step 3 failed just before applying to ERAS - does that make chances of IVs zero?

[dolphindoc]

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Hi
I just received my step 3 score and it reported fail just by 1 point. And I know I cannot retake exam and get a pass score immediately considering less than 20 days for sep 15. Shattered in tears..

Does Programs - ERAS auto- filter out and reject if they see step 3 as fail?

Will having passing score around october improve chances ?

What shall I do to improve my chances in surgery. [atleast a prelim]

I am applying for surgery

step 1 : 91 / 215
step 2 : 92 / 216
step2 CS : pass
all first attempt.
USCE : 3 months as clerkship in ivy league univ hosp. with 4 US LORs all from surgeons.
IMG need VISA.

now considering to apply all possible specialties. please advise.

 

[sanityonleave]

Hi
I just received my step 3 score and it reported fail just by 1 point. And I know I cannot retake exam and get a pass score immediately considering less than 20 days for sep 15. Shattered in tears..

Does Programs - ERAS auto- filter out and reject if they see step 3 as fail?

Will having passing score around october improve chances ?

What shall I do to improve my chances in surgery. [atleast a prelim]

I am applying for surgery

step 1 : 91 / 215
step 2 : 92 / 216
step2 CS : pass
all first attempt.
USCE : 3 months as clerkship in ivy league univ hosp. with 4 US LORs all from surgeons.
IMG need VISA.

now considering to apply all possible specialties. please advise.

With your stats as a FMG you will not match categorical gen surg. Prelim is a possibility, but be warned that these are notorious dead-end positions and that it's extremely rare (esp. as an FMG) to get a categorical spot coming out of a prelim surg.

You need to apply in FM, medicine, peds, psych (whichever of these interests you the most) and apply very broadly. Also, you should retake step 3 as soon as possible and pass, since right now there's a big concern as to whether you can pass step 3 and get licensed -- which is a big concern for PDs when looking at FMGs to begin with.

Good luck.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

To answer your questions directly:

1. ERAS does not automatically filter anything. Each program can build any filter they want. I can ask ERAS to show me everyone who failed a step, or everyone with a middle initial of Q or X. WHat I do with such filters is up to me. So, there's no way to know if programs will automatically reject you for your Step 3 score.

2. Will a passing score in Oct help? It certainly can't hurt. Note that you'd be much better off with a GOOD score than a PASSING score.

 

[dolphindoc]

With your stats as a FMG you will not match categorical gen surg. Prelim is a possibility, but be warned that these are notorious dead-end positions and that it's extremely rare (esp. as an FMG) to get a categorical spot coming out of a prelim surg.

You need to apply in FM, medicine, peds, psych (whichever of these interests you the most) and apply very broadly. Also, you should retake step 3 as soon as possible and pass, since right now there's a big concern as to whether you can pass step 3 and get licensed -- which is a big concern for PDs when looking at FMGs to begin with.

Good luck.

Thank you for your insight. I am thinking to give it again as soon as possible,yet targeting good score, as I find noway to repair the damage.

 

[dolphindoc]

To answer your questions directly:

1. ERAS does not automatically filter anything. Each program can build any filter they want. I can ask ERAS to show me everyone who failed a step, or everyone with a middle initial of Q or X. WHat I do with such filters is up to me. So, there's no way to know if programs will automatically reject you for your Step 3 score.

2. Will a passing score in Oct help? It certainly can't hurt. Note that you'd be much better off with a GOOD score than a PASSING score.

Thanks for the reply, aProgDirector !

I understand your point, as it is up to each PD to set his own rules.

I want your valuable advise : Is it better to apply on sep 15 with step 3 fail on transcript or is it better to wait till mid October and apply with new step 3 score [ hope i get a good score on it].

I couldn't understand which has more harm or benefit for getting interviews [ as I see both ways have certain risk ].

Given the huge competition, do PDs give a 2nd look at the application if the application is kept aside because of step 3 failure in the first screen. [ I know it sounds more absurd to ask such question but just trying to figure out the general situation and the dilemma I am going through. Forgive me if I am going overboard]

Thanks in advance

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This thread:http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=945428 has the answer to your "apply now or later" question. It's right at the top of the board now, so I expect you've looked at it. That poster asks about Step 1, but your situation is almost the same -- the difference being that since you've taken all three steps, you're likely to get reviewed early. Still, it's impossible to weight the benefits to applying early (more IV slots available) to those of applying later (less IV slots available, but passing Step 3 now available).

If you need an H visa, then I think there's no question that you should wait. You must pass Step 3 for an H (in most cases) and hence without it, I doubt programs will consider you.

 

[HHH3]

There's something that can save you. I'm not sure if you had to set it up before the exam results came out, but it's worth a try (and a call to ERAS to confirm). In MyERAS, you can set the USMLE transcript to NOT update automatically when new exam results come out. That way your Step 3 results will be hidden from the programs, and in the interviews you would just not mention a word about it.

 

[dolphindoc]

There's something that can save you. I'm not sure if you had to set it up before the exam results came out, but it's worth a try (and a call to ERAS to confirm). In MyERAS, you can set the USMLE transcript to NOT update automatically when new exam results come out. That way your Step 3 results will be hidden from the programs, and in the interviews you would just not mention a word about it.

Hi,
I kept it for " NOT UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY" and authorized release long back before I even took step 3.

but is it true it will send transcript as per the day it was authorized to release? or it will only send all available results as of sep 15 [ when we pay transcript fee] and only it will not send results after sep 15?

In first case I will be on safe side .. In second case I am already screwed up and only way is to give back on step 3.
WIll be glad if anyone has information about this.........

Thnks.

 

[dolphindoc]

This thread:http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=945428 has the answer to your "apply now or later" question. It's right at the top of the board now, so I expect you've looked at it. That poster asks about Step 1, but your situation is almost the same -- the difference being that since you've taken all three steps, you're likely to get reviewed early. Still, it's impossible to weight the benefits to applying early (more IV slots available) to those of applying later (less IV slots available, but passing Step 3 now available).

If you need an H visa, then I think there's no question that you should wait. You must pass Step 3 for an H (in most cases) and hence without it, I doubt programs will consider you.

Thanks aProgDirector,

I went through the link , but step 1 is critical for any application , I am not sure if this is the case with step 3 also as I see in the programs website that they only always mention step 1 and 2 only.

I am ready to take a J1 visa . if H1 is not a possibility , coz very few programs sponsor H1 and most of them also started turning to J1 visa from the last year. So just hoping that they don't put much emphasis on the step 3 [ Only a positive hope to get off the situation, don't know what's gonna be the reality] .

 

[gutonc]

Hi,
I kept it for " NOT UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY" and authorized release long back before I even took step 3.

but is it true it will send transcript as per the day it was authorized to release? or it will only send all available results as of sep 15 [ when we pay transcript fee] and only it will not send results after sep 15?

In first case I will be on safe side .. In second case I am already screwed up and only way is to give back on step 3.
WIll be glad if anyone has information about this.........

Thnks.

NBME will send your transcript as it exists on the day it is released (9/15), not as it was on the day you authorized it.

As to how big of a deal it's going to be, that will vary from program to program. Some places will filter on any Step failures and you're SOL there. But many places won't care that much as long as your Step 1/2 are both good.

What you need to do now is come up with an explanation (not excuse...explanation) for why you think you failed Step 3 and what your plan is to make sure you pass it next time.

 

[dolphindoc]

I agree with the mentioned suggestions. Selecting FM in this regard will be in your favor as far as your case is concerned.

I was browsing the FM programs and it pretty much surprising most of the programs are asking for 1 year - 6 months of USCE [ IMG ---> very rare unless someone did a prelim or keep on shelling for paid externships till exhausted] ..... not to mention I dint find this much requirement in IM or peds yet.

Are FM ppl come up strong and making it much more competitive for IMGs ?

Any one know places where they don't require this much of USCE?

Thanks in advance.

 

[dolphindoc]

NBME will send your transcript as it exists on the day it is released (9/15), not as it was on the day you authorized it.

As to how big of a deal it's going to be, that will vary from program to program. Some places will filter on any Step failures and you're SOL there. But many places won't care that much as long as your Step 1/2 are both good.

What you need to do now is come up with an explanation (not excuse...explanation) for why you think you failed Step 3 and what your plan is to make sure you pass it next time.

Thank you ! one confusion cleared. so its already recorded. Thanks for your words .. hope at least I get to hear from those who doesn't care step 3 much at the time of screening. 🙂

 

[gutonc]

I was browsing the FM programs and it pretty much surprising most of the programs are asking for 1 year - 6 months of USCE [ IMG ---> very rare unless someone did a prelim or keep on shelling for paid externships till exhausted] ..... not to mention I dint find this much requirement in IM or peds yet.

Are FM ppl come up strong and making it much more competitive for IMGs ?

Any one know places where they don't require this much of USCE?

Thanks in advance.

Just FYI...that was a spammer.

As to the USCE question, most programs are thinking about US IMGs who go offshore (Carib) for school and spend their entire 3rd and 4th years on rotations in the US. For "real" IMGs, it will depend on where "home" is. If you went to med school in Chad or Afghanistan, nobody is going to trust your clinical rotations but if you went to med school in the UK, Western Europe/Scandinavia, ANZ or Japan/China/Korea, many places will be more forgiving on the USCE issue. Not completely, but somewhat.

 

[gutonc]

Thank you ! one confusion cleared. so its already recorded. Thanks for your words .. hope at least I get to hear from those who doesn't care step 3 much at the time of screening. 🙂

The only screening you won't get past will be "any Step Failure" which can be done. Honestly, your IMG status is probably going to be a bigger impediment.

 

[dolphindoc]

Just FYI...that was a spammer.

As to the USCE question, most programs are thinking about US IMGs who go offshore (Carib) for school and spend their entire 3rd and 4th years on rotations in the US. For "real" IMGs, it will depend on where "home" is. If you went to med school in Chad or Afghanistan, nobody is going to trust your clinical rotations but if you went to med school in the UK, Western Europe/Scandinavia, ANZ or Japan/China/Korea, many places will be more forgiving on the USCE issue. Not completely, but somewhat.

Oh thanks! thats a relief 🙂

 

[dolphindoc]

The only screening you won't get past will be "any Step Failure" which can be done. Honestly, your IMG status is probably going to be a bigger impediment.

Yea ! I know . IMG status is always a big hurdle. Just hoping for some good luck.