Well, so here's my story...
I am a USIMG and I applied to IM and FP (majority were IM programs) residency programs for the 2007 match. I had 12 interviews in both IM and FP altogether. I believe I could have had more interviews since my Step 2 CK scores were not reported during the interview season (as a FMG, it is best to have ALL scores in to maximize the number of interviews). I took the CS Nov, 2006 (which I shouldn't have, will explain more later) and found out I failed the CS on February, 2007. Now for all FMGs, we need to have passing scores on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS by rank list order deadline, which was Feb 21st. If not, you are pulled out of the match by ECFMG (the FMG accrediting body). So, in summary, I found out I failed my Step 2 CS early Feb, and obviously, there was no way I could retake the test and have a score report by rank order deadline, Feb 21st, so I could participate in the match.
What I should have done was take the Step 2 CS earlier on, so that if I failed, I could've retaken that darn test again, so I would have had a passing score on Step 2 CS by rank order deadline. That was recommended by my school, but I didn't think I would've failed that test. I thought if I studied hard, I should have been able to pass it first time around. We are recommended by our school to take the CK and CS by Dec 31st, so that we have passing scores by Feb 21st, rank order deadline.
So, there I was in hell. I paid thousands of dollars in application fees, travel expenses (hotel, plane tickets, food, you name it) for interviews. My only chance in getting a spot was through the scramble. So, scramble day comes along and that was another level of hell. At the time of the scramble, I did not schedule a date to retake the CS, so pretty much I was scrambling with no passing score on CS. I had a helluva time scrambling. I heard several horror stories about the scramble and they were all true. Phone lines were busy, fax lines were busy, my DSL line was too slow, ERAS site was slow, had a hard time logging into the NRMP site to access the unfilled program list.
Luckily, one IM program offered me an interview. However, they did not know I failed the CS since I did not email them my failed CS score report. After I told them I failed it, BAM, my interview was cancelled. I tried scrambling into mainly IM programs (preliminary and categorical), but I also tried FP, Pathology, Radiology, PMNR just to see what I could get. After several days, I just quit. I could never imagine myself doing FP, so the number of applications I sent out for FP were limited. I did my best to get a spot in either IM categorical or preliminary, but to no avail. I never heard anything from Radiology or Pathology, and I didn't expect to anyways, since I had no pathology experience (via electives, research or working in a hospital path lab) and radiology is notoriously competive, esp. for a FMG.
My original applications for the 2007 match were mainly for IM with a few FP applications in there for backup in case I did not match IM. Initially, I wanted to apply to Radiology, but after serious consideration, I decided not to because there was no way I could match in rads. I never considered applying to Path until several weeks ago.
Several weeks ago, my friend suggested I look into path after the whole scramble ordeal was over. I thought about it and it sure fit what I was looking for. I came to the realization that I am not a big fan of clinical medicine and all the everyday nonsense that goes along with it. So to make a positive out of a negative, I am happy I did not get into an IM program. Also, I received a master's degree prior to medical school where I worked in a cellular neurobiology lab, performing research at the cellular level. I told my friend that I thought it was fate for all of this to happen...to not have matched and having him tell me to consider path. I published my master's thesis (first author) at a graduate program affiliated with a US medical school.
Now here I am. I am scheduled for 2 months of pathology elective this month and next. I asked about working in a path lab, not to make myself a more competitive applicant, but because I have a year off. I have not shown any interest in path in my application materials, until now. Like I said I have two months of path elective and am looking to work in a path lab (not a research lab, but a hospital pathology lab) to get more experience doing whatever that will give me more experience and hopefully will help me in residency. Since my experience in pathology is minimal, I have no idea what can I do to get more pathology experience after I graduate this summer. I was thinking about asking the doc who I will be doing a path elective with, if I could work in his lab. Another option is that I might be able to pull some strings and work in a path lab at my dad's hospital (my dad is a physician). I understand there are liability issues, but I haven't thought about that yet.
I recently pm'ed a path resident who graduated from my school and he/she stated that being away from school for one year may hurt my chances "in finding a pathology residency program." Is this true? I pretty much have no choice but to take a year off. BTW, I am a US citizen.
In terms of career intentions, I am looking to get into an AP/CP program, at a program where I can have the best training possible.
Well, thank you for hearing me out. I know I have a long way to go, and I faced many struggles/sacrifices before, so this is nothing new to me. I appreciate all the help and advice you guys have given me so far. If anything is unclear please ask and I will answer away.
Thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions, help. Good luck to all.
