matching pychiatry with step 1 failure

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m1forever

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found out last month. 175. kinda expected it. I took it again today and I'm sure I passed it with probably a ~215 or so. First time around just sort of did nothing and thats what happened. My grades are poor and I haven't completed a rotation yet, but I'm hardly expecting to get a lot of honors....

So the deal is I want to match psych. Wouldn't even considerdoing anything else(ie IM or FM). It's psych or bust. I dont really care about program prestige; I just want to match psych somewhere(preferably in the southeast...ga, fl, al, tn, etc) that has a program that isn't malignant and where you can eventually get board certified....so my questions are:

1) What are the chances that I could match pysch with a 175/215 combo, so-so to poor grades, etc at one of those types of programs?
2) What are the chances that with that combo I could get shut out everywhere even applying to 40+ no-name psych programs across the country?
 
found out last month. 175. kinda expected it. I took it again today and I'm sure I passed it with probably a ~215 or so. First time around just sort of did nothing and thats what happened. My grades are poor and I haven't completed a rotation yet, but I'm hardly expecting to get a lot of honors....

So the deal is I want to match psych. Wouldn't even considerdoing anything else(ie IM or FM). It's psych or bust. I dont really care about program prestige; I just want to match psych somewhere(preferably in the southeast...ga, fl, al, tn, etc) that has a program that isn't malignant and where you can eventually get board certified....so my questions are:

1) What are the chances that I could match pysch with a 175/215 combo, so-so to poor grades, etc at one of those types of programs?
2) What are the chances that with that combo I could get shut out everywhere even applying to 40+ no-name psych programs across the country?

If you passed the second time and move on to pass Step 2, and if you get good LORs, especially from your psych attendings, you will match SOMEWHERE--as long as you're not a convicted felon or child molester or so Axis II laden that no one can stand you on your interviews.

Now move forward and concentrate on what comes next.
 
but what if in the next couple of years psych gets a lot more competitive? I'd rather work at a car wash than have to do IM or FM in some horrid program....

I'd also liek to stay in the southeast for psych. What would you gague my chances are of matching at programs like MCG, UF, USF, South Alabama, University of Tennessee, etc...These type of programs have an IMG here and there, but it's mostly american grads. I know Im not in a position to be picky and I understand that, but I dont want to be at some program in new jersey or whatever where the house staff is 90% img either.......
 
but what if in the next couple of years psych gets a lot more competitive? I'd rather work at a car wash than have to do IM or FM in some horrid program....


Then please focus the next two years on moving forward and making yourself competitive. The hurdles ahead of you are far more important than the one you just cleared.
 
im just wondering why you are so down on yourself ... you're not the only person to fail step I. plenty of people do, and match into specialties much more competitive than psych. why are you short-changing yourself? how do you know that you'll do badly on rotations? (although no offense, you dont seem to be particularly motivated?) assuming you pass your re-take step I, do well on your psych rotations and get good letters, from what i've heard (im a 4th year), im sure you'll match somewhere in the south!
 
im just wondering why you are so down on yourself ... you're not the only person to fail step I. plenty of people do, and match into specialties much more competitive than psych. why are you short-changing yourself? how do you know that you'll do badly on rotations? (although no offense, you dont seem to be particularly motivated?) assuming you pass your re-take step I, do well on your psych rotations and get good letters, from what i've heard (im a 4th year), im sure you'll match somewhere in the south!

The number of people that fail step1 and match into competitive residency fields is actually very small. Psych isn't a competitive field.....I just hope it doesn't become more competitive in the next few years or Im in a lot more trouble than I am now.
 
Then please focus the next two years on moving forward and making yourself competitive. The hurdles ahead of you are far more important than the one you just cleared.

I dunno.....I mean I can pretty much predict what I'll do on rotations....passing performances on most of the rotation(thats about it) and then I'll probably do pretty well in psych and maybe neuro. I'm going to do pretty poor when I start IM in a month or so because every other m-3 will ahve a few months of being an m-3 and so they will sort of know how it goes and have a little experience....and I'll be playing catchup. Im sure I'll pass the rotation(everyone does as long as they dont score in like the bottom 1% on the shelf), but that's about it.

It's really hard to stand out on rotations......I can do it in psych I'm sure. My goal is just to really get the psych people to like me and then just work hard enough/learn enough on all the other rotations to not stand out in a bad way.....
 
well then i guess i must know all the exceptions! there's a bunch of DOs that matched into good psych programs without even taking the stupid usmle, so honestly, im sure you'll be fine. psych may or may not get more competitive, but its not going to balloon up that quickly ... it takes a couple years for a particular 'en vogue' specialty to move up the list, and you'll be applying next year ....
 
well then i guess i must know all the exceptions! there's a bunch of DOs that matched into good psych programs without even taking the stupid usmle, so honestly, im sure you'll be fine. psych may or may not get more competitive, but its not going to balloon up that quickly ... it takes a couple years for a particular 'en vogue' specialty to move up the list, and you'll be applying next year ....

passing the comlex and not taking the usmle is a heck of a lot less a black mark than failing the usmle before passing it.....

Also, I dont even think I can meet all the rotation requirements to grad/match on time....so I'll probably match with the class of 2009....which means there will be two more match cycles before I apply......
 
So when you do your psych rotation, let your attendings and clerkship director know you are certain about doing psych. Also consider making an appt to meet with your school's training program director toward the end of the rotation/afterward to discuss your chances of matching and things you can do to improve your application. Don't do this now as residency directors would be too busy to worry about someone who won't be applying for another year and hasn't even done the clerkship. Also, several of my friends who didn't do so hot on step 1 increased their scores by 20 points on Step 2 CK, which never hurts on your application.
 
M1, i am in a similar position. I am considering either Neurology or Psych, and my grades in clinical rotations are not competitive. I've talked to a few people, however, and have been told that I need to get good LOR and work hard to do well in the psych rotation. They've also said that as long as you pass Step 1 eventually, it won't affect your chances of matching somewhere.
Good luck!
 
concentrate on Step 2 now and you are going to be fine. you now know what it takes for these Step tests.
 
I know Im not in a position to be picky and I understand that, but I dont want to be at some program in new jersey or whatever where the house staff is 90% img either.......

That must be a fate worse than hell. 🙄
 
Well it is a huge knock to anyones ego and self-esteem to be in a program with all foreign grads and you are a US MD-I mean it is not secret that people who go to foreign countries for their MD couldnt get in here-and have that bad rep-so you being a US MD will be lumped into a crappy doc category because people will believe everyone in the program is probably an IMG-I dont likehow IMGs try to pretendlike they are equal to US MD grads
 
Well it is a huge knock to anyones ego and self-esteem to be in a program with all foreign grads and you are a US MD-I mean it is not secret that people who go to foreign countries for their MD couldnt get in here-and have that bad rep-so you being a US MD will be lumped into a crappy doc category because people will believe everyone in the program is probably an IMG-I dont likehow IMGs try to pretendlike they are equal to US MD grads

Considering that you have been caught trolling on another thread http://drslounge.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4150546

I am not too surprised at what you wrote above.
 
Seriously do you students or docs have THAT much free time to track down all my old posts-yes I posted in teh singles forum-I am not for relationships-I am for pumping and dumping girls-heart ache and breaks ups over power any love that comes from that.

I bash lots of people cause sdn has a lot of them

And yes IMGs are no where near the caliber of US grads so what?

its not being a troll-its being honest
 
Seriously do you students or docs have THAT much free time to track down all my old posts-yes I posted in teh singles forum-I am not for relationships-I am for pumping and dumping girls-heart ache and breaks ups over power any love that comes from that.

I bash lots of people cause sdn has a lot of them

And yes IMGs are no where near the caliber of US grads so what?

its not being a troll-its being honest


I'd rank a HUNDRED IMGs with so-so scores and "caliber" above any USMG with this kind of attitude. 😡

Good luck with your interviews, if you get any.
 
I'd rank a HUNDRED IMGs with so-so scores and "caliber" above any USMG with this kind of attitude. 😡

Good luck with your interviews, if you get any.

This probably sums up the resentment some US grads have towards IMGs. For every 4-5 IMGs who match at inner city so called "crappy" programs looked down upon by US grads, there WILL be an IMG who competes and matches at so called "high tier" programs. While US grads don't complain about IMGs matching at "low tier" programs but throw a fit when IMGs with good credentials match at the "high tier" programs. This competition is going to become more intense as more and more IMGs with great credentials and better communication skills(read: americanized english) start competing for these spots and there is more diversity among attendings.

In sum, better credentials and attitudes are going to be the winner. Polarization will still be there but less so.
 
Well the bottom line is-it depends on the IMG-I guess the one I am reffering to is not the indian from India who busted ass to get into med school there and now wants to come to the USA. I am reffering to the u.s student who slacked off and didnt do wellin undergrad and hence had to go international to get an M.D and then wants to come back here and get the same residency slot as a us med student. Lots of us busted ass for 4 years in undergrad, got into an MD program (or DO) in the USA-worked hard for another 4 years, competed with some of the strongest most rigerous standards and then are applying-and yet there are people from the caribean etc which have standards that are consierably sub-par compared to the U.S wanting slots here-I just think the kid who worked hard to do well in undergrad, mcat, 4 years of med school, step 1 and 2-should fill the slots here
Nothing against the other IMG who is really from an other country.
 
Well the bottom line is-it depends on the IMG-I guess the one I am reffering to is not the indian from India who busted ass to get into med school there and now wants to come to the USA. I am reffering to the u.s student who slacked off and didnt do wellin undergrad and hence had to go international to get an M.D and then wants to come back here and get the same residency slot as a us med student. Lots of us busted ass for 4 years in undergrad, got into an MD program (or DO) in the USA-worked hard for another 4 years, competed with some of the strongest most rigerous standards and then are applying-and yet there are people from the caribean etc which have standards that are consierably sub-par compared to the U.S wanting slots here-I just think the kid who worked hard to do well in undergrad, mcat, 4 years of med school, step 1 and 2-should fill the slots here
Nothing against the other IMG who is really from an other country.

I tried not to pick up the flame bait, but being only human I find that I have failed. My apologies to others on the forum.

Your rationalization would be fine and dandy if we pretend that admission into US allopathic medical schools is fully meritocratic. By the way, admission in some other countries is truly fully meritocratic depending solely on a point scale that is published for all to see.

Contrast this to US adcoms who answer to no one when it comes to their admissions decisions. They can make these on whatever criteria they prefer, including state of residence, age, sex, race and legacy. Knowing at least two who slipped in with worse stats than my own on the last two criteria I could well be bitter, but I am not.

So you feel superior, because you got in due to some adcom's decision?
That is, if you are not simply a troll only looking for a fight on these forums as your past post history indicates?!

If you are US med student, I think that the reason you are so hot and bothered about USIMGs like me is that we provide a measure of competition that helps keep low performers like you honest. Just for your info, my Step 1 score is more than 1 SD higher than yours. My dedication to medicine is also much greater than yours, especially if we are to believe your post about your MSPE.

so i just read through my prelim version of my deans letter-thank goodness they just remove any negative comments-however I happened to have a lot! So here were some of my fav quotes from the year-i HATED third year and most rotations and i guess it showed! below is paraphrased some things said

Surgery-Student showed obvious disinterest in this rotation. Student acted in an unproffesional manner-arguing with residents and attendings frequenly and be disrespectful to his team. Patient is NOT (no kidding it was in caps) cut out for a surgical career.

Peds-Patient seemed to shy away from patients and often would disapear during the day (well ya i hated peds!)

Family med-Patient is sometimse "too laid back" while he is very pleasent and fun to work with, I find his motivation to learn and his skills as a 3rd year far behind that of his pears. HAHA too laid back? what does that mean!!

I didnt even do OBGYN yet-only god knows whawt that woulda said!! luckily most of those comments can be deleted-hate for that to go to PDs!! haha i HATE medschool-glad its over almost-just hope i match somewhere!!

And you want to skid into some residency just because some adcom preferred you to me?

Gimme a break.

Also, are a patient or a student? Because it sure feels more like the former rather than the latter.
 
Love these jelous IMGs! Go apply to your 150 programs while I apply to 8 of my top 8 choices and already interviewing at 2 of them without all my letters in-and now you know why IMGs are subpar-shoulda worked harder in undergrad shmuck
 
Love these jelous IMGs! Go apply to your 150 programs while I apply to 8 of my top 8 choices and already interviewing at 2 of them without all my letters in-and now you know why IMGs are subpar-shoulda worked harder in undergrad shmuck

Good luck to you at your interviews, because with your attitude you will need it.
 
Good luck to you at your interviews, because with your attitude you will need it.


Thanks man, you too-all the best.

And by the way-I am white, was 21, 4.0gpa, 32 MCAT, busted butt working to get into MD but very average to below average intelligence-and why I should not have gained a spot in an MD school is why?

I agree with you when yuou see an URM with a 24 mcat getting an MD slot over a better qualified white pesron or something-that really gets to me too-but you seem awfully bitter-sounds like you and me both are applying for the same psych slots so in the end it doesnt matter now does it IMG or USMD-same deal
 
The number of people that fail step1 and match into competitive residency fields is actually very small. Psych isn't a competitive field.....I just hope it doesn't become more competitive in the next few years or Im in a lot more trouble than I am now.

I think you're full of crap. One PRN enema, stat! Speaking as someone who has failed STEP1, I've received nothing but encouragement about casting my net far and wide for residency programs, and to not restrict myself to the lower tiers. Why? Because, as I've been wisely counselled, almost everyone in med school gets a 'black eye' or even two. What is the percentage of folks who are AOA, honor every class, every rotation? It's MINISCULE! We can't all be that way, and yet, every year, the vast vast majority make into a residency program. Even though I myself get down in the doldrums about my own black eye, I realize the truth in this advice. If you grow from the experience, that ought to be enough, and if a program decides to can you because of one negative mark, well, you didn't need them anyhow.
 
Well it is a huge knock to anyones ego and self-esteem to be in a program with all foreign grads and you are a US MD-I mean it is not secret that people who go to foreign countries for their MD couldnt get in here-and have that bad rep-so you being a US MD will be lumped into a crappy doc category because people will believe everyone in the program is probably an IMG-I dont likehow IMGs try to pretendlike they are equal to US MD grads


Who cares what you like or dont like! Closed minded people like you should be tarred and feathered...lol...
 
Well it is a huge knock to anyones ego and self-esteem to be in a program with all foreign grads and you are a US MD-I mean it is not secret that people who go to foreign countries for their MD couldnt get in here-and have that bad rep-so you being a US MD will be lumped into a crappy doc category because people will believe everyone in the program is probably an IMG-I dont likehow IMGs try to pretendlike they are equal to US MD grads

This guy is in definite need of a psych consult.lol... what a looooooser!!!lol...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Analyzethis
I kick myself all the time-I was all set to graduate in 3 years of undergrad and was all ready to attend law school the next year-I would have been a lawyer and working and making tons of money at 24. Instead i was DUMB and took 5 years to graduate college since i switched to being premed, now I am finishing 4th year and about start FOUR MORE years of crappy money-and it wont be until i am 30-to make the same amount I would have made as a lawyer at 24-yes medicine SUCKS-choose the least of all evils-psych
Wait, you're a 4th year now? I'm sensing some inconsistencies with your story, man.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Analyzethis
hahaha wow maybe you should pursue "sike"-good pick up-I actually am a psych resident-who is too lazy to spell out psych!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Analyzethis
I turn 26 in about a week, I went to undergrad a year earlier than most at age 17-just started school as a kid early due to a weierd birth day or something-then finished college in 3 years and just started residency this summer-and apperently that is "impossible" haha get a life-you are like diggin way to deep dude
You need to keep your facts straight if you ever want to be a good troll.
 
Seriously do you students or docs have THAT much free time to track down all my old posts-yes I posted in teh singles forum-I am not for relationships-I am for pumping and dumping girls-heart ache and breaks ups over power any love that comes from that.

I bash lots of people cause sdn has a lot of them

And yes IMGs are no where near the caliber of US grads so what?

its not being a troll-its being honest


Yeah, but your a liar about your own life. I'd rather be an img who is happy and confident with his life than some unhappy liar that has to make up all kinds of bullsh%$#t to be happy. Get a life loser!
 
now everyone all at once can you say "S T A L K E R"
 
now everyone all at once can you say "S T A L K E R"

Now everyone all at once can you say L-I-A-R!!! Serioulsy, you are the worst liar ever. What makes a good liar is that they can keep their story straight. You obviously need some more training. I have to admit, you are pretty entertaining.
 
His schtick is getting old, though. I'm guessing that bannanation doesn't really happen for being a jerk, but, sometimes it seems like it might be the right thing to do!
 
I think I will ask the moderator to remove ANALYZETHIS from the forum - credibility is non-existent, and all he does is agitate; I have seen him on many of these threads and he always gets caught in a lie. Doubtful he even got into med school (is he 13 or 30?) - who knows... just ignore him until he is gone.

I am a 4th year and have heard this year will be very competitive. I am not too concerned (yes, I am a native US citizen), passed STEP 1,2 first time AVERAGE scores, but I have great LORs and an entertaining PS. Ranking only psych, so historically, >90% of guys like me will match if they rank 7 programs. I figure I am not in the bottom 10% by any means - average is average, or 50%. There are a few programs where score doesn't matter as long as you pass the first time; I think advice on STEP2 is right on - try to bump it up.

As a follow-up, I have worked with many IMGs who were residents or fellows, and they are all great - very positive attitudes and work ethics.

Good luck to us all!
 
Several programs I applied to told me upfront, they didn't care about my USMLE scores so long as I had solid reccomendations, a passion for psyche and did well on my interviews.

It appears to me that most programs are willing to overlook a failure on a USMLE exam so long as everything else is solid--at least for psychiatry.
 
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