IMG - can I still apply this year? Help!

[ugm12]

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Hello - I really need some advice!
I'm an IMG from the UK hoping to apply for residency this year.

I have not yet sat Step 2 CK. This is booked for July 27 - however I need an extra few weeks to prepare (have only studied 1/3 of UWorld - thats it!) I have a strong Step 1 score. Rest of application is sorted.

1. Can I apply before ECFMG certification? (just with step scores and a pathway) or will I be screened out for not being certified?
2. What is the latest I can submit a complete application to be part of the first round? Is it September 29th?
3. Would pushing Step 2 CK back to August be too late?

I feel very lost and very stressed! So any advice would be hugely appreciated!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You can apply without a Step 2 CK and ECFMG certification. The problem is that some programs may decide not to consider you at all without them. There's no way to know which programs will require CK without reviewing all of their websites, and even then it may not be clear.

Programs will start to look at apps when they are released on Sept 29th. If a program sets up a filter to screen out apps that don't have CK, then your application will not be reviewed. The second that your CK score is available, you'll be able to re-release it into ERAS and your application would then be "screened in" and the program would see it. There's no way to know when programs will make their decisions, so it's impossible to tell you what date is "too late". There are no "rounds" of application -- it's a continuous process.

In an ideal world, you'd have all this done and in on Sept 29th, so you'd know you were all set. Any delay after that may have some impact. A poor score would also have a big impact and be un-fixable. So your best option is to take it when you're ready. But if you apply with a delayed score this year, you'll wonder if some programs just didn't evaluate your application because it was too late, and you'll have to decide whether to proceed with the match or wait a year.

 

[eduh]

In addition to the above, if you were screened out and rejected by a program before having your 2CK score in, you could reach out to a program after it comes in (as long as it's not past their final deadline date) to update them of your score, and ECFMG certificate status. This worked for me when I applied without my step 2CS score in nor my ecfmg certificate. Some programs ghosted me, but 2 ended up extending interview offers to me after initially rejecting me once I had everything in.

 

[ugm12]

You can apply without a Step 2 CK and ECFMG certification. The problem is that some programs may decide not to consider you at all without them. There's no way to know which programs will require CK without reviewing all of their websites, and even then it may not be clear.

Programs will start to look at apps when they are released on Sept 29th. If a program sets up a filter to screen out apps that don't have CK, then your application will not be reviewed. The second that your CK score is available, you'll be able to re-release it into ERAS and your application would then be "screened in" and the program would see it. There's no way to know when programs will make their decisions, so it's impossible to tell you what date is "too late". There are no "rounds" of application -- it's a continuous process.

In an ideal world, you'd have all this done and in on Sept 29th, so you'd know you were all set. Any delay after that may have some impact. A poor score would also have a big impact and be un-fixable. So your best option is to take it when you're ready. But if you apply with a delayed score this year, you'll wonder if some programs just didn't evaluate your application because it was too late, and you'll have to decide whether to proceed with the match or wait a year.

Thank you very much for your time responding. That is so helpful. Since the final deadline is 29th Sept I decided to reschedule the exam. As you said - a poor score would be an un-fixable problem!

 

[ugm12]

In addition to the above, if you were screened out and rejected by a program before having your 2CK score in, you could reach out to a program after it comes in (as long as it's not past their final deadline date) to update them of your score, and ECFMG certificate status. This worked for me when I applied without my step 2CS score in nor my ecfmg certificate. Some programs ghosted me, but 2 ended up extending interview offers to me after initially rejecting me once I had everything in.

That is very useful to know. Thank you! My score should be back in time but ECFMG cert might not be

 

[ugm12]

You can apply without a Step 2 CK and ECFMG certification. The problem is that some programs may decide not to consider you at all without them. There's no way to know which programs will require CK without reviewing all of their websites, and even then it may not be clear.

Programs will start to look at apps when they are released on Sept 29th. If a program sets up a filter to screen out apps that don't have CK, then your application will not be reviewed. The second that your CK score is available, you'll be able to re-release it into ERAS and your application would then be "screened in" and the program would see it. There's no way to know when programs will make their decisions, so it's impossible to tell you what date is "too late". There are no "rounds" of application -- it's a continuous process.

In an ideal world, you'd have all this done and in on Sept 29th, so you'd know you were all set. Any delay after that may have some impact. A poor score would also have a big impact and be un-fixable. So your best option is to take it when you're ready. But if you apply with a delayed score this year, you'll wonder if some programs just didn't evaluate your application because it was too late, and you'll have to decide whether to proceed with the match or wait a year.

Could I please ask your opinion on whether it would be best to apply late (after Sept 29th) or without a Step 2 CK score?

A travel ban has come in between Australia and New Zealand, meaning the next date I can sit the exam is September 14th 2021. If my score is not back before Sept 29th, would it be better to wait and apply late with the score? Or apply on time and hope I am "screened back in" on releasing the score to ERAS?

 

[mvenus929]

Could I please ask your opinion on whether it would be best to apply late (after Sept 29th) or without a Step 2 CK score?

A travel ban has come in between Australia and New Zealand, meaning the next date I can sit the exam is September 14th 2021. If my score is not back before Sept 29th, would it be better to wait and apply late with the score? Or apply on time and hope I am "screened back in" on releasing the score to ERAS?

You should apply on time, always. As above, there will be programs that screen you out for not meeting their definition of 'complete', but there are some that will not. You gain nothing by waiting to submit, and you potentially lose out on some early reviews.