[Xaquake]

1) What are the requirements for getting an externship? I am only a medical student and have not done the Step 1 exam.

2) How short can they be, minimum? If I have other commitments and want to study for exams and can't spare much time during my holidays, I need to know the shortest externships that are offered, but not at the expense of losing its worth.

3) Do contacts help? I have an uncle who works as an internal medicine specialist in the US. Can he just 'fix one up' for me?

4) The more the better, or are one or two just fine?

5) Are externships just general or by specialties? What are they like? (hours per day/assessment etc.)

Thanks.

 

[StepTaker]

Clinical Externships in USA for IMGs

There's no specific standard rule that applies to all externship programs throughout the US. It differs from program to program and hospital to hospital.

Generally speaking though, they usually don't have any requirement. You just have to be a medical student. In fact, it's generally thought that medical students have easier access to externships than medical graduates.

Connections certainly help. Contact your uncle and he can certainly help you a lot.

It's the number of externships that matter it's the duration of externship. So for example one six months externship is better than two externships one month each.

Externships go by specialty just like the residency program. So for example you can do IM, FM, Peds, Surgery, Obs Gyn, subspecialty ...etc.

If you have some money then Americlerkships can really help you.

If you are from India you might want to contact AAPI as they can really help.

 

[Easy]

Yes, we need more information about externship Steptaker
I'm still having no idea how this can be done

 

[StepTaker]

Yes, we need more information about externship Steptaker
I'm still having no idea how this can be done

What is it specifically that you don't understand. Is there a particular issue that you want me to talk about.

 

[Xaquake]

Externships go by specialty just like the residency program. So for example you can do IM, FM, Peds, Surgery, Obs Gyn, subspecialty ...etc.

Lol, that's potentially hazardous! I mean I'm only in medschool, so if I do an externship in a certain specialty and then later decide to apply for residency in a completely different specialty, could that be held against me in the matching process/interviews?

A friend of mine applied for medicine at Cambridge university. He had been very active in debating back in school, and he mentioned how he liked it in his application. The interviewer asked him why he wanted medicine over something like law!

- Also, is there some kind of evaluation or some process at the end of the externship for the certificate?

 

[StepTaker]

Lol, that's potentially hazardous! I mean I'm only in medschool, so if I do an externship in a certain specialty and then later decide to apply for residency in a completely different specialty, could that be held against me in the matching process/interviews?

A friend of mine applied for medicine at Cambridge university. He had been very active in debating back in school, and he mentioned how he liked it in his application. The interviewer asked him why he wanted medicine over something like law!

- Also, is there some kind of evaluation or some process at the end of the externship for the certificate?

It's usually safe if you have done IM for example then you apply for any IM related specialty be it FM or peds for example and likewise if you do general surgery externship then it would be OK if you go later on for any of the surgical branches.

Yes, they'll give you a certificate of completion usually. However, most importantly are the letter of recommendations that you get personally from US based physicians which will be needed when you apply to the match later on.

 

[Xaquake]

Yes, they'll give you a certificate of completion usually. However, most importantly are the letter of recommendations that you get personally from US based physicians which will be needed when you apply to the match later on.

Does it matter then how old the LOR is? If I do now, it won't be a good 2-3 years before I apply for residency. In that case, are LORs that old still valid?

Generally regarding LORs, can we get them from any doctor in the medical college or only US-based physicians?

 

[StepTaker]

Does it matter then how old the LOR is? If I do now, it won't be a good 2-3 years before I apply for residency. In that case, are LORs that old still valid?

Generally regarding LORs, can we get them from any doctor in the medical college or only US-based physicians?

Of course old LORs are not as good as new LORs. But remember you can always contact the LOR author and ask him/her to update the letter

You can of course take LOR from anybody but it will be ranked higher if you take it from US based physician specially university affiliated faculty and well known figures who would certainly rank highest when it comes to LORs.

I suggest you also have a look at this thread here
http://www.usmle-forums.com/residency-match-forum/161-letters-recommendatoins-lors.html

 

[AmeriClerkships]

Lol, that's potentially hazardous! I mean I'm only in medschool, so if I do an externship in a certain specialty and then later decide to apply for residency in a completely different specialty, could that be held against me in the matching process/interviews?

- Also, is there some kind of evaluation or some process at the end of the externship for the certificate?

Doing rotations in multiple specialties during medical school is completely normal. US students go through core and elective programs just as a foreign doctor will go through during their internship year. To decide later to apply to another specialty is fine, as long as your clinical schedule looks relatively neutral, for example 8 weeks IM 8 weeks FM 8 weeks PEDS, and so on. If you are interested in both IM and GS you should be rotating in applicable core rotations and also electives for example Cardiology, Neurology, Vascular Surgery, ENT, and so on. Not those specifically but you get the point I hope

Within our training program you receive clinical evaluations that focus on your clinical knowledge and ability. Please let me know if I can help you further

 

[swji]

liveing question for exernship

Hello,
I'm an undergraduate medical student and also would like to do exernship during my summer vacation for 2 months. I know it's a quite detail question compared to others, but could please give me some information about where to live during the exernship? I'm prone to attend AmeriClerkships, so would they offer retreats like for example Kaplan retreat? Because it will be my first time to the States...
Thanks a lot!!!!

 

[AmeriClerkships]

No this is fine dont worry i get very specific and detailed questions every day Now first if you are doing rotations through us we would need to find out a few things. We have to have a specific form completed by your medical school representative approving your rotations. Depending on where you are doing them you can find housing in hotels, or short term living facilities. Generally we cannot assist with housing but if you go to either Chicago or Rome, GA we can offer suggestions.

I hope this helps

Hello,
I'm an undergraduate medical student and also would like to do exernship during my summer vacation for 2 months. I know it's a quite detail question compared to others, but could please give me some information about where to live during the exernship? In the hotel? Because it will be my first time to the States...
Thanks a lot!!!!