Any scope or is it the end...

[shualguam786]

Hi!

I am an IMG grad of 2001. I was hoping for sincere advice regarding if I have any scope at all for psych residency in USA. This will be my first match.

My credentials:

1. Step 1 (3)-76
2. Step 2 (7)-75
3. Step 2 CS (1)-Pass
4. Step 3 (2)- 76

Experience:
1 year Psych Oberservership in Hospital Setting in Canada
2 LORS from Canadian Psych docs
2 LORS from Canadian Family Med docs
1 year research in USA--1 US LOR

Is it over with me....

The reason for many attempts in Step 2 CK--family business lopsided--lost home etc--had to work in factories....life was hard but I kept my chin up. But lately feeling very depressed---was this all worth it? Any constructive advice will be appreciated...

 

[shualguam786]

Hi!

Ppl are viewing but not responding...plz any advice will be appreciated...

regards

 

[Rena]

I know for sure that everything is possible in this life.

Actually, it is not a right place to ask such Qs. People are discussing mainly top schools here.
But I can say you that in many States you can't apply for licence because there are restrictions for attempts (no more than 3 for each step). You can try some programs in NY, mostly populated by IMGs. It will be hard anyway.

 

[futuredo32]

I think I remember reading in the general residency forum, maybe the match subforum, that people who have graduated over 5 years ago have a more difficult time matching.
Maybe a search of this forum for programs that are IMG friendly would help you to improve your chances of matching.

Good luck to you.

 

[mgdsh]

Hi!

I am an IMG grad of 2001. I was hoping for sincere advice regarding if I have any scope at all for psych residency in USA. This will be my first match.

My credentials:

1. Step 1 (3)-76
2. Step 2 (7)-75
3. Step 2 CS (1)-Pass
4. Step 3 (2)- 76

Experience:
1 year Psych Oberservership in Hospital Setting in Canada
2 LORS from Canadian Psych docs
2 LORS from Canadian Family Med docs
1 year research in USA--1 US LOR

Is it over with me....

The reason for many attempts in Step 2 CK--family business lopsided--lost home etc--had to work in factories....life was hard but I kept my chin up. But lately feeling very depressed---was this all worth it? Any constructive advice will be appreciated...

You've gotten your step 3 out of the way so thats a plus, but with that many attempts (I'm guessing thats what you mean by the #s in parentheses), its going to raise serious red flags if you even make it past their initial filters.

A lot of programs will filter out those who:
1) are IMGs
2) graduated after a certain # of years
3) Don't meet certain GPA / Score cut offs
4) fail X number of times

All I can say is go for it. You have nothing to lose. Possibly put yourself in a position to volunteer/work/research at a hospital you believe you have a good shot at getting.

That being said, I would make sure to have a backup plan in place, as there is no guarantee you'll end up with a residency position.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

Man, I'm sorry to read about your struggles. I was going to reply yesterday, but I wanted to think about my response.

First, I'm a graduating senior, starting residency this year. That said, I don't have any inside understanding of what it takes to match in psychiatry.

My first thought/question: Are you applying to psychiatry because you think that they are the most forgiving of the specialities when it comes to board scores, grades, etc.?

Again, I don't know for sure, but I want to be honest. I think you're in a tough situation. You have multiple attempts and when you did pass, your scores were marginal.

Yes, you had some difficulties; however, many of us had had difficulties. Life is difficult. That might excuse your first time failures, but multiple attempts/failures becomes difficult to rationalize.

I do want to commend you for your perserverance. However, and please don't take this as being cruel, but my take is that you just won't make it. Not everyone can and should be a physician. I just think you will end up spending more money and more time on an endeavor that won't be successful.

Nevertheless, I do wish you luck.

 

[whopper]

I have a buddy in a similar position as you. Its demoralizing. Hang in there.

I think the biggest obstacle you may have is your lapse in time between graduation & the present. You will have to explain that well during an interview.

I'm going to have to give you the stark truth. Most programs get hundreds of applicants for only a handful of spots. My own program had over a 100/1 per spot ratio.

The initial phases of going through those hundreds involving tossing out several applications based on easily defined, filterable measures. E.g. below a certain USMLE score, # of USMLE failures, and unfortunately, some programs do hold the lapse in time against the applicant.

Its only at the time of the interview does the program give the applicant the oppurtunity to get to know him or her.

However if you are determined to become a doctor, I would not give up. I would call programs in the area & ask what you could do to overcome the lapse in time.

 

[Ritz]

Wont sugar coat facts. Being an IMG makes it even harder.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/advancedatatables2008.pdf

>4,000 IMGs did not match.

Someone mentioned NYC as an option, in a kind of 'ridiculing manner'- being an IMG friendly city. Fact is it the most competitive and the first choice for IMGs.

My program facts - More than 4000 applications for 7 spots - Screening criteria for interview besides others - atleast 90 percentile in both steps, and of course no attempts.

May be FP might be an option.

Hi!

I am an IMG grad of 2001. I was hoping for sincere advice regarding if I have any scope at all for psych residency in USA. This will be my first match.

My credentials:

1. Step 1 (3)-76
2. Step 2 (7)-75
3. Step 2 CS (1)-Pass
4. Step 3 (2)- 76

Experience:
1 year Psych Oberservership in Hospital Setting in Canada
2 LORS from Canadian Psych docs
2 LORS from Canadian Family Med docs
1 year research in USA--1 US LOR

Is it over with me....

The reason for many attempts in Step 2 CK--family business lopsided--lost home etc--had to work in factories....life was hard but I kept my chin up. But lately feeling very depressed---was this all worth it? Any constructive advice will be appreciated...

 

[Faebinder]

Wont sugar coat facts. Being an IMG makes it even harder.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/advancedatatables2008.pdf

>4,000 IMGs did not match.

Someone mentioned NYC as an option, in a kind of 'ridiculing manner'- being an IMG friendly city. Fact is it the most competitive and the first choice for IMGs.

My program facts - More than 4000 applications for 7 spots - Screening criteria for interview besides others - atleast 90 percentile in both steps, and of course no attempts.

May be FP might be an option.

I doubt FM is easier.

I doubt anything is easy with those number of attempts.

I dont know anyone that matched with 9 total fails and I dont know how to fix it either.

This is posted in General Residency forum.