Advice!!!

[Itadoc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone,
I'm new of this forum and I find it very helpful.
I'm going to apply for Pathology next year and I'd like some advises from you guys.
I'm an IMG ECFMG certifided
2003 grad
USMLE 80/91/passed with several attempts
1 year observership in ER
2 hands-on clinincal experiences in Family and Oncology private offices
1 year of research in colon cancer at Univ. of Chicago and 4 abstracts
4 LOR form US doctors

With these credentials do I have any chance?
Thanks

 

[KeratinPearls]

Hello everyone,
I'm new of this forum and I find it very helpful.
I'm going to apply for Pathology next year and I'd like some advises from you guys.
I'm an IMG ECFMG certifided
2003 grad
USMLE 80/91/passed with several attempts
1 year observership in ER
2 hands-on clinincal experiences in Family and Oncology private offices
1 year of research in colon cancer at Univ. of Chicago and 4 abstracts
4 LOR form US doctors

With these credentials do I have any chance?
Thanks

I think you will have a tough time getting many interviews (then again, I don't know you). The multiple board attempts, being a 2003 grad (thats 6 years), a one year observership in ER (why did you do a observership in ER? did you want to go into EM?) are concerning. I don't think clinical experience will help you. You want to portray a sincere interest in pathology. Doing research in colon cancer will do that. I would get a letter from your research mentor. If possible, have him make calls for you on your behalf during the interview season.

I will be honest and say, from the stats you posted, you need to have someone in your corner and make phone calls for you. Apply to as many programs as you can afford and go to all interviews. Also, another thing you can do is take Step 3 and get it out of the way. If I was a PD, I would see your multiple board attempts and not having passed step 3 as huge red flags. There are ppl who get into residency without having passed step 3 and end up having a hard time with it during residency (failed multiple times) and end up spending most of their residency studying for the darn exam. So, I think PDs may not want to take a chance on this particular type of applicant, when there are many other candidates who have passed their boards the first time around.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I think I'm being honest.

 

[Itadoc]

KeratinPearls thanks so much for your honest replay.

I'm 100% agree with you. One of the LOR is from my research mentor and I'm studying for Step 3.
I have to say that my interest toward Pathology is a new thing. Doing research for colon cancer I spend most of my time in Pathology bc I do a lot of staining. So I started to appreciate it.
ActualyImgoing to ask them if I can do an observership with them hoping that this will help me.

 

[VickyPath]

Try to do as many observerships/rotations in Pathology as you can, preferably at the program where you would like to enter. That will help a lot!!
Good luck!!

 

[bioguy]

Try to do as many observerships/rotations in Pathology as you can, preferably at the program where you would like to enter. That will help a lot!!
Good luck!!

Completely agree with Vickypath. Obs/Rotation is a great way to let the program know that you are more than just your scores.

 

[ed2005]

Royal college exam in general pathology( canada)
Any advice, old paper, will be helpful
Thanks

 

[lifehouse51]

as obvious as it sounds, apply broad and early. Don't worry too much about money if your objective's to get into a program you like. As an IMG, you'll have a harder time getting interviews at some places (An unfair stigma on the program's side), but there are a lot of places that will look beyond that. Applying to multiple specialties (Pathology + IM + Family Med, etc.) is also an option, but just be careful doing that because if programs find out, they may not think you're sincere about their specialty.

Also you didn't mention your visa/immigration status. If your have permanent residency or U.S. citizenship, you're fine. If you're already on a type of nonimmigrant status (Such as F-1 Student, H1-B temporary worker, J-1 exchange visitor, etc.), make sure you know the process of switching over to something that works for your residency program (Usually H1-B or J-1), and that you will be able to do that (Some J-1 Status have 2-year requirement for people to go back to their home countries). Program will be wary to deal with people whose visa status will be a big obstacle.