Is starting 2 months late for residency too late?

[MedicalDave]

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So the saying 2 months for Step 1, 2 weeks for Step 2, and a #2 pencil for Step 3 lead to 2 months off schedule 🙁
I took Step 2 a little too lightly and failed the exam by a few points. My school pulled me from rotations and - long story short - if I apply to residency programs I would have to start 2 months late. I am applying to family medicine programs. Is this too late to start a residency programs, and should I just wait until next year and reapply? If I wait a year, can I just work under a licensed physician similar to a PA until the next year? I'm super grateful if you read this and if you have any comments or suggestions I would appreciate them.

 

[AMEHigh]

Since you're a DO student I'd look in to doing a TRI. If you don't take a month of vacation and don't do an elective (which I don't think is required to complete an intern you) you might be fine. However, don't quote me on that. I'd definitely talk to your school and some programs to find out for sure. You typically have to submit your diploma or proof that you've graduated during orientation, so not sure how that'd work if you can't attend orientation (usually in June) since you haven't graduated yet.

 

[costales]

If I wait a year, can I just work under a licensed physician similar to a PA until the next year?

I don't think that type of arrangement is allowed in any program (for several reasons). If you want to work like a PA, you need to have a PA license.

 

[Doctor Bob]

So the saying 2 months for Step 1, 2 weeks for Step 2, and a #2 pencil for Step 3 lead to 2 months off schedule 🙁
I took Step 2 a little too lightly and failed the exam by a few points. My school pulled me from rotations and - long story short - if I apply to residency programs I would have to start 2 months late. I am applying to family medicine programs. Is this too late to start a residency programs, and should I just wait until next year and reapply? If I wait a year, can I just work under a licensed physician similar to a PA until the next year? I'm super grateful if you read this and if you have any comments or suggestions I would appreciate them.

IIRC, in order to be eligible to participate in the match, you must be able to start 1 July.
If you can't, then you cannot be in the match. As time goes on (read- closer to 1 July or even after) programs may look for off-cycle applicants to fill spots but those are very few and far between.

 

[hallowmann]

So the saying 2 months for Step 1, 2 weeks for Step 2, and a #2 pencil for Step 3 lead to 2 months off schedule 🙁
I took Step 2 a little too lightly and failed the exam by a few points. My school pulled me from rotations and - long story short - if I apply to residency programs I would have to start 2 months late. I am applying to family medicine programs. Is this too late to start a residency programs, and should I just wait until next year and reapply? If I wait a year, can I just work under a licensed physician similar to a PA until the next year? I'm super grateful if you read this and if you have any comments or suggestions I would appreciate them.

You're off-schedule and as such you wouldn't be able to start with the programs in the match. Your best bet will be one of the following options: 1) secure a position outside of the match before it happens, 2) scramble into a position after the match, or 3) take an LOA, do research, then resume your 4th year rotations and apply in the next match.

 

[TheFuture_22]

I don't think that type of arrangement is allowed in any program (for several reasons). If you want to work like a PA, you need to have a PA license.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I seemed to remember Missouri passing a law saying medical school graduates could work in rural areas under the supervision of a physician.

 

[FutureDO2016]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I seemed to remember Missouri passing a law saying medical school graduates could work in rural areas under the supervision of a physician.

I think you have to pass more exams besides Step 1 and 2 to do this?

 

[MedicalDave]

Thank you for all the responses. I spoke with a young physician last night that was my preceptor, and she suggested that I try to match into family med, a tradition internship program or scramble into something. She also said if I have to take 10 months off, to do it after an initial year of training. If I take 10 months off after an initial year of training I can actually practice medicine i.e. in Florida you have to complete a traditional internship year of residency to work like a physician; unlike Missouri which doesn't require a TRI year. However, I might not take any time off at all. I'd probably just continue the program or switch into another as a second year.