I am applying for Psych this year

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DietCoke78

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went to caribb school

Step1: 216

Step2 CK 1st attempt failed, 2nd attempt 214
Step2 CS 1st attempt failed, 2nd attempt passed

poster presentation at psych conference, made a 5min short film on suicide, couple volunteer stuff

my board scores obviously stink and im looking around for research
I have my sights set on psych only, what can i do from now till september to help my resume.
 
Psych is definitely much more competitive than it used to be with many US DOs and even some MDs with no red flags sometimes failing to match. As an IMG with two Step failures, you're odds of matching psych are very poor. Though you didn't ask, I'd suggest your odds of matching at all are pretty low.

I'd suggest you target rural family medicine and highlight your interest in psych as a needed area of strength in rural FM. That much is certainly true.

I apologize for the 'sounds harshness', but this is my best advice.
 
Going to need to apply very broadly. Essentially all psych. Many (all FM?). Transitional year programs? And even through in an odd ball like Occupational Medicine.
 
there are some programs having research volunteers, if i join them would they atleast give me an interview
 
DietCoke78 said:
there are some programs having research volunteers, if i join them would they atleast give me an interview
Click to expand...
Yes, but curtesy interviews don't always lead to ranking, and ranking doesn't always lead to matching. They would have to be very impressed by your work.
 
Sushirolls said:
Going to need to apply very broadly. Essentially all psych. Many (all FM?). Transitional year programs? And even through in an odd ball like Occupational Medicine.
Click to expand...
What is occupational medicine? I have a friend who is doing that.
 
Very small, niche field. So, when you start a new job and they send you to get a UDS or PPD done? That office usually has a doctor behind the scenes running things, an Occupational Medicine doctor.
If someone gets hurt on the job, they get sent to see the Occupational Medicine doctor. A chunk of the work they do doesn't involve the classic doctor/patient relationship, but more of a separate, not exactly forensic, type dynamic. Some work with large hospital organizations. Others have their own practice and seek out large local employers who will send them their patients. Other focus more on the individual market to do PPD tests for smaller employers, or do VISA medical evaluations for green card applicants. Others spice things up by getting MRO certifcation (medical review officer) where they review athoritatively the drug tests people provide for employers. Others seek out the Dept Of Licensing UDS testing for people who have accidents on the roads that the State Patrol bring by (i.e. was this truck driver impaired by cocaine and heroin and that's why they crashed the semi into the school bus?)

Very interesting field when you dig into it. Typically is FM-->Occ med. But there are some Occ Med specific programs.
 
Instead of research, I would try to do away rotations at low tier institutions. If you impress them enough, they might give you a chance. At the very least you can get good letters from them for your application. Also, apply FM or something else as a backup.
 
Sushirolls said:
Very small, niche field. So, when you start a new job and they send you to get a UDS or PPD done? That office usually has a doctor behind the scenes running things, an Occupational Medicine doctor.
If someone gets hurt on the job, they get sent to see the Occupational Medicine doctor. A chunk of the work they do doesn't involve the classic doctor/patient relationship, but more of a separate, not exactly forensic, type dynamic. Some work with large hospital organizations. Others have their own practice and seek out large local employers who will send them their patients. Other focus more on the individual market to do PPD tests for smaller employers, or do VISA medical evaluations for green card applicants. Others spice things up by getting MRO certifcation (medical review officer) where they review athoritatively the drug tests people provide for employers. Others seek out the Dept Of Licensing UDS testing for people who have accidents on the roads that the State Patrol bring by (i.e. was this truck driver impaired by cocaine and heroin and that's why they crashed the semi into the school bus?)

Very interesting field when you dig into it. Typically is FM-->Occ med. But there are some Occ Med specific programs.
Click to expand...

All the Occ Med programs require a clinical intern year though first and start as PGY2s, unfortunately for OP.
 
Straight up I would be salty as hell if my program took an IMG with multiple step failures.
 
Because passing the exam demonstrates minimal competency. Multiple failures makes me question someone's intelligence/work ethic.

edit: they also couldn't get into a US school for what ever reason
 
MisterKitty said:
Because passing the exam demonstrates minimal competency. Multiple failures makes me question someone's intelligence/work ethic.
Click to expand...

With the efforts to prioritize diversity, other qualities are important and can forgive some shortfalls. I interpret the trend as "don't automatically interview all of the AOA gunners", but it doesn't mean "all under represented groups get interviews despite their grades". With three strikes, the OP will need some real leverage with a program to get interviewed and ranked, given the number of applicants without strikes.
 
DietCoke78 said:
went to caribb school

Step1: 216

Step2 CK 1st attempt failed, 2nd attempt 214
Step2 CS 1st attempt failed, 2nd attempt passed

poster presentation at psych conference, made a 5min short film on suicide, couple volunteer stuff

my board scores obviously stink and im looking around for research
I have my sights set on psych only, what can i do from now till september to help my resume.
Click to expand...
Doing research is not going to help you at all. Research matters for research applicants at academic programs. That is not you. The kinds of programs you would be looking at are not going to interested in research. The one thing you could do is pass step 3. Because programs will be rightly concerned about your ability to pass step 3, which is typically necessary for licensure or to progress in the program. Without someone advocating for you somewhere because they've worked with you, like you, and can see your potential, it does not look good. I agree with the above advice of applying to prelim programs (both medicine and surgery) as well as peds and FM programs. If you can get into that and do well, you might be able to get into a PGY-2 or PGY-1 residency spot after a year, or after completing residency in a different specialty. You basically need to prove that you can cut it clinically.
 
Yeah... Pass step 3. I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable, but honestly it's a tough road to hoe. I'd think your value could be sold as a solid, reliable, and efficient clinician, but I think you'd need to establish that through rotations and very strong clinical LOR or someone at a program you rotate through identifying you as a good fit there.
 
MisterKitty said:
I wouldn't want to be colleagues with an IMG with multiple STEP failures because they have a demonstrated history of incompetence
Click to expand...
You're not making a particularly positive impression as a potential colleague for us here either.
 
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