low step 1 score

[aaru20red]

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hii everyone..i am an img with step 1 score of 202/77..it came as a shock to me as i had expected my score to be atleast above 220...moreover, i am an img with no green card..also no relatives in u.s..i graduated in march 2012..i dont know what to do next..even if get a score above 240 in ck,are there any chances that i can get into pediatrics or IM residency for 2014 match..i havent taken cs also..i've heard that if u're applying with good step 3 scores it be helpful too especially when your step 1 score is low..
i really need advice especially from AMG's because i think they know more about how this system works..i dont want to give up but reality is reality..if there's hardly any scope for me getting into IM or pediatrics then i should put an end to it and start preparing for pg in my home country..am totally confused..

 

[whatdidigetinto]

I would say you have almost no chance at all.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

you could try calling the schools up. It won't hurt. I doubt any US MD students know much about your chances as a foreign med student with below average step 1 scores.

 

[godson]

hii everyone..i am an img with step 1 score of 202/77..it came as a shock to me as i had expected my score to be atleast above 220...moreover, i am an img with no green card..also no relatives in u.s..i graduated in march 2012..i dont know what to do next..even if get a score above 240 in ck,are there any chances that i can get into pediatrics or IM residency for 2014 match..i havent taken cs also..i've heard that if u're applying with good step 3 scores it be helpful too especially when your step 1 score is low..
i really need advice especially from AMG's because i think they know more about how this system works..i dont want to give up but reality is reality..if there's hardly any scope for me getting into IM or pediatrics then i should put an end to it and start preparing for pg in my home country..am totally confused..

Though your score is below the average for IMG's getting into IM or peds, it's not a lost cause. If I were you, I would take my Step 2 CK nd CS asap and then do as many observerships(i guess u can't do electives now) as possible before sept next year. 5-7 months would be ideal. Then the other thing that IMG's do is get involved in research. UPenn, Yale amongst others take in post doctoral students for research on short term J1 research scholar visa. It is unpaid, though. You need to reach out to as many people as you can if you want research. I did that while i was doing an elective a month back, and got many positive replies. The hard fact is that you now need to make up for your low scores. If you have the heart and an American residency is what you want then you can get there. Will it be the 2014 match ? I can't guarantee that. There are many stories on other forums, where IMG's hangout who have gotten in with low scores. The catch is they all have slogged it out in the states. So America is where you need to be as soon as you get done with CK, to explore your options, seek new opportunities. I know a girl who got into a Univ peds prog this yr, with scores similar to yours. All she did was make up for the low scores through a string of electives and observerships. She also got out a research paper and a poster during her rotations.

So yes, it is doable.

btw, I am a final year International Medical Student (South Asia)

 

[chiz2kul]

I would say you have almost no chance at all.

don't listen to this ______.

 

[aaru20red]

Though your score is below the average for IMG's getting into IM or peds, it's not a lost cause. If I were you, I would take my Step 2 CK nd CS asap and then do as many observerships(i guess u can't do electives now) as possible before sept next year. 5-7 months would be ideal. Then the other thing that IMG's do is get involved in research. UPenn, Yale amongst others take in post doctoral students for research on short term J1 research scholar visa. It is unpaid, though. You need to reach out to as many people as you can if you want research. I did that while i was doing an elective a month back, and got many positive replies. The hard fact is that you now need to make up for your low scores. If you have the heart and an American residency is what you want then you can get there. Will it be the 2014 match ? I can't guarantee that. There are many stories on other forums, where IMG's hangout who have gotten in with low scores. The catch is they all have slogged it out in the states. So America is where you need to be as soon as you get done with CK, to explore your options, seek new opportunities. I know a girl who got into a Univ peds prog this yr, with scores similar to yours. All she did was make up for the low scores through a string of electives and observerships. She also got out a research paper and a poster during her rotations.

So yes, it is doable.

btw, I am a final year International Medical Student (South Asia)

thanks a lot for this motivation...i am from india too.. even if i quit usmle i dont have time to prepare for all india now and i'll have to wait another year..plus low score has hurt my confidence way too much...moreover my better half is doing residency in u.s which complicates the situation even more..i think i have to continue my usmle journey with this score only and hope for the best..

 

[aaru20red]

you could try calling the schools up. It won't hurt. I doubt any US MD students know much about your chances as a foreign med student with below average step 1 scores.

thank u for replying🙂.. by asking amg's i meant they probably know what sort of research or USCE can prove to be helpful to me..i am interested in im or pediatrics..

 

[glykon]

thank u for replying🙂.. by asking amg's i meant they probably know what sort of research or USCE can prove to be helpful to me..i am interested in im or pediatrics..

I know someone with very low scores who got in Peds after doing 3months of volunteering at a community hospital. They liked her and when the residents matched did not show up that year, they offered her a position 🙂

 

[Cozenboy]

hii everyone..i am an img with step 1 score of 202/77..it came as a shock to me as i had expected my score to be atleast above 220

Just curious: what made you expect a higher score, like 220+?? did you get such a score in NBMEs that you took, or where did you get that expectation from?

 

[aaru20red]

yeah..i got a score of 215 on nbme 7 a month before the exam and 223 in nbme 13 8 days before the exam..and a few frnds of mine scored 10-15 points higher on the real exam compared to nbme 13 as it is considered tough..i had never expected my score to fall down by 20 points..

 

[Cozenboy]

Wow, then that is weird and must be frustrating. Wish you the best in the other steps!

 

[aaru20red]

yes it is..but i am trying to keep the frustration and disappointment behind now..thanks for ur wishes..🙂

 

[CoffeeMD]

Hello I'm a Mexican IMG, 25 years old, female
Graduated last year, I just got my Step 1 score and I'm devastated, I got 195, not at all what I was expecting.
I'm interested in the IM/EM/CCM programs, I would also be applying to EM/IM and even EM for 2014
Are these programs very competitive?
I have done rotations in the US and was named Chief Medical Student.
I think I have three strong LOR (IM/CCM, Nephrology and Vascular Surgery)
I have worked on 2 research protocols, I have 15 publications: 2 review papers (one in Pubmed), 6 editorials (one in Pubmed), 1 book chapter and 6 abstracts of lectures given.
I have lectured twice at an International EM/CCM symposium
Graduated 4th of my class with honors.

I'm currently working as Reasearch Assistant, full time and that has made studying for the exams a bit harder.

My question is: What is better for me now, to stop working and focus on acing CK, CS and Step 3 or continue building up my curriculum and study as much as I can in between
Any advice?.

Do I even stand a chance of getting Interviews/Matching?
Thank you in advance