Applying : what's the schedule ?

[DropD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

I'm an IMG, taking Step 1 in a few weeks. I'm going to try to apply for residency programs in order to start in 2012.
The thing is that I'm a bit unsure about the schedule.
It's probably very basic to you, but :
When exactly do you apply through ERAS ? Just after taking step 1? Or do you have to have taken Step 2 ?
When do interviews start ?
I feel like I understood the process, but it's the timeline that's a bit unclear to me.

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[smq123]

Moving to ERAS.

 

[smq123]

Hey all,

I'm an IMG, taking Step 1 in a few weeks. I'm going to try to apply for residency programs in order to start in 2012.
The thing is that I'm a bit unsure about the schedule.
It's probably very basic to you, but :
When exactly do you apply through ERAS ? Just after taking step 1? Or do you have to have taken Step 2 ?
When do interviews start ?
I feel like I understood the process, but it's the timeline that's a bit unclear to me.

Thanks a lot for your help!

If you have already graduated, you can (technically) apply through ERAS whenever you want.

However, to participate in the Match, I believe you have to have passed Step 1, Step 2 CK (the written portion), AND Step 2 CS (the physical exam portion), in order to become ECFMG certified.

ERAS opens in early September. Interview invitations start getting sent October-November, and interviews start around the beginning of November. Some places stop interviewing in January, others stop interviewing in February. Rank lists are due in late February, and the Match is in mid-March.

 

[Blitz2006]

I am also interested in this question, as I am in same boat.

Thanks smq for the response. So my follow up question is, when in September is a good time to apply? I'm guessing its obvious that Sept.1 is the 'best' time, but will I be 'screwed' if I apply mid-Sept, like around 15th?

Reason why I ask is because I will be receiving match results around middle of September here in my home country, so based on that I will tailor my ERAS app.

Cheers,

If you have already graduated, you can (technically) apply through ERAS whenever you want.

However, to participate in the Match, I believe you have to have passed Step 1, Step 2 CK (the written portion), AND Step 2 CS (the physical exam portion), in order to become ECFMG certified.

ERAS opens in early September. Interview invitations start getting sent October-November, and interviews start around the beginning of November. Some places stop interviewing in January, others stop interviewing in February. Rank lists are due in late February, and the Match is in mid-March.

 

[DropD]

Thanks a lot for your help,

So do you think it'd be possible for me to apply for 2012? Since I'll only be taking step 1 in 2 months? Applying for 2013 would be problematic for me.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am also interested in this question, as I am in same boat.

Thanks smq for the response. So my follow up question is, when in September is a good time to apply? I'm guessing its obvious that Sept.1 is the 'best' time, but will I be 'screwed' if I apply mid-Sept, like around 15th?

Reason why I ask is because I will be receiving match results around middle of September here in my home country, so based on that I will tailor my ERAS app.

Cheers,

Mid September is fine. Many GS programs don't really look at apps until the Dean's letter is in November 1 anyway (but many do, so don't dilly-dally). It will be fine to wait until you see the results of your home match.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks a lot for your help,

So do you think it'd be possible for me to apply for 2012? Since I'll only be taking step 1 in 2 months? Applying for 2013 would be problematic for me.

Thanks a lot.

I thought you were taking Step 1 in a few weeks, not a few months?

Anyway, given that the application "season" for 2012 will start around September 2011, that gives you a lot of time to take Step 1, and Step 2 CK and CS. If you can get everything done by then, then it is possible to apply for 2012, but be forewarned that some programs will not interview you without your ECFMG certificate and *none* will rank you without all the exams taken and passed for the certificate (ie, you will be automatically withdrawn from the match). If you cannot have everything done, then it is best to wait until 2013 or expect to have less choice in the 2012 match.

 

[DropD]

Thanks a lot for your message, you helped a lot.

I actually meant a few weeks. But since ECFMG rejected my application (my med school's seal was not at the right location on the form), it might be a few months....

I have another question though. I've been looking everywhere, but again, it might be too basic for people to even discuss it.
It's about the path to get to different specialities.
Ok, so there are specialties that you enter immediatly after medical school (IM, FM, peds, path...)
But there are specialties for which you need to do one year of IM first (derm, neuro... right? any others? rads?)
So how exactly do you apply to those ? Do you first apply to IM ? Or do you apply to the specialty first (let's say derm), and they make you do one year of IM first ?

I'm sorry if I got it completely wrong...

Thanks a lot !

 

[Ludicolo]

I have another question though. I've been looking everywhere, but again, it might be too basic for people to even discuss it.
It's about the path to get to different specialities.
Ok, so there are specialties that you enter immediatly after medical school (IM, FM, peds, path...)
But there are specialties for which you need to do one year of IM first (derm, neuro... right? any others? rads?)
So how exactly do you apply to those ? Do you first apply to IM ? Or do you apply to the specialty first (let's say derm), and they make you do one year of IM first ?

Derm, neuro, rads, rad onc, anesthesiology, and PM&R all have significant numbers of programs starting in the PGY2 year (advanced programs). You apply to these as you do any other specialty, but with the understanding that you would start one year delayed. So if you applying for the 2011-2012 match cycle for example, your advanced program would start in July 2013.

At the same time you apply for advanced programs, you also apply for preliminary programs, which should satisfy the PGY1 requirement for each of the above specialties. Prelim years can be in IM, surgery, or a Transitional year. The prelim year would start in July 2012, using the above example.

When it comes time to formulate rank order lists, you rank your advanced programs, and for each advanced program you also submit a supplemental ROL of your prelim programs. If you match at an advanced program, the match algorithm goes to your corresponding supplemental ROL and tries to match you to one of your prelim programs. Come match day, you will have matched at two programs – one advanced and one prelim. Hopefully.

That’s the simple scenario. It can get more complicated.

 

[DropD]

Hmm... And can you apply for several specialities ? Like neuro and PMR ?

Thanks !

 

[Ludicolo]

You can. The application/interviewing/ranking process is the same for one specialty or multiple. Whether or not it is advisable is one of those more complicated scenarios I was talking about.

 

[DropD]

So... It's not advisable ? Programs don't like the fact you're applying for other programs? Do they know?

 

[hasy]

So... It's not advisable ? Programs don't like the fact you're applying for other programs? Do they know?

It's difficult to say whether its advisable. If you apply to more than one program, then you have to write additional personal statements, get additional letters (probably), and rack up additional costs during the application process (applying to programs, going to interviews -- it can add up to significant amount).

However, if that is something that you are willing to do, then go ahead and do it. In some competitive fields like derm, it is quite routine to apply to back-up specialties. But most people do not apply to more than 1-2.

The programs do not know that you have applied to multiple specialties, not via ERAS anyway. If you apply to two different specialties within one hospital and the PDs talked to each other, they may find out that way. This has happened quite recently to one poster on SDN. So, applying to multiple specialties within one hospital is probably not advisable.

Hope this helped.