Spacing the Steps

[RaraBovis]

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I'm an IMG. I need to take CK and CS shortly. I asked this q on the other SDN fora but got no response so asking in the more responsive forum.
What exactly is the match and how do you apply? What all do you need to apply? Scores, 3 LORs, an SOP...anything else?
To apply for the 2012 match, by when do you need CS results?
Is it advisable to take CS before CK so that you may have the results in time?

 

[akhan283]

I am in the same boat as you so looking forward to an answer...

From what I understand many programs say they want you to be ecfmg certified before the match. technically that means step 1, 2 cs and ck, and diploma, however NRMP states that what you really need is 1,2 ck and cs before the match, and get completely certified (ie diploma) before the start of the program. All your results must be available before the match or you will be withdrawn. SO, my intention is definitely to have all the steps done the December before the match (I think).

However, I think i might try to have them done by interview time (I am in a 5 year program and will be interviewing in my 5th year) so that I have some hot **** on my application.


btw, the info is easily found on the ecfmg or nrmp websites...
http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/special_part/ind_app/registration.html

You just took your step 1 yeah? how did it go?

 

[RaraBovis]

I am in the same boat as you so looking forward to an answer...

From what I understand many programs say they want you to be ecfmg certified before the match. technically that means step 1, 2 cs and ck, and diploma, however NRMP states that what you really need is 1,2 ck and cs before the match, and get completely certified (ie diploma) before the start of the program. All your results must be available before the match or you will be withdrawn. SO, my intention is definitely to have all the steps done the December before the match (I think).

However, I think i might try to have them done by interview time (I am in a 5 year program and will be interviewing in my 5th year) so that I have some hot **** on my application.


btw, the info is easily found on the ecfmg or nrmp websites...
http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/special_part/ind_app/registration.html

You just took your step 1 yeah? how did it go?

From the impression I have I thought Dec. would be too late. I thought programs start announcing their list of interviewees by November (?). I was just looking at the CS score release time periods for 2011 on the website. July test results will be out in Sept. I was wondering if that would be too late.

When does the match happen? March? Isn't it essentially schools letting you know whether they've accepted or dumped you?

You're a 5th year med. student applying to the 2012 match?

Yeah, took Step 1. Think I'll do mediocre at best but I'm not obessing over it. I have little time for the other steps so it's over to them already.

 

[akhan283]

Im a third year now. I'll be applying for 2013 match.

sorry, what I meant was you MUST have all your step results before the match, but not necessarily before interviews, so i would say december would be an absolute deadline so that you will get your results in the beginning of 2012.

BUT if you want to have your results before interview time, then yeah, get them done over the summer before you apply to programs. thats what I think I'm gonna do.

for you, you just did step 1 and now you've got the others? damn, talk about stress.

from your previous scores you posted I'm sure you will do fine! at least I hope so, because all my scores are similar to yours, lol. everyone on SDN makes me feel like a ****** because they get these amazing scores in the 240's-250's but you need to remember that the people who post here are not the average student, they are super smart obsessive people who have done really well so are more than willing to post their in-****ing-credible scores.

question for you... what are you doing about US clinical experience? I gotta start lining some **** up and I'm not having the best luck

 

[RaraBovis]

Im a third year now. I'll be applying for 2013 match.

sorry, what I meant was you MUST have all your step results before the match, but not necessarily before interviews, so i would say december would be an absolute deadline so that you will get your results in the beginning of 2012.

BUT if you want to have your results before interview time, then yeah, get them done over the summer before you apply to programs. thats what I think I'm gonna do.

for you, you just did step 1 and now you've got the others? damn, talk about stress.

from your previous scores you posted I'm sure you will do fine! at least I hope so, because all my scores are similar to yours, lol. everyone on SDN makes me feel like a ****** because they get these amazing scores in the 240's-250's but you need to remember that the people who post here are not the average student, they are super smart obsessive people who have done really well so are more than willing to post their in-****ing-credible scores.

question for you... what are you doing about US clinical experience? I gotta start lining some **** up and I'm not having the best luck

My dilemma was whether I should take CS before CK so as to have the results in time. But I want to go in order and from what you've posted, it seems that it's not too late if you have your results by Sept. You don't need Step 3 results to be ECFMG certified, right? That would be a torture.

And you're in 3rd year and are aiming for 2013?! Boy, you shouldn't be worried; you're in a comfortable position. And you're studying in the UK? I would think they'd be very open to accepting someone from the UK. I think you're in a good spot.

As for me, I'm considering observerships. Little info as of now. I don't know what exactly they mean by USCE if it's supposed to be more than observership. You can't touch patients if you're not licensed, I think.

 

[akhan283]

My dilemma was whether I should take CS before CK so as to have the results in time. But I want to go in order and from what you've posted, it seems that it's not too late if you have your results by Sept. You don't need Step 3 results to be ECFMG certified, right? That would be a torture.

And you're in 3rd year and are aiming for 2013?! Boy, you shouldn't be worried; you're in a comfortable position. And you're studying in the UK? I would think they'd be very open to accepting someone from the UK. I think you're in a good spot.

As for me, I'm considering observerships. Little info as of now. I don't know what exactly they mean by USCE if it's supposed to be more than observership. You can't touch patients if you're not licensed, I think.

The only reason you would need Step3 is if you need a visa to come to the states for residency. I'm not which visa it is though.... if you are a US citizen you don't need to take step 3 before the match.

Im comfortable in the fact that I've got time to take the step 2's, but im tryna get as much USCE as possible because im sure my step 1 scores will be mediocre. its not easy getting an internship if you're an IMG no matter where you are from. I can't just pull LORs outta my ass, and they have SO much more weight if they are from a US dr.

observerships are OK if its all you can find, but internships/clerkships are way better because programs really want you to have that hands on experience. you are allowed patient contact with these. but you are only allowed intern/clerkships if you are still a student. so yeah, try to do that. your application will be much stronger for it.