 2006 grad + short O&G observership in Wiskonsin

Hey how did your cousin do??? Did she match? God willing she did

 

[docgod]

Could you please tell which hospital in cleveland you did your research in & in which hospital in Boston you did your externship in ......... Please, it would be worth a lot to me