Hi Aprog-I have been following your responses over a long time and let me express my appreciation for what you are doing for the residency applicants.
I need some help with a somewhat unique position that I find myself in-I am a visa requiring IMG with good scores and step 3 out of the way.I have 5 publications in decent journals and most of them as first author.And I was an honors student from my medical school in India and have strong letters from there as well as a couple from well known US university faculty.I am now a researcher in a good university in mid-west US. Unfortunately I had to retake my step 2 CS(I was ill the first time around)-but no attempts on any of the other steps.
I had applied in the Match last year with only my step 1 results(a pretty good score) and a very very recent graduation certificate(I graduated in 2006)-and 1 publication.With these and a little help from a renowned faculty in IM who is from my home country and knows me personally-I got invites at 2 of the best IM programs in the US that take IMGs.I did pretty well at the interviews as far as I could make out from the replies of the PDs.Then in mid Dec. came the debacle of failing the CS-there were no other dates available for completing it in time for participating in the 'Match-2007'-I got myself together and cleared it at the second go and did my step3 while I was at it with getting another 4 publications in the process.I thought I was a much better and well rounded applicant this year.And I had let all the programs know of my situation before they submitted their ROL-so as not to inconvenience them and deprive another deserving candidate from being ranked.
But surprise, surprise!Although I got a few good interviews this year-the top progs from last year where I interviewed didnot call me!I knew a faculty at one of these programs who contacted the PD on my behalf-and he said that it is against their policy to invite the same candidate for 2 years running!!!Even if the candidate has done much to improve his credentials in the meantime!!!Is this a regular thing-or was he just not being honest?How is it possible that a guy who they liked 1 year ago-is now not on their favored list inspite of him having tried more than ever before to improve his CV?
I know the answers to these queries wouldnot help me in the Match-but I would like an honest opinion from you-just for my satisfaction.
I need some help with a somewhat unique position that I find myself in-I am a visa requiring IMG with good scores and step 3 out of the way.I have 5 publications in decent journals and most of them as first author.And I was an honors student from my medical school in India and have strong letters from there as well as a couple from well known US university faculty.I am now a researcher in a good university in mid-west US. Unfortunately I had to retake my step 2 CS(I was ill the first time around)-but no attempts on any of the other steps.
I had applied in the Match last year with only my step 1 results(a pretty good score) and a very very recent graduation certificate(I graduated in 2006)-and 1 publication.With these and a little help from a renowned faculty in IM who is from my home country and knows me personally-I got invites at 2 of the best IM programs in the US that take IMGs.I did pretty well at the interviews as far as I could make out from the replies of the PDs.Then in mid Dec. came the debacle of failing the CS-there were no other dates available for completing it in time for participating in the 'Match-2007'-I got myself together and cleared it at the second go and did my step3 while I was at it with getting another 4 publications in the process.I thought I was a much better and well rounded applicant this year.And I had let all the programs know of my situation before they submitted their ROL-so as not to inconvenience them and deprive another deserving candidate from being ranked.
But surprise, surprise!Although I got a few good interviews this year-the top progs from last year where I interviewed didnot call me!I knew a faculty at one of these programs who contacted the PD on my behalf-and he said that it is against their policy to invite the same candidate for 2 years running!!!Even if the candidate has done much to improve his credentials in the meantime!!!Is this a regular thing-or was he just not being honest?How is it possible that a guy who they liked 1 year ago-is now not on their favored list inspite of him having tried more than ever before to improve his CV?
I know the answers to these queries wouldnot help me in the Match-but I would like an honest opinion from you-just for my satisfaction.
