EVERYONE.... please i need help

[landa29x]

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I NEED HELP with overall studying and exam dates plan.

Majority of the students in this country don't start worrying about USMLE till they actually graduate. I'm sure that's NOT the bast way to go about it.

I need your expert opinion.

I'm an FMG class 2008

1) I have a GPA of 75-77%. I'm really just an average student. I KNOW it's impossible to get into a residency program (internal medicne)... what would be my scores in Steps 1 and 2 for them to even look at my application?? University programs probably would just trash my app. Because my low GPA I never planned to take the USMLE or go into residency in the US.

2) But for personal reasons, i now would like to try for USMLE. ya think it's possible for me? I haven't started studying at all and i'm going into 3rd year this June. (Clinical rotations here doesn't start till 4th year)

Can anyone please suggest a TIMELINE of when i should take Steps 1, 2CK, 2CS in order to make it for the 2008 Match?? I would be graduating April 2008, which means i can't go to the states to take Step 2CS until after april. So i don't know if i would make it for the 2008 Match. Or..??

Another question, when registering for the exams, we have to choose a 3-month-period right, how/when do we know the exact date? And lastly, please suggest study materials and how to go about studying. So far i have First Aid 2004, but haven't started on it at all.

Please, anyone and everyone give your suggestions.. thankyou.

 

[Pollicis]

why is it impossible to get into internal medicine? I thought that was traditionally one of the easiest, with a high number of open positions available.

 

[SkylineMD]

The OP is a FMG class of 2008 which could throw the whole timetable off. Traditionally students take step 1 after their 2nd year but considering your basic science education appears to go throughout your 3rd year, I would imagine that you would need to take the exam after your 3rd year. I also wonder how one year of clinical rotations would affect your ability to match into your field of choice. Students in the US take step 2CK mid-way through their 4th year when they have taken a lot of the required rotations (that's a year and a half compared to 1/2year that you would have if you were following the 4th year timeline).

i would recommend taking your step 1 after your 3rd year and then see if you can take step 2 CK in december-ish of 2008 (i think you ought to have graduated by then). You can also begin applying for the match and if you need to, you can take Step 2CS prior to interviews.

The timeline you presented makes it kind of difficult to come to the US and match in 2008. 2009 match may be your best bet

 

[landa29x]

why is it impossible to get into internal medicine? I thought that was traditionally one of the easiest, with a high number of open positions available.

i said that because i have such low grades

 

[landa29x]

i would recommend taking your step 1 after your 3rd year and then see if you can take step 2 CK in december-ish of 2008 (i think you ought to have graduated by then). You can also begin applying for the match and if you need to, you can take Step 2CS prior to interviews.

The timeline you presented makes it kind of difficult to come to the US and match in 2008. 2009 match may be your best bet

yeah i figured i couldn't, CAN'T even submit application (do eras) by 2008 probably won't finish 2CS yet), which means i have to wait another year for the 2009 match result, and then start the residency (2009), (RIGHT??) I've only started looking for info on the eras process and stuff, and from my understanding is that when applying, we have to wait another year for the match.

 

[SkylineMD]

if your grades aren't all that great, here's how you should go about it:

- take step 1 after your 3rd year when you're done with your basic science classes
- get LOR's while you're doing your rotations
- after your 4th year, see if you can continue with electives in the field of choice or supplemental fields (I am not sure how the residency committees will view your application if you have only one year of rotations to show). At the end of the 4th year, start getting your ERAS application ready
- apply to a lot of programs if your scores aren't that great
- if you need to, near the end of 2008 (after your 4th year), take step 2 CK. However you should only take this if you are confident you will do well on it. You don't want to do well on Step 1 and then poorly on Step 2CK
- you should then hopefully begin interviewing and then you can take Step 2CS prior to your residency (some residency programs want you to be done with step 2 completely with your results prior to beginning so you would have to look into that).