Not Matched...I need some serious help.

[futuretobedoc]

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Hey guys, I need some serious help. Any advice will be appreciated. First, a little about my situation: I am American citizen who went to the Caribbeans for med school (One of the top 5 schools) I am almost done with rotations, I went through this past match process and I did not match to any program ( I applied to over 220 programs) and the SOAP did not work out for me either. This is my first time applying for the match. Now as far as my Step scores, they were not hot at all. I failed my first attempt for step 1 (74%) but when I took it the second time I got 207 (85%). I passed step 2 with a low score of 190. I completely understand that my step scores are very low. But my main question is, considering I didn’t match to start residency in July 2012, what I should do for the time that I now have off in order for me to get into residency for next year. I know I can not retake the steps anymore, but I wanted to know the steps that would be needed to get into residency now. By the way, I am applying for Family Medicine residency. Any help would be appreciated; I have been under so much stress/frustration this past week…

 

[SpecterGT260]

Hey guys, I need some serious help. Any advice will be appreciated. First, a little about my situation: I am American citizen who went to the Caribbeans for med school (One of the top 5 schools) I am almost done with rotations, I went through this past match process and I did not match to any program ( I applied to over 220 programs) and the SOAP did not work out for me either. This is my first time applying for the match. Now as far as my Step scores, they were not hot at all. I failed my first attempt for step 1 (74%) but when I took it the second time I got 207 (85%). I passed step 2 with a low score of 190. I completely understand that my step scores are very low. But my main question is, considering I didn't match to start residency in July 2012, what I should do for the time that I now have off in order for me to get into residency for next year. I know I can not retake the steps anymore, but I wanted to know the steps that would be needed to get into residency now. By the way, I am applying for Family Medicine residency. Any help would be appreciated; I have been under so much stress/frustration this past week…

Research? As an FMG (I believe that is appropriate for caribbean schools? Maybe not) you are already at a disadvantage in spite of your scores.

 

[thepoopologist]

Research? As an FMG (I believe that is appropriate for caribbean schools? Maybe not) you are already at a disadvantage in spite of your scores.

That was wonderfully informative. I did not realize after reading the original post that he was at a disadvantage. I don't think any other advice is needed. He'll be able to match after executing the advice you've posted above.

 

[sia_simba]

I don't know much about your situation, however maybe taking step3 and passing it may help? at the same time, try to work/volunteer in a health related field? Maybe those might help.

It would also help us to let us know which residency program you applied to ? FP, Peds, obgyn, neurosurgery, etc. all have different standards.

 

[235009]

Research?

Research is certainly not the solution here. You have yet to prove that you would make a competent clinician. Not only did you graduate from a low tier carib school (not trying to kick you while you're down but there's no such thing as "top 5" in the carib) but you also have borderline step 1 and 2 scores with one fail. Research is usually used as icing on the cake but you need to work on the cake. It's not impossible but it's going to be a very long road. I'll let someone else lay out the available options but unfortunately there is little chance to make money with an off-shore MD and no residency so you should start looking for some way to make money to live off of.

 

[235009]

It would also help us to let us know which residency program you applied to ? FP, Peds, obgyn, neurosurgery, etc. all have different standards.

OP already said in the original post that he applied to family medicine

 

[SpecterGT260]

That was wonderfully informative. I did not realize after reading the original post that he was at a disadvantage. I don't think any other advice is needed. He'll be able to match after executing the advice you've posted above.

Ur right. Gently implying he shouldn't get his hopes too high and comment on the somewhat daunting yet still doable situation he is in has no place here.

Yet YOU seemed to react strongly. Please, share w the class - which particular nerve did I strike w that otherwise benign post and what shortcomings are u licking by lashing out at me?

 

[thepoopologist]

If I were in OP's shoes, I'd literally start cold calling programs and emailing CVs, and if that doesn't pan out, I'd get the paperwork ready, ecfmg, step 3, etc, and make sure I put myself in a position where a program sees I'm ready to go when I go through the match again. Then see if I could do an observership and get some fresh recommendations from that. If that doesn't pan out, then maybe consider teaching or research.

 

[SpecterGT260]

A once fail and near pass on the other 2 board exams means the OP should tread carefully before taking step 3

 

[thepoopologist]

You're telling me that when you wrote

Research? As an FMG (I believe that is appropriate for caribbean schools? Maybe not) you are already at a disadvantage in spite of your scores.

You were implying

Gently implying he shouldn't get his hopes too high and comment on the somewhat daunting yet still doable situation he is in has no place here.

?????
You are at a level of writing that appears to rely on telepathic context.

 

[SpecterGT260]

I was implying those numbers would make matching hard regardless. The caribbean thing makes it harder. I believe I said I WAS implying, well... "??????????" (Guess im not as telepathic as u)

 

[thepoopologist]

I was implying those numbers would make matching hard regardless. The caribbean thing makes it harder. I believe I said I WAS implying, well... "??????????" (Guess im not as telepathic as u)

Oh okay, I see what you're saying. So when somebody says they didn't match and would like to know what steps to take to help them match next year, your first response is that they're going to have a hard time matching. Glad this was cleared up.

But my main question is, considering I didn't match to start residency in July 2012, what I should do for the time that I now have off in order for me to get into residency for next year. I know I can not retake the steps anymore, but I wanted to know the steps that would be needed to get into residency now. By the way, I am applying for Family Medicine residency. Any help would be appreciated

 

[235009]

A once fail and near pass on the other 2 board exams means the OP should tread carefully before taking step 3

Agreed.

 

[SpecterGT260]

Oh okay, I see what you're saying. So when somebody says they didn't match and would like to know what steps to take to help them match next year, your first response is that they're going to have a hard time matching. Glad this was cleared up.

Technically I said research. Used punctuation to imply I wasn't sure if that would be sufficient, and then offered a statement to explain that concern.

If type is too difficult for u I am prepared to Skype and exaggerate my inflection to facilitate understanding.

 

[SpecterGT260]

U have yet to address my question to u ......

 

[gators21]

That was wonderfully informative. I did not realize after reading the original post that he was at a disadvantage. I don't think any other advice is needed. He'll be able to match after executing the advice you've posted above.

Wow what got shoved up your butt! Poop?

 

[officedepot]

.

 

[SpecterGT260]

Wow what got shoved up your butt! Poop?

Not if there is a good IM intern around! Bazinga!!!

 

[CaptainSSO]

If type is too difficult for u I am prepared to Skype and exaggerate my inflection to facilitate understanding.

Hahaha.