NEED HELP: FAILED STEP 2 CK, MyERAS 2013

[dadarknight]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Dear Doctors,

I am UNIQUELY SCREWED unless any of you think otherwise. I NEED ADVICE ASAP.
I applied for the 2013 Match just last week when it opened, had my results automatically transmitted and today got word that I have failed the step 2 CK by a single point.
What are my chances of retaking as soon as possible and pushing through with the match????

Well, you will one to know where I stand as a candidate. I passed step 1 and CS on first take, step 1 scores just 210. I did clinical rotation at Mayo Clinic in Neurology for 1 month, I have just really awesome LORs from 3 Mayo Neurologists and its gets better or WORST - I am presently doing at 1 year research in Neurology at Mayo Clinic!!! How much screwed up could this be.

So guys I need advice big time. I have applied to Prelim programs, neuro programs and a few transitional programs.

To just spice up the screw up I am in right now, I am an IMG, and was granted a research position by the US government on condition that I adhere to the 2 year obligatory residency in country of origin unless I i avail of the exception, one which is obviously getting a J1 visa sponsor by a residency program if I match.

Eras told me I can reapply for CK as early as tomorrow. So please tell me folks what I should do. I need to match by all means I think, because I need to avoid being kicked out for 2 years. My research director will be shocked. Who was I kidding! I super rushed my Ck in order to get over here and start research. Now I need any advice. Thanks for reading my long post.

 

[zappeuse]

sorry for you, buddy. But with this research background you have to manage somehow!

 

[dadarknight]

sorry for you, buddy. But with this research background you have to manage somehow!

Yep, still doing a lot of soul searching. it is really hard to decide the next step!

 

[thecampuslegend]

Wow....with all that information spread to your anonymous, gunner and judgmental peers - I can tell you are seriously worried. Dude, I am sorry to hear about all the things that went down for you. It makes everything that much more difficult because you are an IMG. Unfortunately for you, failing by 1 point is still failing and I don't think that will matter to programs. Additionally, letters of rec will never get you a residency if you have a failure on any of the board exams. The Surgeon General could write you a LoR, but with a failure on your profile, it's an automatic red flag for all programs. Programs look at your scores before they even set eyes on to your LoR's.

You know what you did wrong and you understand what you need to do. All you can really hope for right now is that programs extend an interview to you and offer you the chance to explain yourself. In the meantime, you might as well get back on the pony and retake Step 2, but even a retake at this point will not help you get an interview. I have to imagine that the interviews you get will be extended on the profile you currently have.

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

If I understand correctly, you are currently doing research in the US on a J-1 Research visa. Just so everyone is clear, there are various subtypes of J-1 visas -- Au Pairs come on J-1's for example. In general, IMG's come either as "Alien Physicians" (for all clinical training) or as "Professor or Research Scholar" for research positions.

All Alien Physician's on J-1 are subject to the 2 year home rule. Not all research J's have the 2 year rule attach -- it's complicated and depends on where the funding for the position comes from amongst other things.

To make matters more complicated, there are two "2 year rules" for research J's. One is the standard 2 year rule which says that you must return to your "home country" (which is wherever you were when the J was issued) for 2 years. There is a second 2 year rule that states that once you have a J visa and it ends, you can't get another J in the same category for 2 years. Make sure you know which 2 year rule you're dealing with.

So, to the OP:

There is a bit of good news here, but not much. You failed CK by a point. That means that you get a chance to take it again. Had you passed with the mininum pass, you'd have "passed" but you might find that getting a program to take you with a terrible score like that to be difficult. So, make the most of this opportunity, retake CK and do as well on it as you can.

Now, for the bad news:

1. You need to get the best score you can on CK. So, sure, you can register to take it again ASAP. But remember that your goal is NOT to pass it. Your goal is to DO WELL on it. Just passing may make getting a training spot in the US impossible. So, consider how much time you'll need to study for it and retake it.

2. Getting a training spot for July 2013 is going to be difficult. You must be ECFMG certified to participate in the match. Rank deadline is late Feb, and results tend to take 3-4 weeks to report. So, you'd need to take the exam by early January to have any chance of participating in the match. Alternatively, as long as you've passed by mid March you'd be able to participate in SOAP.

3. All that said, getting interviews with a failed CK isn't going to be easy. You can certainly try, but you can undertand why programs would be worried.

4. I have no idea why you applied for transitional positions. They are usually more competitive than prelim positions (because they are easier). They will NOT count for a PGY-1 for Neurology (at least you won't get a full 12 months of credit for most TY's)

5. Best plan:

A. How long is your research position for? If you can get it extended for another year, you'll bail on applying this year, focus on studying for CK, pass it later in the year, and apply again in the match for next year. Research J's are good for up to 5 years.

B. Failing that, you're in serious trouble. You'd need to pass CK as quickly as possible to rescue your application for this year. Again, as above, simply passing it would be less than ideal, you want to do well on it. You'll hope for interviews this year, but honestly your major focus will be on SOAP. The goal will be to get a neuro and/or prelim IM position in SOAP with your passed score.

C. If that fails, then you must leave the US after your research is done. The 2 year rule attaches. If you reapply the following year for a new J visa, a second 2 year rule will attach. It will be almost impossible to get a waiver for your research 2 year rule. You would be ineligble for an H visa.

Note that if you do find a residency for jly 2013, you'll need to transfer your Research J into a Clinical J. This is not an easy process, although it can be done. Just be sure to talk to an expert, start the process immediately after matching, and expect delays.

 

[K31]

Now I almost want to be a non-US IMG so I could introduce myself as a certified Alien Physician.

 

[IMvrach]

To be precise, you must be ECFMG verified, not certified, i.e. you must have USMLE steps 1 and 2 passed, while you can still be at school. To be certified one must have final diploma issued. This is required by July 1.

I know that for OP the distinction is only theoretical, but at our institution they issue final cardboard diplomas once a year, after the match already ended, and I don't want someone in my situation to have heart attack reading your responce. (ECFMG would not certify with a provisional diploma, though they could contact the med school to verify that you graduated. They need a copy of the cardboard diploma. Arghh...)

2. Getting a training spot for July 2013 is going to be difficult. You must be ECFMG certified to participate in the match. Rank deadline is late Feb, and results tend to take 3-4 weeks to report. So, you'd need to take the exam by early January to have any chance of participating in the match. Alternatively, as long as you've passed by mid March you'd be able to participate in SOAP.