Confused. Poor Step scores. Please advice me

[drdr2012]

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Hello everyone,
I am an IMG, finished my med school 6 yrs back and appeared for my USMLE STEP 1 in Jan 2008 and STEP 2 CK in 2009 but couldn't continue due to some personal reasons. My scores were as follows :
STEP 1 - 200/81
STEP 2 CK - 194/78
I have a green card and have recently reached US. I am really confused after the match last yr n interview call in this match, about my options ahead.
Some people have adviced me to wait till jan 2015 when my scores become invalid so that i can reappear for STEP 1 and others say i should appear for CS as early as possible as there is a good chance of getting into a Psychiatry or Family practice programme in match 2013.
What are other options before me if i don't make it to a residency programme next yr ? What is your advice on going for DO n then a DO residency after that? How many years will i have to attend in DO school???

 

[b-real]

I can't give you advice for the first question, but you probably are not eligible to apply to any medical school, M.D. or D.O., as you have already completed school elsewhere. Even if you were to be accepted to a D.O. school, you would most likely have to complete the entire curriculum (i.e. no credit awarded for past medical school courses). This means 4 years of school before residency training.

 

[jcu]

What have you been doing for the past SIX years? If it isn't medicine, your choices are to relocate back to your country of origin or find another career.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Hello everyone,
I am an IMG, finished my med school 6 yrs back and appeared for my USMLE STEP 1 in Jan 2008 and STEP 2 CK in 2009 but couldn't continue due to some personal reasons. My scores were as follows :
STEP 1 - 200/81
STEP 2 CK - 194/78
I have a green card and have recently reached US. I am really confused after the match last yr n interview call in this match, about my options ahead.
Some people have adviced me to wait till jan 2015 when my scores become invalid so that i can reappear for STEP 1 and others say i should appear for CS as early as possible as there is a good chance of getting into a Psychiatry or Family practice programme in match 2013.
What are other options before me if i don't make it to a residency programme next yr ? What is your advice on going for DO n then a DO residency after that? How many years will i have to attend in DO school???

Your first question is "easy" to answer. Waiting until 2015 is a waste of time. You cannot simply retake a step after 7 years has expired. This is a commonly misunderstood problem. Here's the relevant text from the USMLE Bulletin:

If you pass a Step or Step Component, you are not allowed to retake it, except to comply with certain state board requirements which have been previously approved by USMLE governance. For example, you may retake a passed Step to comply with the time limit of a medical licensing authority for the completion of all Steps or a requirement imposed by another authority recognized by the USMLE program for this purpose. The medical licensing authority must provide information showing that you are an applicant for licensure in that jurisdiction; have fulfilled all requirements for licensure in that jurisdiction; are eligible for licensure except for the out-of-date examination; and have completed the full USMLE sequence, including Step 3. Information regarding retakes allowed to comply with a requirement imposed by a recognized authority other than a medical licensing authority is provided at the time of exam application using ECFMG's Interactive Web Applications (IWA).

So, as you can see above, you only get to retake a step at the request of a licensing authority, and the only thing "missing" from your license application must be the USMLE steps in an acceptable timeframe. So, if you don't complete all of the Steps before the 7 year limit, you address it only after you complete residency training and apply for a license.

As to your second question, I have heard that some DO schools do allow some IMG's to matriculate into the 3rd year, but I expect this is rare and likely would require higher scores than yours, although I really don't know anything about this process.

Overall, your best chance is to apply in the next match cycle. You need to pass CS, and you need US clinical experience if you can get any.

 

[drdr2012]

Thanks a lot for the advice n clarifying.... planning to prepare for CS n appear this june for it.

 

[drdr2012]

What have you been doing for the past SIX years? If it isn't medicine, your choices are to relocate back to your country of origin or find another career.

hi,
well i was practicing as a doctor in my country as i could not move to US because of some family problem. I have been working in a recognized hospital for past 6 yrs.
Hope i get an interview n get a chance to explain my case...

 

[drdr2012]

I can't give you advice for the first question, but you probably are not eligible to apply to any medical school, M.D. or D.O., as you have already completed school elsewhere. Even if you were to be accepted to a D.O. school, you would most likely have to complete the entire curriculum (i.e. no credit awarded for past medical school courses). This means 4 years of school before residency training.

Thanks for the reply.
Do u guys have any idea about the career prospects after MHA or MBA ???

 

[group_theory]

As to your second question, I have heard that some DO schools do allow some IMG's to matriculate into the 3rd year, but I expect this is rare and likely would require higher scores than yours, although I really don't know anything about this process..

As for the DO options, no DO school will give you advance standing.

NYCOM/NYIT has a program for foreign physician (who are US citizens or green card holders) to repeat medical school (all 4 years) but it is competitive. (and as a DO student, you will have to take COMLEX). Not sure if this is an ideal option since tuition is roughly $45k-$50k/year (excluding living expenses). I believe NYCOM is the only school that has this option for IMGs

http://www.nyit.edu/nycom/admissions/emigre_physician_program_epp/

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks for the reply.
Do u guys have any idea about the career prospects after MHA or MBA ???

Neither will be particularly useful in your situation. You need to complete the steps, get US experience, and then figure out a way to get your foot in the door, either by networking or more likely by doing a dead end prelim year in an undesirable geographic location, and really shining, with low board scores, a lot of years out of med school and foreign educated, you have an uphill battle.

 

[scotchtapetest]

As to your second question, I have heard that some DO schools do allow some IMG's to matriculate into the 3rd year, but I expect this is rare and likely would require higher scores than yours, although I really don't know anything about this process.

That is 100% incorrect! As per COCA accreditation standards, DO school can NOT give advance standing to anyone from non-COCA/non-LCME schools. Regardless of how many years/courses completed at non-COCA/non-LCME (i.e. non-US school), if accepted, one must complete the entire 4 year curriculum (in 4 years) like any other OMS-I including the NYCOM program as alluded to in one of the previous posts!

 

[QofQuimica]

hi,
well i was practicing as a doctor in my country as i could not move to US because of some family problem. I have been working in a recognized hospital for past 6 yrs.
Hope i get an interview n get a chance to explain my case...

If you're already practicing in your home country, why not continue to practice there? I mean, if the choice is between a guaranteed gig as a physician in your home country, versus coming to the US and having a slim-to-none chance of ever being able to practice here, does it really make sense to move to the US?

Assuming you have to move here for whatever reason, then it seems like your only viable option is to take Step 2 CS and Step 3, along with trying to get a residency slot (either through the match or outside of it). As others have already explained, going to DO school or retaking the boards is not likely going to be a realistic option, and earning a non-medical degree will do nothing to make you more competitive for a US residency. If anything, it might hurt you by increasing the amount of time you have spent away from clinical practice.

L2D's suggestion about doing a prelim year if you can get one makes sense, though it will be a dead end if you don't get into a residency afterward. But I would think you'd be more competitive with a good intern year under your belt than you would be with nothing. One other thing you might consider is doing clinical research that will give you clinical exposure at a US hospital. I know a few IMGs who did that. Of course, you run the risk of becoming a career research tech in the US if you are not able to get a residency slot.

Again, the safest bet (and the path of least resistance) if you want to work as a physician is to stay in your home country. I'd seriously consider doing that unless there is a very pressing reason for why you need to move to the US.

 

[mlw03]

I agree with other's advice. You have a big uphill road to get into a US residency. There are simply more and more US MD, US DO, US IMG, and then foreign IMGs in the game now, most with far fewer red flags than your application will raise. No trying to kick you while down, but you asked and you see everyone's assessments.

 

[myhandsarecold]

if you're willing to go back to school anyway, try for PA or NP school.

 

[Buzz Me]

Low Step scores, graduation date 6 years ago and no USCE or US LORs...it's going to be tough to match here. I'm sorry.