In Need of Some Advice.. long and complicated

[bigapple34]

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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could give me a bit of advice. Bear with me as this may get lengthy!. My husband and I are both 4th year U.S. IMG medical students. We have a 15 month old son. To make a long story short, my husband recently took and failed Step 2. He passed step 1 on his first attempt, although his score was not great. We were all set to apply for this year's match when this happened. I have passed step 2. My husband is currently doing his surgery core (our school breaks up cores/electives throughout 3rd and 4th year). His surgery rotation does not end until 10/26 and there is no way he can re-study for the exam until after his rotation is over. So you can see our dilemma.. we were planning on couples matching.. now we won't be able to do that since he won't make the match in time (won't have step 2 scores until probably late Dec)... so what do we do? Does he try to scramble into a spot in the same area i match in? Do we both wait out a year and do couples match for 2009? I really can't see us being separated... and surviving, especially with the baby. We are both in new york right now, and if i matched in New York/New Jersey/CT area, the chances for him scrambling are higher I know.. but still not a guarantee. Anyone have any suggestions as to what we should do? THanks!!!

 

[angel80]

I don't know how it works with IMGs, but with AMGs, you don't need to take Step 2 to apply. I know people that didn't take Step 2 until after they had finished all their interviews. Are you sure he needs to take and pass Step 2 to apply?

 

[bigapple34]

I know he doesn't have to have scores to apply... but since he already took the exam and failed, I am sure that he won't get any interviews without proof of a passing score. I think If I go through the match, we will have him apply, but my main concern is for us to not be separated, something i feel like if we don't go through the couples match, may very well happen. Don't really know what our options are though..
;0

 

[IndyXRT]

It's been a while since I applied, but I thought that you had the option, when filling out the electronic application, to release or not release your step 2 score. Is that not still the case? If it is, he could just not release the failing score.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I don't know how it works with IMGs, but with AMGs, you don't need to take Step 2 to apply. I know people that didn't take Step 2 until after they had finished all their interviews. Are you sure he needs to take and pass Step 2 to apply?

He does not need to retake Step 2 to apply (although it will help immensely) but he has to have all his tests done for the ECFMG certification completed by the date of ROL submission (usually mid Feb).

 

[Blade28]

"US IMG students" - does this mean you're American citizens studying abroad, or IMGs in med school here in the US?

 

[bigapple34]

It means we are U.S. citizens studying abroad.. although we are not abroad anymore.. we are doing clinical rotations here in the US. 🙂

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I think you/ve pretty much answered your question yourself.

First, I agree that with a failing Step 2, his interview options will be seriously limited. You can't release just your Step 1 score as suggested above -- when you release your USMLE transcript, you release all of your scores. If he had only completed Step 1 and takne step 2 after releasing his scores to programs, then he could not re-release his scores until he passed -- but that is not the case for him.

If he retakes Step 2 and gets a passing but poor score, I'm not sure that his interview prospects will be much better. An excellent score woulh help immensly -- I would favor a longer period studying --> better score vs. shorter time studying --> earlier score.

You should both apply in the match this year and see what happens with interviews. If you are both interested in the same field (IM or FP), if you get an interview and he doesn't, you might be able to convince them to interview him (as you come as a package deal).

If he doesn't get many interviews, then you'll have to decide whether you:

1. Want to match, and hope that he gets a spot in the scramble (or not, and he finds something else to do for a year.

2. Both try to find a spot in the scramble (a disaster in the making, don't do this!)

3. Both take a year off, and apply next year as a couple again.

Focusing on NY and other residency rich areas will help!

 

[deleted21609]

Actually, FMG's have to have passed step 1, 2, and 2CS to submit a rank order list and match. You can send in applications without step 2 if you are about to take it, but even that makes it much harder to get interviews.

 

[Top Gun]

Not to mention some residencies require an IMG/FMG to have an ECFMG certificate before they will even consider an interview. And to get an ECFMG certificate, you need to have passed Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS.

 

[Faebinder]

My advise to your husband is to drop out of the match this year until he passes all his tests and gets certified.. then next year to aim where you matched. You will have a pull in your program and he will be able to use that pull to get himself a position, and he will have his exams out of the way by then. Trying to get all his ducks in a line for this year might worsen the situation (He doesnt want to fail again in a rush to retake the exam in hopes that he can scramble or something similar. Believe me it's a common thing, he's better off taking his time.)

You on the other hand need to match.

 

[mgdsh]

My advise to your husband is to drop out of the match this year until he passes all his tests and gets certified.. then next year to aim where you matched. You will have a pull in your program and he will be able to use that pull to get himself a position, and he will have his exams out of the way by then. Trying to get all his ducks in a line for this year might worsen the situation (He doesnt want to fail again in a rush to retake the exam in hopes that he can scramble or something similar. Believe me it's a common thing, he's better off taking his time.)

You on the other hand need to match.

Agreed. I really think your best option is for you to apply this year and your husband to possibly try and scramble. I really can't stress that enough.

Also, I'd wait to mention to programs that your husband hasn't passed his step 2 and could use a few interviews. Your #1 goal should be to get yourself a residency spot this year. He should also take his time and do everything he possibly can to rock the boards, even if that means he has to sit out a year.

If anything this could be a blessing in disguise. While you are a PGY-1 having him around to take care of your child could make some things a lot easier on you both. I honestly couldn't imagine two PGY-1s having to raise a small child during their first year, unless you had a lot of help, plenty of paternal/maternal leave or something.

*added* If money is any type of issue, if I were in your husbands shoes, I would not apply to any programs. I would not do anything other than register to scramble (and, if I'm not wrong, that can be done later -- someone feel free to correct me on this). Ideally you would match in a population dense area (as you alluded to and as APD confirmed). At that point if your program or near by program has any available openings, is hopefully when your husband could scramble. Your program director might be able to help at that point, or for next years match.

 

[bigapple34]

Wow.. thanks for all the really helpful replies. It sounds like our best bet is for me to match (god willing) and him to try to scramble. He is planning on taking step 2 again Jan 25 after 5 weeks of intensive studying (no rotations, and doing Kaplan retreat). I am confident this will enable him to pass. If he does not scramble into a position, then he will take the year off and either A.) work, or B.) be a stay at home dad... it really depends on where we are geographically at that point. Neither one of us is trying for ultra competitive specialties (he wants FP or Peds) and I am applying for OB/GYN... so hopefully that will work in our favor. I was offered a pre-match position where i did my OB/GYN core... of course it was under the table since we were way outside the application process but never the less it's there. It would be in NYC which i know would improve his chances, but the program sucks! It's nice to know that we have some options available to us at least... Thanks again for all your help!