how important are current LORs for the match?

[unbreakable619]

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I'm a FMG applying to psych this year and have been desperately trying to find an observership/externship/anything with psych experience to show for this year's match and to get an LOR. I have two psych LOR's dated for 2014, but am afraid I won't be able to snag an observership before the September 2015 application deadline. ALSO, every opportunity I looked at costs an arm and a leg ($1250 for 4 weeks for an observership) at almost every place I've looked at. I'm working now to save up money, just for application season alone (estimating I need around $5000 for applications, travel, etc...)

How important is it to get a LOR/observership from this year? I am supporting myself by working and live alone, scraping together just enough for interview season, but the added expensive of an observership PLUS not working at that time seems like a big burden. Any input appreciated!

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

I had no idea that people charged/paid for observerships. This makes observership LORs have a fatally discrediting conflict of interest. “Give me $1200 and work here for 4 weeks and oh by the way, you didn’t do very well” is not going to happen often.
To answer your question, at least I don’t think 2014 is all that old. Your year of graduation is more important.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

I think 2014 is fine. We interviewed a lot of FMGs and we wouldn't have even cared about 2014 vs. 2015. Bigger concern is when graduated, what you've been doing since and obvious conflict of interests.

e.g. Indian FMG only doing observerships with other Indian doctors in random specialties, who they happen to be friends with. I use that example because I've seen that before and knew both the applicant and the people they did the observerships for; it's not a very effective ruse.

 

[unbreakable619]

It's a trend I've been noticing this year especially. I have two hospitals nearby me that only started charging a fee for both the application and the observership this year, which I was notified of after I had already sent in my application. It really makes me feel like getting USCE as a foreigner is becoming another capitalist venture. The other observership/externships I've found that were free require a 5, 6, or 9 month commitment, minimum, unpaid. I'll keep searching but thanks for the input in regards to letters from 2014. I'm a 2014 graduate.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Of course observerships are going to be unpaid. Heck, the average American grad is paying between 1 and 3k per month for the same experience.

 

[unbreakable619]

I'm not looking for an observership that pays. I'm just saying a 6-9 month full time commitment without any help from financial loans that usually only US students are allowed to take out is a huge financial burden unless you are being supported by other means. I've exhausted my research on the loans aspect but they are pretty difficult to find if you are not from a US school. I'm working to save up for applications this season, but I lose out on clinical experience. If I choose to get clinical experience/observership, I won't be able to make money/save up for application/travel season.

Question to other FMGs: How did you apply/get experience/etc? Were you supported by family or were you working? Or were you able to take out loans?