I98 in step one, Non- U.S, studying in the Caribbean. About entering MS3....is there really hope?

[Need-Help]

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Hi,
I am just about starting MS 3 and got my score some days back (Step 1- 198)...I feel really devastated...I had a lot of family pressures and difficulty while preparing for the exam but I own full responsibility and know I can do better ...but I want to honestly know. Do I have a chance at any residency position in the U.S....I feel like I am doomed and shouldn't proceed to the U.S for my clinical rotations like my application will get filtered out....I have no research experience and my school ain't much strong to help in that either....should I just Quit and save myself cost of doing all rotations in the U.S and not getting to match?.
Secondly, Can I re-write my step 1.......Ok more like I am devastated at my score esp after looking at the match rate of last year.....I want honesty, Pls don't sugar coat it.

 

[watermelon master]

Hi,
I am just about starting MS 3 and got my score some days back (Step 1- 198)...I feel really devastated...I had a lot of family pressures and difficulty while preparing for the exam but I own full responsibility and know I can do better ...but I want to honestly know. Do I have a chance at any residency position in the U.S....I feel like I am doomed and shouldn't proceed to the U.S for my clinical rotations like my application will get filtered out....I have no research experience and my school ain't much strong to help in that either....should I just Quit and save myself cost of doing all rotations in the U.S and not getting to match?.
Secondly, Can I re-write my step 1.......Ok more like I am devastated at my score esp after looking at the match rate of last year.....I want honesty, Pls don't sugar coat it.

If you pass step 1 you cannot retake it.

 

[bizdr]

You surely still have a chance. Try to make connections, they help so much. When you are doing your clinical rotations, make a very good impression and you can apply for residency there. Try to get electives at places where you can possible apply for residency. If you have a connection at a hospital, you can use them to try to get a rotation there. You have to make sure to do much better on Step 2, and then it can be a bit easier to explain your Step 1 score. Look at the less competitive residencies, and be willing to go to parts of the country that are not popular - it's only a few years of your life.

 

[Animalcules]

That is rough. I think your chances of matching are very slim, but nothing is ever impossible.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I’m no expert but I bet if you were to apply very broadly for like path and/or FM (like every program in the country) you could match.

Lots of those places go unfilled every year.

You could also just try to land a prelim spot somewhere and use that to springboard into a spot

Edit: you’re a US citizen right? Because that’s probably important since residencies won’t have to sponsor your visa

 

[Need-Help]

I’m no expert but I bet if you were to apply very broadly for like path and/or FM (like every program in the country) you could match.

Lots of those places go unfilled every year

You could also just try to land a prelim spot somewhere and use that to springboard into a spot

Edit: you’re a US citizen right? Because that’s probably important since residencies won’t have to sponsor your visa

Thanks, No, not a Citizen

 

[Roverreign]

I know of one person at our institution who was hired to help run and teach clinical simulations for first and second year medical students. This person was a graduate from the Caribbean who did not match but put their MD to use in other ways.

 

[IMreshopeful]

A 198 coming from an American grad is already an uphill battle. It’s going to be even harder coming from the Caribbean.

I would do your absolute best in third year - try to get top grades, and try to get as high a step 2 score as possible. Try to make connections where you rotate. Then I would probably apply everywhere possible for IM and/or FM.

While not impossible, you’re unlikely for sure to match an academic IM residency. You may have a chance at community IM and FM if you do what I noted above.

 

[atomi]

You don’t want sugar coating so,

This is a really bad situation.

You don’t really have any choice but to keep going at this point, but it’s going to be really really hard. You need to excel at your clinical rotations and whatever you did to prepare for step 1, do it three times as hard for step 2. If you fail step 2 cs or ck, you’re done.

You weren’t prepared to take step 1, period. It’s done and you have to move on.

Either give it your all or quit now. You have zero chance of skating by with mediocre performance at this point,

Also, you may need to look at the option of going to your Home country or elsewhere. US is still possible, but far from a guarantee.

 

[Med Ed]

Hi,
I am just about starting MS 3 and got my score some days back (Step 1- 198)...I feel really devastated...I had a lot of family pressures and difficulty while preparing for the exam but I own full responsibility and know I can do better ...but I want to honestly know. Do I have a chance at any residency position in the U.S....I feel like I am doomed and shouldn't proceed to the U.S for my clinical rotations like my application will get filtered out....I have no research experience and my school ain't much strong to help in that either....should I just Quit and save myself cost of doing all rotations in the U.S and not getting to match?.
Secondly, Can I re-write my step 1.......Ok more like I am devastated at my score esp after looking at the match rate of last year.....I want honesty, Pls don't sugar coat it.

Tough situation. If you are at one of the big three (SGU, Ross, AUC) I think you still have a chance, but you need to spend every available moment of the next year prepping for Step 2 CK. Do better on that and you may be able to find a non-competitive program in a non-competitive field that will take you. Better kill those clerkships.

 

[fruitsyMD]

Hi,
I am just about starting MS 3 and got my score some days back (Step 1- 198)...I feel really devastated...I had a lot of family pressures and difficulty while preparing for the exam but I own full responsibility and know I can do better ...but I want to honestly know. Do I have a chance at any residency position in the U.S....I feel like I am doomed and shouldn't proceed to the U.S for my clinical rotations like my application will get filtered out....I have no research experience and my school ain't much strong to help in that either....should I just Quit and save myself cost of doing all rotations in the U.S and not getting to match?.
Secondly, Can I re-write my step 1.......Ok more like I am devastated at my score esp after looking at the match rate of last year.....I want honesty, Pls don't sugar coat it.

1. kick butt on step2, take your time to get a good score
2. kick butt on rotations, arrive super early leave last
3. make connections (conferences, attendings you work with, friends, etc), your connections will have favors, and they will make sure your app is chosen as long as you are extremely good to them/show them what youre worth the favor...
4. find research projects that are close to ending, doesnt matter if your school doesnt offer them, ask around during rotations

you can do it... its just gonna be harder, and possibly the longer route

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I mean, nothing is impossible, but I also mean, you're reaching miracle territory with that score coming from the caribbean and not a citizen.

 

[y123]

What’s your home country?
And where do u do your clerkships?

 

[Need-Help]

What’s your home country?
And where do u do your clerkships?

Clerkship can be done in the U.S or on the Carribean (it's really up to the individual)...Home Country: Somewhere in Africa

 

[bananafish94]

Tough situation, I'm sorry to hear that. I really think the only option moving forward is to do any and all things possible to do extraordinarily well on your rotations, and study for Step 2 like nothing you've ever studied for in the past. And then apply very, very broadly to community FM or maybe IM programs that are friendly towards Caribbean students. This will be a steep battle, though. Is it possible for you to do residency in your home country?

 

[hardpecs]

Well if we cut the BS and cut to the truth you have an uphill, but not impossible battle.

1. Its better to finish school anyway. An MD is an MD, and while matching might be difficult, it will still open a lot of doors for you in research, pharmaceutical companies, and even business management. The further away you get from practicing medicine, the less people are aware of what the USMLE is.
2. If you kill your Step 2, id say you stand a good chance of matching - though be prepared to look for those programmes which have difficulty matching candidates, and to enter SOAP. Many programme directors have gone out and said they consider people who did badly at Step 1, but turned it around at Step 2. You'll be basically limited to FM, Paeds, IM and EM - and at programmes out in the sticks - but its better than nothing. The challenge is that you need to kill Step 2 - not a modest improvement, but 250+. If you have it in you, and you have that fire, its possible.
Edit - 3) There is one more option. Practice elsewhere. Many other English speaking countries (eg: UK) are very open to taking FMG's and dont use Step score as entry criteria.

 

[Need-Help]

Tough situation, I'm sorry to hear that. I really think the only option moving forward is to do any and all things possible to do extraordinarily well on your rotations, and study for Step 2 like nothing you've ever studied for in the past. And then apply very, very broadly to community FM or maybe IM programs that are friendly towards Caribbean students. This will be a steep battle, though. Is it possible for you to do residency in your home country?

Yeah it is......thanks....I'll do just that...I know I am not an average student and haven't failed any exam or had to resit one before....I realize my faults in my preparation and the pressure my family had on me.....I'll work harder towards my step 2 and probably do my clerkship in the U.S......thanks all.....at least I have a fighting chance even though slim I can give my shots.....I was thinking I had no chance at all as my application may likely not get to be viewed......I appreciate all

 

[IMG69]

Nobody has mentioned this yet but try do your clerks in the USA and get REAL friendly with everybody at the hospital, if they like you enough who knows what could happen, unlikely yes but its possible.

 

[MSTP18]

Are you ok with going to literally any residency program that will take you? Like are you willing to do FM in rural North Dakota? If not then I think you have no chance. I don’t think it’s impossible but you’re definitely in beggars can’t be choosers territory.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Not sure how this works exactly but you could also try to do residency in Australia or Canada. I know they have some areas that are super rural and in desperate need of physicians

 

[DBV]

No no realistic shot. Honestly you may get into some bottom feeder program of some **** specialty but not with chances of getting anything worth getting