[conspicous]

After lots of thinking posting the problem here
I am a permanent resident ,just came a month back here.
graduated in 2009
due to certain reasons i could not plan my usmle for match 2012 in proper way

Now extremely worried ,what to do i have not given any of STEPs but i m having family issues to give all steps before september and get entered in match 2012.i have not started preparing ,feeling really worried.
What s better for me
.. should i not take any risk and prepare well enough and apply for match 2013 with some USCE in the mean time??

Is it possible to get some internal medicine program with low score or with not very competitive score ,WILL being permanent resident help me in getting internal medicine residency with not very competitive scores ??

I have a fear that if i take risk and give step1 in april s end,step2ck in july end and step2 cs in AUGust ..i might end up in bad scores plus by this time i will not have any US clinical experience too that might not let me have some good residency slot?? ..is it true fear.....plus its very jam packed kinda plan

 

[Sabio]

You can do it

I'd say that applying with low scores in 2012 (when you are 3 years post grad) is a tiny bit less powerful than applying with high scores and USCE in 2013 (when you are 4 years post grad).

High scores and USCE are absolutely needed and on the other hand the sooner the better. So it's kind of difficult to judge which is better.

But I personally think that you still have time to do it in 2012.

Gather all your power and resources and focus on the exam and leave all your family issues behind. You can do it in 2012 with high scores.

 

[conspicous]

thank you sabio for quick reply.
my next apprehension is that the plan i wrote that to give some how step1 in april s end ,step2ck in july s end and step2cs in aug is good??..i mean application process and all other stuff will accommodate it
Does it seem realistic to have all of scores esp CS before sept end ?.As i am reading forum comments it seems that applying late decrease chances of getting matched a lot....

 

[Sabio]

Yes your plan seems completely realistic however I suggest that you do the CS before the CK. Because CS results takes considerable longer time than the CK so if you do the CS right after Step 1 then you do the CK your time table would be fitting better.

As for the other point. Yes, many programs review applications on a first come first serve basis so if you don't apply in early September you might lose chances, specially community programs in IM and FM. University programs usually do not mind late September or even early October applications.

 

[conspicous]

and what about the USCE thing..do u think its better to be newer graduate than to be older graduate with USCE.
could you plz suggest a time frame for me,for step1,2ck and cs.

 

[Sabio]

Here's what I suggest

USCE can be done whether you are old or fresh graduate it doesn't matter.

Here's what I suggest,

Step 1 in March 2011. (start reading from this minute)
Step 2 CS in April 2011.
Step 2 CK in July 2011.
USCE to start in August 2011 and to continue until the end of the year.

Apply when fully ECFMG certified on September 1st, 2011.

 

[conspicous]

hmmm
now i get a feel that i can do it
what i meant was that what do u think that being an old graduate with USCE has good chances for MATCH or the one who is a bit newer with out USCE .

and u mean by this is that i dont need to have USCE at the time of application submission i.e by 1st september 2011 and doing USCE later will add on.is that what u meant ??

 

[Sabio]

Here's what I think

hmmm
now i get a feel that i can do it
what i meant was that what do u think that being an old graduate with USCE has good chances for MATCH or the one who is a bit newer with out USCE .

and u mean by this is that i dont need to have USCE at the time of application submission i.e by 1st september 2011 and doing USCE later will add on.is that what u meant ??

Both early application (fresh graduate) and USCE are important.
The best thing to have them both, if not then I'd say a fresh graduate without USCE is preferred over an old graduate with USCE (that's just my personal opinion)

 

[conspicous]

thank you sabio ,for your continous reply ..its really great on ur part
still a confusion left,i.e if i do some USCE after sept ,it will no way added to my cv then whats the use of it except having a look on US health system.(which is cool thing to do but still what s the use of it ,if it has not to b counted at first place)

2ndly its there ANY poll kinda thing about this fresh with out USCE ..and OLD with USCE thing ...to know what is better ...if its not ..a kinda poll b done on it ..(idea)

 

[Sabio]

thank you sabio ,for your continous reply ..its really great on ur part
still a confusion left,i.e if i do some USCE after sept ,it will no way added to my cv then whats the use of it except having a look on US health system.(which is cool thing to do but still what s the use of it ,if it has not to b counted at first place)

2ndly its there ANY poll kinda thing about this fresh with out USCE ..and OLD with USCE thing ...to know what is better ...if its not ..a kinda poll b done on it ..(idea)

Even if you do it in September you can still mention it in your personal statement which can always be updated. You can also get new LoRs and update your ERAS profile after September and they'll look at it.
Also you can tell them in the interviews and they'll be impressed that you are working hard.

As for the poll thing. You yourself can start it.

 

[IMGPrep]

After lots of thinking posting the problem here
I am a permanent resident ,just came a month back here.
graduated in 2009
due to certain reasons i could not plan my usmle for match 2012 in proper way

Now extremely worried ,what to do i have not given any of STEPs but i m having family issues to give all steps before september and get entered in match 2012.i have not started preparing ,feeling really worried.
What s better for me
.. should i not take any risk and prepare well enough and apply for match 2013 with some USCE in the mean time??

Is it possible to get some internal medicine program with low score or with not very competitive score ,WILL being permanent resident help me in getting internal medicine residency with not very competitive scores ??

I have a fear that if i take risk and give step1 in april s end,step2ck in july end and step2 cs in AUGust ..i might end up in bad scores plus by this time i will not have any US clinical experience too that might not let me have some good residency slot?? ..is it true fear.....plus its very jam packed kinda plan

Respectfully, we will take a much more conservative approach, we work with quite a few applicants every year on their application and decisions they are faced with when it comes to time constraints. RULE OF THUMB DO NOT TAKE EXAMS WHEN YOU FEEL YOU ARE NOT READY!!! You can stay out a year and study and keep yourself clinically active. Applicants have put years into getting where they are if you feel you need more time take it!
The way we analyze this is simple we extract all the programs you qualify for based on year of graduation alone 3 year mark 4 year mark 5 year mark. We then pull progam qualification based on score deviations.. SCORES ARE MUCH MORE POWERFUL in these two points
2009 graduate you are under 5 year mark which is fine, true under 3 year mark is better but statistically not much of a difference the scores on the other hand will hurt you. After years of study you have a gut feeling what it is you need to perform well on your exam, do not ignore what this is on a major exam we are of the opinion if your taking the USMLE this is a big decision do not make a last second decision you may later regret.

Sit down write a time line, and STICK TO IT! Do not say can I get something like IM with a low score as you can see the hundreds of messages of people not getting interviews with higher scores, with organization smart decisions and careful analysis you will be fine! Listen to your GUT!

Good luck!

IMGPrep Team

 

[meka]

Respectfully, we will take a much more conservative approach, we work with quite a few applicants every year on their application and decisions they are faced with when it comes to time constraints. RULE OF THUMB DO NOT TAKE EXAMS WHEN YOU FEEL YOU ARE NOT READY!!! You can stay out a year and study and keep yourself clinically active. Applicants have put years into getting where they are if you feel you need more time take it!
The way we analyze this is simple we extract all the programs you qualify for based on year of graduation alone 3 year mark 4 year mark 5 year mark. We then pull progam qualification based on score deviations.. SCORES ARE MUCH MORE POWERFUL in these two points
2009 graduate you are under 5 year mark which is fine, true under 3 year mark is better but statistically not much of a difference the scores on the other hand will hurt you. After years of study you have a gut feeling what it is you need to perform well on your exam, do not ignore what this is on a major exam we are of the opinion if your taking the USMLE this is a big decision do not make a last second decision you may later regret.

Sit down write a time line, and STICK TO IT! Do not say can I get something like IM with a low score as you can see the hundreds of messages of people not getting interviews with higher scores, with organization smart decisions and careful analysis you will be fine! Listen to your GUT!

Good luck!

IMGPrep Team

i have my step 1 score 99/246..and about to give my cs by august 10th..the result will b availbbale by oct to nov..m confused if i shud apply for this years match or not ill b able to take my ck in nov earliest..i dun have ne usce but i recntly got into a residency programme in uae at a hospital managed by cleveland clinic..i was hopin tht workin there for a year might get me an lor from someone there n tht might help me to apply for 2013..i graduated in 2009...can u kindly guide me wat to do..shud i apply for 2012 match or wait for 2013"?