Is Step 1 really the most important variable, as an IMG?

[45408]

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Eh I don't think residencies make that distinction. I think they group all FMGs the same. The hospital itsel doesn't choose residents. The doctors in each program choose and I doubt are responsible for different expenses for visas. That's more of the hospital's job.

This is incorrect. My program (in conjunction with the hospital) sponsors different types of visas and specifies what it sponsors on the program's website. The applicant selection committee doesn't operate in a vacuum.

 

[yesno]

OP is at the tail-end of his Step 1 prep. Understandably so, his social skills, and brain are probably fried .

On any other day, I would put money down, that OP has other more genuine/altruistic factors, but letting himself and his family down is something which is an emotional factor at this time. I know I've felt similarly at times and lost sight of the "big picture" occasionally myself. I'm sure this isn't isolated.

I am taking step1 in about 1week. I could care less what my parents think about my step1 or my career. I also believe that mcat was a much better test of intelligence than step1. step1 is all about hard work. But I do feel I would let my family down if I don't get me a really hot woman. Like Adriana Lima. And about step1. I am doing uworld. Been at it for over 2weeks now but only 50% done. I also heard it's a good idea to take nbme practice tests. So I ordered 2 and plan to take them 2 and 3days before the exam. Am I screwed? I have not used any porno or social networking sites for many many days. So I just logged on here on sdn because I do not want to log on my other sites. And I am supposed to go over my uworld test now on which I did not do too well. oh yeah. What does it matter if you make $200k in primary care or $500k in an elite specialty? If a girl is shooting for the stars, then $500k will not be enough either. Comments please. Keep me entertained so I do not open any other websites that distract my studies

 

[notbobtrustme]

You clearly don't know what you are talking about.

1. The US is NOT "the most lenient country in the world for foreign-trained MD's..."
a. In ALL European countries, a foreign specialty recognition can be converted to a European specialty recognition provided most European requirements for the specific specialty are met
b. To have your medical degree recognized, you just need to graduate from a med school listen in IMED
c. To be certified to work as a doc, often (depending on country) you need to pass some measly exam (like nothing close to the USMLE), to prove you have a minimum of medical knowledge
d. In Scandinavia (and in most European countries, I presume), language proficiency is not a requirement - as such, I have seen a ton of Arabs/Central asians with kindergarten level language proficiency and communication skills.

You are wrong on almost every count. There is a quota in place, residency spots are difficult to come by and language proficiencies have to be demonstrated. Like it or not, the US has the most lenient system for letting foreign MDs practice in the developed world.

For example, Germany

1.2.3 Third-country nationals
Our last group has to expect the most interminable procedures. A full licence for third-country nationals is a so-called “exception”. Usually, holders of third-country diplomas have to repeat their specialist training and become naturalized before they are granted a full licence. This might take many years. In Northrhine-Westfalia, the health authority informs that third-country nationals can apply for a full license after 10 years of work in his profession in Germany. Meanwhile they can hope to work with the restrictions of a temporary, provisional licence. Doctors holding a provisional licence may not be self-employed; they usually work in hospitals on a level with an assistant physician. Often, a provisional licence is limited to areas where there is a shortage of doctors.

...

They have to provide evidence of language skills, usually by turning up personally in the district government and talking to the responsible civil servant. Alternatively or rather additionally, they can prove that they passed a language test, most health
authorities require level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Sachsen is willing to accept B 1, but the applicant has to pass the B2-examination within one year

From some quick googling, France also has a language requirement before being placed on a quota in order to obtain an internship. One can only practice with a full license after obtaining French citizenship.



For EU citizens, you can theoretically travel between countries and practice, but in practice, you are limited by language barriers. For foreign-docs, there seems to be a bias against allowing them to train, having them train for longer, and for less pay.

 

[Medstart108]

You are wrong on almost every count. There is a quota in place, residency spots are difficult to come by and language proficiencies have to be demonstrated. Like it or not, the US has the most lenient system for letting foreign MDs practice in the developed world.

For example, Germany



From some quick googling, France also has a language requirement before being placed on a quota in order to obtain an internship. One can only practice with a full license after obtaining French citizenship.



For EU citizens, you can theoretically travel between countries and practice, but in practice, you are limited by language barriers. For foreign-docs, there seems to be a bias against allowing them to train, having them train for longer, and for less pay.

The US is the most lenient generally, they have the most spots available i agree. But the US also has language requirements lol 😛 people always forget that. The key reason why the US attracts IMGs is because american doctors get paid the most in the world relative to living standards.

 

[EuroDoc]

You are wrong on almost every count. There is a quota in place, residency spots are difficult to come by and language proficiencies have to be demonstrated. Like it or not, the US has the most lenient system for letting foreign MDs practice in the developed world.

For example, Germany



From some quick googling, France also has a language requirement before being placed on a quota in order to obtain an internship. One can only practice with a full license after obtaining French citizenship.



For EU citizens, you can theoretically travel between countries and practice, but in practice, you are limited by language barriers. For foreign-docs, there seems to be a bias against allowing them to train, having them train for longer, and for less pay.

One thing you are forgetting is that I'm a Danish national, I have practiced medicine in Denmark and Sweden, and I have several colleagues from Germany, UK, Southern Europe, the Middle East/Central Asia.

As such, you cannot simply claim that "I'm wrong on almost every count" (which are those btw?) - I have dealt with these issues first hand.

- 1) There is a quota on residency spots in Scandinavia (duh!), but not on how many foreign docs can be certified and have their degrees recognized.

- 2) Language proficiency does not have to be demonstrated, simply untrue. Case in point: I know a fully certified American neurologist working as a professor at a large hospital - he doesn't speak a word of Danish.

- 3) France (ahhh, google is nice, huh?): Sure, there is a quota for internship, but discrimination is illegal (French citizen vs foreign).

AND: French citizenship is not a requirement per European Union laws: ANY doctor who has obtained visa/permanent residency status/citizenship from ANY European country is henceforth permitted to live and practice in any European country.

You can't just google stuff and think you know how things are.

- 4) Bias against foreign docs: Really? They train side-by-side with EU docs, earn the same salary etc. No bias etc.

Anyways, no reason to squabble...