Apply to CA programs without having started CA Letter App Process Yet?

[KSUJedi]

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Well, I have a feeling that the answer to my question is going to be a resounding no, but just wanted to check & make sure before I completely write off the state of California as a possibility to apply to for an Ophthalmology residency.

Anyway, to restate the question with a little more detail, I'm a 4th year student of Saba University, a Caribbean medical school. Our school does have approval by California for licensure (although that statement & my understanding of what it means may not be complete), however I managed to not find out about the "California Letter" & the requirements of Forms L5 & L6 until just recently, and thus have not even started filling out this paperwork and applying for licensure in CA.

In the meantime however I have been hard at work on my Ophtho CAS application & such, and the time has come to fill out the distribution list of programs to apply to, and I'm wondering if I've already completely taken myself out of the running for applying to CA programs? Will they even consider granting me an interview without this form or without having started the application process for the form? Being a FMG I realize that I already face an uphill battle applying for a competitive residency like Ophthalmology and don't really want to limit my options at this point, I know I want to go into Ophtho, I don't want to do anything else, so I'll go anywhere that someone will take me, so I plan to apply to the full 90 slots that the distribution list gives, which means I do have to cut some programs, but CA wasn't really a state I wanted to cut.

That actually raises a side question if anyone has read this far, is there any way to apply to more than 90 programs?

Ok, I'll leave it at that for now, thanks for any advice anyone can give, I truly appreciate it.

 

[eeuupp]

As far as I know, the process to get the CA letter takes around 6 months, so probably it is a little late.

Good luck in your application. Hope we get a spot.

 

[rubensan]

Will they even consider granting me an interview without this form or without having started the application process for the form? Being a FMG I realize that I already face an uphill battle applying for a competitive residency like Ophthalmology and don't really want to limit my options at this point, I know I want to go into Ophtho, I don't want to do anything else, so I'll go anywhere that someone will take me, so I plan to apply to the full 90 slots that the distribution list gives, which means I do have to cut some programs, but CA wasn't really a state I wanted to cut.

You'll never know the answer to this unless you apply.

 

[JR]

You may want to post this in the international residency section of SDN. Someone may have an answer there.

 

[shalom2u]

You probably have your answer by now, but if not...I contacted all california program coordinators. Only 2 will allow you to apply, interview, and rank without the letter in hand. The rest won't let you apply without it, or will let you apply, but require the letter by the interview or they won't rank you. Sorry, I'm in the same boat.

 

[KSUJedi]

Thanks for the info, which were the two programs?