More on Neuro Interviews

[Ross_neuro]

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Hey all, I think USIMGgrad has a great idea. SInce we are all worried about getting interviews, we should post our step 1 scores/background, date of applications, and what we have received so far. This is not to brag or anything, I just want to see who is in the same boat as me.

As for me, I go to Ross University, I got a 91 on Step 1, I have no other background. I sent in my app on 9/5. I have received 5 interviews
1. UMDNJ Newark
2. JFK Neuroscience Center NJ
3. Hartford Hospital CT
4. North Shore Manhasset NY
5. Jackson Memorial/UMiami

I have received confirmatory letters from 8 other places stating they are reviewing my app and I won't hear from them until after 10/5. Boston University has put me on file so I guess that's a negative. I sent in my ERAS on 9/29 for prelims in IM, and I was wondering if anyone has heard from them yet.

Thanks for reading

 

[USIMGgrad]

Ross Neuro: That sounds like a good idea.
I got a 91 on step 1 also and have gotten interviews in:

1. JFK Neuroscience
2. Down State

6 programs sent me confirmatory letters and 2 rejection letters.

 

[USIMGgrad]

Let me add Cleveland Clinic Florida to that list.

 

[kasimagore1]

Step 1: 92, Class rank ~60%tile. Neuro research fellowship in med school for 1 year. 3 peer reviewed publications (basic science) and 2 abstracts. Did 2 neuro sub-is at east and west coast programs. Applied to 30 programs. Submited application on 9/10, distributed by SF Match on 9/19. So far received interviews at

1. Cleveland Clinic (email)
2. Iowa (email)- cancelled
3. Mayo Clinic (mail)
4. Washington U at St. Louis (email)
5. UTSW (email)- cancelled
6. Northwestern U. (mail)
7. U Chicago (email)
8. USC (mail)
9. Baylor (phone call), visited
10. Wisconsin (email),- cancelled
11. Emory (mail), -cancelled
12. Yale (email), visited
13. Case Western (mail)
14. Albert Einstein (mail), will cancel
15. Columbia (phone), visited
16. Cincinnati (email)
17. Rush (phone, all dates are filled as of 10/16)
18. U. Washington (phone)
19. Mt. Sinai (phone)
20. UCSF (phone)
21. UCSD (email)
22. Duke (email)
23. U Michigan (phone)
rejections: UCLA :-( it was my first choice.......
Penn
Hopkins

Applied to 16 ERAS programs. Was told by more than one program that once the interview date to neuro is confirmed, they will "alert" the medicine program so that I can interview with them. Sounds like the policy is "interview first, apply later after you match PGY-2 here" for some prelim medicine programs. Otherwise just one courtesy interview from my home institution

 

[Ross_neuro]

Hey I got CLeveland CLinic Florida too, perhaps USIMGgrad is my long-lost twin. I also got a prelim IM interview at Norwalk Hospital in CT.

 

[Ross_neuro]

Well, got rejected from Columbia-Presbyterian, I guess they hate foreign grads

 

[USIMGgrad]

I AM REALLY BUYING INTO THE IDEA OF YOU BEING MY LONG LOST TWIN BECAUSE I GOT A REJECTION FROM COLUMBIA TODAY ALSO. NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT LIKE FMG BUT MY FAMILY AS WELL. HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[USIMGgrad]

I got an interview at Cleveland Clinic Ohio yahooooo! yepeeeeey

 

[kasimagore1]

great, when do you schedule for your interview? I think I had mine on 11/17

 

[USIMGgrad]

I have not scheduled yet. But they have all mondays in Nov and the first 2 mondays of Dec.

 

[Ross_neuro]

Wow, congrats USIMGgrad on Cleveland Clinic......hey what school do you go or did you graduate from? Same with Kasimagore, what school do you go to?

 

[USIMGgrad]

I went to school in asia, called fatima. Its an unknown school. I got real good grades though and my rank was top 10%.

 

[kasimagore1]

I went to school in Cincinnati. I don't think my academic record is stellar, but quite solid throughout. I think what helped me getting these interviews is my demonstration of early interest in neurology which were repetitively noted in my LORs and the dean's letter, and the fact that I did a year of neuro research in med school and was lucky enough to generate several publications. Furthermore, my letter writers are quite prominant figures in the field of Neurology and neuroscience and I have no doubt that it helped me tremendously because academic neurology is such a small field. I have noticed that not many AMGs are on the Neuro forum.....I just don't understand why people aren't more interested in neuro. By the way, I just received 2 prelim year interview invitation, but unfortunately I haven't had neuro interview offers in these areas, so I am just gonna sit on it......(generally the IM programs, unlike neuro, have many choices for interview, and I hope it won't fill up so easily.)

 

[Salsa12]

Congratulations to all of you!! Ross_neuro, I'll be going to Ross in January. It's nice to see Ross students getting interviews in a competitive program. I'm just wondering what kind of score is needed on the USMLE to receive such interviews... could you tell me what a 91 would be converted to the 3 digit score? I'm more familiar with that score. Thank you, and congratulations once again!

 

[USIMGgrad]

Kasimagore1: I just scheduled mine at CCO on 12/8.

 

[img_usmle]

Congratulations to all of you that have secured interviews!

My situation is a lot worse compared to the rest of you.

I am about to send my CAS application in the next couple days. I know it is too late, but I just want to give it a shot. My step 1 score is 264/99, have my step 2 exam in 2 weeks and CSA the first week of December. I am an IMG, but I do not require visa sponsorship. No USCE or research experience.

I am applying to programs purely based on the deadlines. Mostly applying to those programs that have deadlines in Decemeber and November. I am also not too sure if those deadlines really mean anything because I get conflicting information when I email the programs.

Anyhow, just thought I would share my info(rather a mess). If anyone has some suggestions about programs that have late deadlines and that are IMG friendly, I would really appreciate that information.

Thanks!

 

[kasimagore1]

if you have registered for NEMP, you could access their directory and find out the deadline for each program. I would, however, call them first to see if the interview dates have been filled (as I was surprised to find out that some of the programs have their interview dates filled as early as early October). Not all programs are strigent about their deadline, and if there is a program that really interests you, give them a call to find out their policy. Good luck.

 

[img_usmle]

Originally posted by kasimagore1
if you have registered for NEMP, you could access their directory and find out the deadline for each program. I would, however, call them first to see if the interview dates have been filled (as I was surprised to find out that some of the programs have their interview dates filled as early as early October). Not all programs are strigent about their deadline, and if there is a program that really interests you, give them a call to find out their policy. Good luck.

kasimagore1,

Thanks for your response. I applied for 56 programs based on the deadlines. I have my Step 2 during the last week of this month, so didn't have much time to call the programs.

How long does it take for SFMATCH to send the application to the programs from the time they receieve the application. SFMATCH indicates that one should send them the CAS application atleast 3 weeks before a program's deadline. Does it usually take them 3 weeks to transfer the applications to the program?

Also do the programs acknowledege receiving the application or do we have to call and find out?

Also do you guys usually look up individual programs and send them any additional application materials that they request on their website? Some programs require CV and acopy of VISA status which SFMATCH doesn't usually transmit.

Thanks!

 

[kasimagore1]

on SF site it stated that it would take up to 3 weeks to have your application distributed. It took mine about 10 days. The applications will be sent out as a "batch" and burned on a CD-rom. Mine was included in the 9/19 CD-rom along with other applications processed up to that date.
some programs will ackwoledge the receipt of your applications with the date when you should expect to hear a decision from that program. I received less than 10 of these notices. Although I got most interviews without these acknowledgement. I did not send them any additional information unless they request for it. so far I was only requested to provide these additional materials at the time of interviews.

 

[img_usmle]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help so far, especially gmoney, kasimagore1 and sriank.

I got interviews from the following programs

University of Illinois - Chicago (email)
University of Texas - Galveston (email)
SUNY - Upstate (Mail)

How quickly should we respond to these interview offers ?? I got all the interviews last week and I did not check them in time since I was busy with my STEP 2, which I am fortunately done with. Is it possible to reschedule the interviews at a later point in time if there is a conflict??

If any of you have any input regarding the above programs, please let me know.

Thanks!
img_usmle.

P.S: I am yet to apply for PGY 1 internal medicine preliminary programs. If any of you have any input on IMG friendly and easy to get into preliminary programs, please do let me know.

 

[kasimagore1]

there is no stipulations to how soon you have to reply these interview offers. However, many programs filled up quickly, and it is only to your advantage to contact them and book a spot ASAP, it is especially true if you have to interview at a certain period of time. It sure is possible to change/cancel interview at later time given the space is still available. Some programs will even let you choose a date if the dates offered are not convenient for you. I did not apply to the programs that posted.

 

[kasimagore1]

so, how's everyone's interview experience so far? there is a forum: http://www.slua.org/webmessageMED
that's just started. Please post your interview expereince and impression of the program there. scutwork.com's interview feedback is pretty useless for prospective neurology residents.

 

[img_usmle]

My first interview is on Nov 20th.

My biggest problem is that I have only one Preliminary year interview. (University of Illinois at Urbana.). I have applied to 30 preliminary year programs so far(applied on 11/10/2003). Should I apply for more PGY 1 programs or should I wait?


So far I have interviews at the following programs (Neurology)

Wayne State University
U Texas - Galveston
U Oklahoma / incl. PGY1 --- Couldn't schedule interview due to scheduling conflicts
U North Carolina
Loyola U - Chicago
U Illinois - Chicago
North Shore U/NCMC/NYU
SUNY - Syracuse
Southern Illinois U
U of Kentucky



Got rejection letters from the following programs

U Arkansas
Case Western Reserve
Duke University
U Iowa
U Utah
U Maryland
Michigan State U -No PGY1


Kasimagore1 -- Thanks for the link to the new forum.

 

[Mitogen79]

Hey guys...

Allrightie, well, I'm a third year med student at a Med school in the US. My step score wasn't all that great, an 88 infact. However, i do have some research experience and have presented my prior research at a Neurosurgery conference and also will be presenting the latest project i worked on at a Radiology conference in Chicago. I've done really well in my clerkships so far and have gotten really good evaluations. I plan on doing an elective research in neuroimmunology during my 4th year as well.... assuming i do well (not extraordinary though) on step 2, do you think I have a chance at getting into programs like Mayo, Cleveland, NYU, Northwestern, etc).. I really really really really want to do neurology and I have such a strong passion for it and teaching it.

thanks,
neurology hopefull

 

[USIMGgrad]

I don't think you will have much of a problem since almost all programs are favorable towards US grads over IMG's or USIMG's. An 88 on step one is an average score but the fact that you have research experience and a US grad puts at an enormous advantage. So I wouldn't hesitiate applying to the top programs.🙂

 

[img_usmle]

Originally posted by img_usmle
My first interview is on Nov 20th.

My biggest problem is that I have only one Preliminary year interview. (University of Illinois at Urbana.). I have applied to 30 preliminary year programs so far(applied on 11/10/2003). Should I apply for more PGY 1 programs or should I wait?


So far I have interviews at the following programs (Neurology)

Wayne State University
U Texas - Galveston
U Oklahoma / incl. PGY1 --- Couldn't schedule interview due to scheduling conflicts
U North Carolina
Loyola U - Chicago
U Illinois - Chicago
North Shore U/NCMC/NYU
SUNY - Syracuse
Southern Illinois U
U of Kentucky



Got rejection letters from the following programs

U Arkansas
Case Western Reserve
Duke University
U Iowa
U Utah
U Maryland
Michigan State U -No PGY1


Kasimagore1 -- Thanks for the link to the new forum.

I got my STEP 2 score, which is 99/259. My STEP 1 is also a 99. I am having second thoughts about going for match this year. I have good scores and if I get some research experience this year and then apply for PGY-2 in 2006, I might be able to land in a good program.

At this point I am real conflicted and a little depressed at the thought of not having interviews at any of the top-tier programs.

 

[CambieMD]

IMG_USMLE,

I am not a Neurologist but I am interested in your dilema.
You are a very qualified applicant as it stands now. None of the programs that have offered you interviews are arm pit programs.
Why waste your time in a lab for a year. Are you interested in a fellowship in EEG/EMG. Have movement disorders caught your fancy. I am sure that you will stand out in your residency program. This will guarentee a fellowship at a top tier program.
Rock your IN-Service exam. If you will die if you do not go to a big name program, do research. You will have to find a neurologist who is well published and nationally known.


All the best,

CambieMD

P.s.

my wife is an academic neurologist.

 

[US_FMG]

Has anyone has interviewed at any of the above programs - any input would be appreciated.

Thanks !

PS: Any info on the location would also be appreciated.

 

[doctorlarry]

Any advice for last poster's message about FL programs in neurology?

 

[swedcrip]

Any advice for last poster's message about FL programs in neurology?

I'm a 4th year in Florida that didn't apply to either because

UF - don't want to live 4 years in Gainesville right now
Cleveland Clinic - preferrably looking for an association with a local university, broader than just medicine. Didn't have the Miami-Ft Lauderdale area high on my list of places to live either. Didn't know much about the program.

Otherwise I don't know much about the 2. UF is strong in behavioral from what I hear. Private message me if you want to know more about how competitive the Florida programs are. It's all about finding a good fit for what you want. I'd bet UF has a solid program (they do in most everything) but a neuro resident I met that interned there says he didn't want to stay.

Mayo-Jacksonville has an impressive program. It's small but not lacking much at all (Jacksonville isn't NYC or Miami). It has something of a narrow patient population (may be a good thing for some that want compliant patients - makes things easier but may not prepare you fully if you leave the Mayo system). It's probably not the place to go to see trauma. Otherwise everything else seemed run top notch. They mostly have US MD grads and only interview about 20 for 3 spots, but if looking in Florida, I'd advise to consider them.

I'd guess both are solid programs (check out play's rankings) but I've heard mixed things so it all depends on who else you're comparing them to.