Chances at getting interviews without ECFMG cert. but with step 1, 2 ck and cs?

[Saladin MD]

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I know ECFMG certification is not a requirement to take part in the match...a pending application is good enough. But will my chances be hurt if I'm not ECFMG certified? Keep in mind that I will have completed Step 1 and both parts of Step 2. The only reason why I can't get the ECFMG certification on time is because I would not have gotten my diploma yet.

Would program directors be cool with the fact that I have both parts of Step 2 cleared? Or would some throw out my application because of not being ECFMG certified?

And what about with Californian programs?

I'm really worried about this. Thanks.

 

[Saladin MD]

Hmmm, I think I got my answer already from reading other threads....seems like it will hurt me a lot no matter what.

My question is: what if the person in question is a US citizen with no VISA issues?

 

[Femtochemistry]

Hey

I was in a similar situation as you having completed the Steps but awaiting the ECFMG certificate. I didn't have any problems getting interviews--had to cancel half of them, in fact. It really depends where you apply; some programs don't require the certificate and some do. I will be getting the certificate in May as I am also waiting for my diploma. As a US citizen, I am sure that it helped as I didn't have all the visa issues.

In short, some programs require certificate when you interview some don't; and it helps to be a US citizen.


best of luck!

 

[lapooh]

As long as you have cleared all the Steps, not having the ECFMG certificate is not a big problem when it comes to interviews. I didnt get my ECFMG till very late in the season, andI got interviews even at programs that listed the ECFMG certificate as a requirement while applying. Being a US citizen will make things way easier too. But do make sure that you will be certified by the time you join at the program. After you get your diploma and send it to them, the ECFMG will take "6-8 weeks" to certify you.

I do,t know if US-IMGs need the Califonia PTAL before applying to programs there. If yes, then that could be a problem.

 

[hope12]

Use the following link for more details on PTAL. http://usmlein.com/usmle/?page_id=74

 

[Saladin MD]

Hey

I was in a similar situation as you having completed the Steps but awaiting the ECFMG certificate. I didn't have any problems getting interviews--had to cancel half of them, in fact. It really depends where you apply; some programs don't require the certificate and some do. I will be getting the certificate in May as I am also waiting for my diploma. As a US citizen, I am sure that it helped as I didn't have all the visa issues.

In short, some programs require certificate when you interview some don't; and it helps to be a US citizen.


best of luck!

As long as you have cleared all the Steps, not having the ECFMG certificate is not a big problem when it comes to interviews. I didnt get my ECFMG till very late in the season, andI got interviews even at programs that listed the ECFMG certificate as a requirement while applying. Being a US citizen will make things way easier too. But do make sure that you will be certified by the time you join at the program. After you get your diploma and send it to them, the ECFMG will take "6-8 weeks" to certify you.

I do,t know if US-IMGs need the Califonia PTAL before applying to programs there. If yes, then that could be a problem.

Thanks guys! That really helped me feel better!! Phew.

FemtoChemistry--did you have knock out board scores?

 

[Femtochemistry]

No, I didn't have knock out board scores...unlike every SDN'er 😉

both my of steps were in the mid 90's don't remember exact score but like 94ish or so.

cheers.

 

[rox]

So how would you tell the programs that you're done with the Steps but awaiting the certificate?

 

[lapooh]

I was never asked to explain it. You wouldn't be, generally. If asked you can always say that your medical school diploma has not been issued yet, or you have not yet graduated, whatever is the case.
Many schools issue either diplomas late. Our class got ours 8 months after graduation.

 

[derm83]

For programs that require the certificate for interviews, would you e-mail/call them before sending your application to explain the situation so that they won't overlook your application?

 

[Jabez]

Hey, I was in a similar situation as you this past interview season.. I had cleared all the steps but could not get the ECFMG certificate before the interviews because 1) I did not get the diploma until June 2008, and 2) the school administrator did not tick one box and the form had to be reviewed and resent which took 4 months in total. I was finally certified in Jan 2009.

The truth is, NOT having your certificate will NOT hurt your chances too much.
It is true that a few programs receive so many applications that they have to use screening criteria for IMGs one of which is having ECFMG certificate. I know for sure that I did not get an interview from ONE institution for the pure reason that I was not ECFMG certified at the time my application hit that institution's desk.
But I received more than enough interviews and all was good.
Oh, and this was in neurosurgery.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

For programs that require the certificate for interviews, would you e-mail/call them before sending your application to explain the situation so that they won't overlook your application?

You can try, but if they require an ECFMG certificate for an interview, they are unlikely to make an exception.

 

[rox]

I'm done with Step 1 and Step 2 CS, will have my diploma in mid-June and will take Step 2 CK in July. So it's likely my certificate will still be pending by September 1, though I estimate it will be issued before the end of September.

So the question would be: Do programs screen applicant as soon as they receive the applications(ie Sep 1)? Or do they do that later on since they keep sending invitations till November?

 

[lapooh]

I'm done with Step 1 and Step 2 CS, will have my diploma in mid-June and will take Step 2 CK in July. So it's likely my certificate will still be pending by September 1, though I estimate it will be issued before the end of September.

So the question would be: Do programs screen applicant as soon as they receive the applications(ie Sep 1)? Or do they do that later on since they keep sending invitations till November?

Varies from program to program. Some start looking at your application as early as first week of September. Most interviews come in Oct-Nov. Other people might cancel their interviews and that may give you calls in even January.
Even if your step 2 is at the *** end of July,if you/ your school moves fast and all goes well, you will have your ECFMG certificate by end of September. IMO, there should be no problems for you.
Many programs that list ECFMG certification as a requirement to interview do call you even without it if they otherwise like you. There may be a few that may be rigid about it, but other than those, you should be OK.

 

[multiplemyeloma]

Hello everybody, I am new at this forum and this post on entering the match without ecfmg certification caught my eye...that is what I did this match and I think it seriously effected my ability to secure interviews at top tier programs. One of the program coordinators sent me an email asking me to let them know when I received my ecfmg certificate. In the end, I got only 5 interviews and one program told me they wouldn't rank me, they didn't give me a reason as to why but I strongly suspect(? wishfully think) it was the lack of ecfmg certification. If I could do it all again, I wouldn't apply to the match without it. Having said that, you probably will get interviews just not at the best programs.

 

[derm83]

Hello everybody, I am new at this forum and this post on entering the match without ecfmg certification caught my eye...that is what I did this match and I think it seriously effected my ability to secure interviews at top tier programs. One of the program coordinators sent me an email asking me to let them know when I received my ecfmg certificate. In the end, I got only 5 interviews and one program told me they wouldn't rank me, they didn't give me a reason as to why but I strongly suspect(? wishfully think) it was the lack of ecfmg certification. If I could do it all again, I wouldn't apply to the match without it. Having said that, you probably will get interviews just not at the best programs.

IMHO, being an IMG technically means you will not get interviews at top-tier programs. So, It seems you applied mostly to top-tier programs and ended up with only 5 interviews. If you were to do it again, I think you should focus on mid or low tier programs.

 

[Saladin MD]

IMHO, being an IMG technically means you will not get interviews at top-tier programs. So, It seems you applied mostly to top-tier programs and ended up with only 5 interviews. If you were to do it again, I think you should focus on mid or low tier programs.

Well, it depends on what specialty too.

 

[multiplemyeloma]

🙄 I didn't mean just the top ten programs but also middle tier university based programs...anyway, even if you are an IMG you could get interviews at good university based programs, I just think that with so many applicants every year programs can put as many conditions as they want, oh and btw the specialty I applied for is Pathology

 

[hj0517]

IMHO, being an IMG technically means you will not get interviews at top-tier programs. So, It seems you applied mostly to top-tier programs and ended up with only 5 interviews. If you were to do it again, I think you should focus on mid or low tier programs.

I'm sorry but that's just not true. Believe it or not IMG's also do come in different shapes/sizes/ability etc etc and program directors do not (unlike some folks on this forum or others for that matter) lump all IMGs together. I appreciate you are just giving your opinion but its just incorrect.

Check out NRMP matching outcomes over the years and even for something like dermatology there is the occasional IMG match. Theres even a thread about some guy getting into neurosurgery with a killer step 1 score. You might argue that this seems like the exception rather than the rule but if you think about actual numbers of slots available it generally is a decent yield Competitive fields will always be that way, be it whether you apply in the US, UK or even Djibouti! My advice is that whilst you have to be smart you should also apply to your dream programs. What the heck is the point of not doing so and always wondering what if?

 

[multiplemyeloma]

By the way, I didn't match...

 

[kenyaxxx]

Sorry to hear you didn't match, MM.

IMG here. Very interested in knowning the distinction made by directors for U.S. citizens who went abroad for medical school and true FMGs who are trying to come to the U.S. for the first time. This is a good topic.

In general (no matter what specialty), being an IMG is a -1 on your application. Some people say that true FMGs are rated better than US citizens who go abroad and I hear some people say the opposite.

 

[Elfy]

In general (no matter what specialty), being an IMG is a -1 on your application. Some people say that true FMGs are rated better than US citizens who go abroad and I hear some people say the opposite.

IMG citizens are often suspected to have gone abroad because they could not get into US med schools for academic reasons, or because they did not want to get into debt.

On the other hand, some programs prefer citizen IMGs even with lower scores because they require no visa sponsorship and are therefore the bird in hand.

Now of course there's FMGs (born and bred abroad) who adjusted to GC holder or US citizen status sometime between med school and residency - I'd say that's the most advantageous position to be in assuming you attended a foreign med school to start with, AND you had competitive board scores.

Obviously one has the best chances to match in a residency if one attended an American med school, but what's done is done. There are FMGs who need visas and still match every year in IM, peds, psych, path, etc. Depends what specialty you're after.

 

[Abram Hoffer]

Sorry to hear you didn't match, MM.

IMG here. Very interested in knowning the distinction made by directors for U.S. citizens who went abroad for medical school and true FMGs who are trying to come to the U.S. for the first time. This is a good topic.

In general (no matter what specialty), being an IMG is a -1 on your application. Some people say that true FMGs are rated better than US citizens who go abroad and I hear some people say the opposite.

Certificate in hand, no doubt, more offers. Not to say you won't get them as a US IMG. I matched w/o the certificate. #2. Give it a shot. You lose a year waiting.