A Request to the high-scoring USMLE applicants

[Erica Lewinski]

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This is a request to all of you, the bright USMLE-high-scorers
out there, from a minor tragedy-struck (family-medical)
US Citizen, ECFMG-certified candidate: Would you kindly
pvt. msg. me the names of a few programs, that you would
not consider worth applying (for your accomplishment levels)?
Those could be anywhere in the nation. I'm running out of
time and one my goals is to minimize my application cost also-
hence, I would like to avoid a program like a plague, if there is
a slight hint of competition there. If I get a residency
this year, I'll be very much obliged and I'll re-look at all
those nice replies from you and to the one, whose msg. I
consider as the most helpful, I would take you out to the most
expensive lunch in your/my town. (In case of some other difficulty,
preventing a lunch together, I'll mail you a check worth $50/-
{max}. for you meal). Would you kindly consider helping me out
here pleeease ... I'd rather spend 100 bucks on a lunch with
my nice friends, than send the bucks to the office, applying
to 3 programs irrelevant to my case.

 

[Blade28]

Just sent you a PM.

 

[PTP]

I dont know why you would have to ask anyone for this kind of information. It not as if anyone has some kind of secret/magical list which no one else can get. This stuff is all pulic info.
Just look at scutwork.com for the unfilled programs over the last few years. Any programs which didnt fill, espically if they didnt fill year after year are probably worth looking into. Also, eliminate University programs - the competition is higher there. I think NY, Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx are very IMG friendly. Lastly, from the info above its obvious FP, psych, IM usually go more unfilled than other programs. There is another site, http://www.usmile.us/ I think. It has stuff for FMGs/IMGs including a "friendly" hospital list. I dont think too good but you can get something outta it.
Other than that, just apply early, before sept 15 for sure.

 

[Erica Lewinski]

Blade28wrote>> Just sent you a PM.

Thank you. You and others who PM'd me have been entered into my list, friend. I'll keep doing this for a few months.
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[OT 🙂] A cartoon/cliche seen on a message-board, in a doctors' lounge in a north-east hospital: One tall building drawn as a human form with two thinking-clouds above it that say: Cloud-1: "Fail an IMG in a USMLE-Step, and we earn about half-grand for take-2" and Cloud-2: "Pass an IMG in both the steps around 79/80, and we earn about seven-grand every year for the next seven years {from all those yearly ERAS applications}". 🙂 Can you guess, what the few scribed letters were, on a partially shown Street Sign next to the building in the cartoon? 🙂

 

[Erica Lewinski]

PTP-wrote>> ... Just look at scutwork.com for the unfilled programs over the last few years. Any programs which didnt fill, espically if they didnt fill year after year are probably worth looking into....

Reality is much harsher and stranger for a lot of us poor souls -- US Citizen IMGs! A guy sent me a message effectively saying that "apply to the top-5 programs in the nation. Since, everyone is so afraid of their hi-fi status, not many land-up applying there and they also sometimes go unfilled. Since, the huge-begger-crowd gets diverted towards the previous year's unfilled program, they relatively have comfortable time filling-in this year around ... its almost a waste to apply there. Old Unfilleds' have almost zero corelation with the chance of success for an application"!! Go figure!

 

[PTP]

PTP-wrote>> ... Just look at scutwork.com for the unfilled programs over the last few years. Any programs which didnt fill, espically if they didnt fill year after year are probably worth looking into....

Reality is much harsher and stranger for a lot of us poor souls -- US Citizen IMGs! A guy sent me a message effectively saying that "apply to the top-5 programs in the nation. Since, everyone is so afraid of their hi-fi status, not many land-up applying there and they also sometimes go unfilled. Since, the huge-begger-crowd gets diverted towards the previous year's unfilled program, they relatively have comfortable time filling-in this year around ... its almost a waste to apply there. Old Unfilleds' have almost zero corelation with the chance of success for an application"!! Go figure!

I guess everyone has their opinons and sources. I would tend to disagree with the above...especally when certain programs continue to go unfilled year after year AND not many top 5 programs go unfilled on a regular basis. I hope everything works out for you. I would just add apply to a wide range of programs and apply early. You really cant do too much more...I mean by the time you apply the ink has already dried with respect to your scores, grades and probably letters. Also, if you have any kinda connections try and milk em!

 

[Blade28]

I would just add apply to a wide range of programs and apply early. You really cant do too much more...I mean by the time you apply the ink has already dried with respect to your scores, grades and probably letters. Also, if you have any kinda connections try and milk em!

Agreed, that's the best advice I can also offer. Apply early (if you haven't certified and submitted your ERAS app, do so as soon as possible!), gets those strong letters in, write a decent personal statement...and then just sit back and wait. You really can't do much else (I'm assuming you've already taken Step 1 and 2).

 

[Erica Lewinski]

PTP-wrote>>... Also, if you have any kinda connections try and milk em

Thank you for all your kind suggestions so far. But, unfortunately, I do not have any connections, what so ever, in the Medical edu. field in the nation ... no relatives, no friends ... none, zip! Now, on how to go about establishing connections? What can I do? I'm willing to help/volunteer in medical capacity anywhere ... If a PD is private-practicing somewhere, I'm ready to freely work and do the practice chores for him/her there, for several months to a year, to become known to at least some professional power figure, who can help. Looking at my desperations, some of my friends even joked at me that, I should be willing to walk a PD's dog, wash the dishes and help with his laundry! Okay ... even if I were willing to do that, how would I get the opportunity? I perfectly understand the importance of networking and being familiar, but how to break the ice? I can't be too outgoing to start with someone; being a female, I may be considered too liberal etc. Its okay with me that they want to give out some residency spots to familiar/connected applicants; after all, this is the way most of the World works in everyday practice, to perhaps reduce the risk. But, my dilemma is- I can not be too direct in pursuing these approaches, due to lack of even a remote connection as a go-between; in the absence of any connection, any such gesture on my part, can be construed to indicate entirely different kinds of favors and thereby negatively affect my application. ?? 😕

 

[Blade28]

Looking at my desperations, some of my friends even joked at me that, I should be willing to walk a PD's dog, wash the dishes and help with his laundry! Okay ... even if I were willing to do that, how would I get the opportunity?

Whoa, I wouldn't go THAT far! 🙂

OK, let me see if I understand your situation correctly. Sorry if you've already posted some of this in other threads...bear with me.

-You're a US citizen.
-You went to medical school abroad (no idea where), earned your MD.
-You've gone through the ECFMG hurdles - Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS, etc.
-You've tried to match into a residency spot (no idea what field) for the past 5 years, without success.

I have a couple questions:

-Every year, during the Match, what fields are you applying to? How many programs did you apply to each year? How many interviews offers were you getting?
-Who wrote your letters of recommendation?
-How are your board scores?
-Did you ever participate in the Scramble?

Assuming the worst case scenario (that you've just been REALLY unlucky the past 5 years), the only suggestions I can offer are:

-Do research (abroad, or here, just do something that will potentially lead to a poster/presentation/publication).
-Work in a hospital here in the US (EMT, phlebotomist, etc.)
-Does your personal statement cover what you've been doing the past 5 years?
-Ask an advisor (someone you trust at your school, be it a counselor, dean of students, attending, etc.) for help on strengthening your application.
-When you do reapply for the Match (are you applying this year?), apply to a LOT of programs. Focus on one residency type (e.g. Internal Medicine).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Whoa, I wouldn't go THAT far! 🙂

OK, let me see if I understand your situation correctly. Sorry if you've already posted some of this in other threads...bear with me.

-You're a US citizen.
-You went to medical school abroad (no idea where), earned your MD.
-You've gone through the ECFMG hurdles - Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS, etc.
-You've tried to match into a residency spot (no idea what field) for the past 5 years, without success.

I have a couple questions:

-Every year, during the Match, what fields are you applying to? How many programs did you apply to each year? How many interviews offers were you getting?
-Who wrote your letters of recommendation?
-How are your board scores?
-Did you ever participate in the Scramble?

Assuming the worst case scenario (that you've just been REALLY unlucky the past 5 years), the only suggestions I can offer are:

-Do research (abroad, or here, just do something that will potentially lead to a poster/presentation/publication).
-Work in a hospital here in the US (EMT, phlebotomist, etc.)
-Does your personal statement cover what you've been doing the past 5 years?
-Ask an advisor (someone you trust at your school, be it a counselor, dean of students, attending, etc.) for help on strengthening your application.
-When you do reapply for the Match (are you applying this year?), apply to a LOT of programs. Focus on one residency type (e.g. Internal Medicine).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Mostly accurate, but as I understand it the OP has NEVER applied for the US match due to family circumstances which have prevented her from doing so. She appears "desparate" because a 7 year time limit exists to finish all USMLE steps and get an ECFMG certificate. Apparently, this is her last year before she may have to retake Step 1 and she worries that no residency will want someone who is 5+ years out of medical school without clinical work.

 

[Blade28]

Mostly accurate, but as I understand it the OP has NEVER applied for the US match due to family circumstances which have prevented her from doing so. She appears "desparate" because a 7 year time limit exists to finish all USMLE steps and get an ECFMG certificate. Apparently, this is her last year before she may have to retake Step 1 and she worries that no residency will want someone who is 5+ years out of medical school without clinical work.

Ah, didn't know that. I also wasn't aware of the 7-year time limit on USMLE scores. (Is that like the time limit on MCAT scores?)

Am I correct in assuming that the OP's family issues are now resolved, and she's free to apply for the Match this year? Or is she planning for next year's Match?

 

[jmattwilson]

I think I just sent you a PM but I dont now if I sent it correct.

 

[Erica Lewinski]

Blade28-wrote>> ... Am I correct in assuming that ... and she's free to apply for the Match this year?
Yep, free to apply this year. Thanks for the question.

 

[NuMD97]

As far as ECFMG is concerned, once someone has exceeded the seven year limit to take Steps 1 and 2 (the jurisdiction of ECFMG) what happens is the score that is passed is rescinded and the candidate needs to start the process all over again. It's not as if to say, "Sorry, you can never be a doctor." The original poster had mitigating circumstances. The problem comes up when she seeks permanent licensure not with the temporary training license. New York is one state that does not ascribe to the Seven Year Limit. But of course do not listen to the postings here as dogma; investigate this directly with ECFMG in Philadelphia and confirm what I note here with the Medical Board in Albany, NY for clarification of the Seven Year Rule.

I wish you well in your quest,

Nu

 

[kas23]

Erica/Melissa,

You are just too much. I really don't know how to respond, but I am starting to find your posts quite amusing (please, not in a bad way). I don't know if anyone around here knows your full story, but you really have to chill out. Try a brown paper bag to breath into. Anyways, what have you been doing for the last 4 years?