from STEP ONE to the MATCH

[handthatheals]

hello there.
i am a 30 years old male, graduated from a humble medical school in manila last 1998.
i am not the best student in my class.

i did two years of residency in the philippines, and fate made me to look again in the prospect of tackling the USMLE's and matching for a residency slot in the USA.

i studied by myself for the USMLE steps 1 and 2 and the CSA.
got all the books and materials which i thought are necessary and read them. by heart.

also, i assimilated all the pieces of advice i got from everyone. littelest they may seem, but all were nuggets of gold to me.

i sought our 'elders' to write me strong letters of recommendation and asked my school's dean to make me a very good dean's letter.

my personal statement i composed for a whole week. make that two. for it to be outstanding, yet modest and true. i even asked a friend's friend to help me out.

wrote down all my academic accolades and clinical experiences for my curriculum vitae. it was a very short list.

then went to USA for the CSA.
and interivewed to eight programs from the twelve calls i got.

i aimed to leave a good impression with the interviewing faculty. needless to say, that is different from impressing the interviewers.
i was eager but composed.
conveyed i am confident of what i can offer,
yet reassured them i have a lot to learn under their tutelage and care.
i was interesting as i was interested.
smiled alot. becasue i really do smile alot.

followed up my application by sending thank-you letters and letters of intention.

while waiting for the match outsome, i studied and took step 3.

i matched with a university program for ob/gyn.

i think this is a very likely story for people who went through the match.
but what i like to underscore is that
PREPAREDNESS, FOCUS, HARDWORK, PERSEVERANCE and BEING RESPONSIBLE for the choices we make
are the keys to success. For the Match or otherwise.

And, by the way, I always ask and seek Our Lord God's approval in every step of the way.
Surely, He will lead the way.

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[NRAI2001]

what did u do ur 2 years of residency in?

 

[NRAI2001]

 

[NRAI2001]

Originally posted by NRAI2001
what did u do ur 2 years of residency in?

I meant the two years that u did in the phillipines.

 

[NRAI2001]

Was it also ob/gyn?

 

[Santiago]

YOU ARE YOUR OWN LORD.....AMEN!

Congrats and well done.!!!!!

 

[NRAI2001]

Originally posted by Skip Intro
The above is an excellent post! Congratulations on your accomplishment. I think this exactly what you need to do and this is great advice to anyone who reads it.



Based on your own extremely well-organized and executed plan above, methinks you give "Our Lord God" too much credit.

-Skip

?

 

[bangaloreuser]

How is Angeles Medical School in Phillipines ??

 

[handthatheals]

hello there guys!
thank you for appreciating the post!

to answer the questions posted:

- i did general surgery residency for two years in manila, philippines

- i am aware about the medical school in angeles here in the philippines. it is one of the province-based.
there are alot of those metropolis-based medical institutions, though, wherein you can have a myriad of medical influences, academic-wise and clinic-wise.

please post more of your USMLE and Residency Match questions. Or better yet, e-mail me at: [email protected]

i am here to help and support!

also, i apologize for my late post today. I just flew back in Manila from the US today to take care now of my visa (J-1).

 

[NRAI2001]

Cool.

 

[handthatheals]

hello there, guys.

please post where you matched
and share a gist of your inspiring experiences
before, during and after the match.

let us keep the torch burning for our fellow IMG's.
God bless!