Step 3 failures :((

[AG25]

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Hello, I am an 2007 graduate. I am an IMG who did my Public Health in US and have been doing research since 3 yrs in the US. I am working on a publication now - not published yet.
I had a dismal performance on the USMLE. Step 1-199, Step 2-199, Step 2 CS pass - all cleared with no attempts. I tried to appear for Step 3 to better my application, but unfortunately failed twice !!! 🙁((

I do have a lot of observership experience in the US, and am a US citizen. Seriously, what are my chances for residency? Please help ! What should I do ?

I am already only looking at less competitive programs and in rural areas. Also thinking of applying to all specialties - FM, Peds, Psych, Neuro, Transition year.

Please tell me how can I approach this with some hope of getting a residency spot. Would appreciate all your help !

 

[b-real]

Hello, I am an 2007 graduate. I am an IMG who did my Public Health in US and have been doing research since 3 yrs in the US. I am working on a publication now - not published yet.
I had a dismal performance on the USMLE. Step 1-199, Step 2-199, Step 2 CS pass - all cleared with no attempts. I tried to appear for Step 3 to better my application, but unfortunately failed twice !!! 🙁((

I do have a lot of observership experience in the US, and am a US citizen. Seriously, what are my chances for residency? Please help ! What should I do ?

I am already only looking at less competitive programs and in rural areas. Also thinking of applying to all specialties - FM, Peds, Psych, Neuro, Transition year.

Please tell me how can I approach this with some hope of getting a residency spot. Would appreciate all your help !

Have you at least passed Step 3 after the 2 failures? If not, I don't think you will find much luck getting a residency. You have a number of red flags:

1) IMG
2) barely passing Step 1
3) barely passing Step 2
4) Step 3 failure x 2

From here on, you have to study hard and crush Step 3 (if you already haven't passed). It's an uphill climb, I won't lie.

 

[wraith777]

You definitely have to pass step 3. Changing your study material may help. I studied for Step 3 and the Internal Medicine Boards at the same time (wouldn't do that again, of course), but found that the internal medicine "MedStudy" books helped with Step 3. The majority of the exam is core medicine, so you need to be strong on that. USMLE World question bank is a must. Although I have not used them, I have also heard great things about the "Master the Boards" books, from people who have initially failed the exam.

 

[ThePursuit]

In honesty, it sounds a lot like you don't have what it takes to be a great physician, at least not in the US. Patient's may get hurt. There, someone said it.

 

[CDI]

In honesty, it sounds a lot like you don't have what it takes to be a great physician, at least not in the US. Patient's may get hurt. There, someone said it.

USMLE sets minimum passing scores for a reason - not cause they expect everyone to be "great" physicians but to make sure they are keeping up/on par with the rest and can keep up once in residency. If they don't see people fit they would raise the minimum passing scores or even set minimum score requirements for licensure (which no state has done thus far). However, that is a problem here, OP is in limbo because the minimum passing score for CK was just raised to a 203.

 

[AG25]

I used UW, Boards and Wards, and Crush Step 3 for my prep.
I knew B&W front to end and also had gone through most of the UW questions. But on the test, i found material that was not covered in either of these books. Since I have been out of school and into research since last 5 years, I guess I might not be updated with the latest stuff. But what was surprising was I missed my first attempt by just 1 point. I scored a 189, while 190 is the passing score.

I havent given my step 3 again, coz my score came recently. Would you recommend some tutoring institutions for Step 3 ? I feel terrible and even had a thought about repeating medical school here in the US.

 

[myhandsarecold]

Um, you need to repeat med school. 🙁

Or maybe go to PA school if you really want to be a provider, otherwise, I don't see it happening for you.

Sorry man.

PA may not even work out as they'd probably ask about your USMLE history.

There are direct entry FNP program which I've seen many foreign medicine grads do particularly in regions with large immigrant populations

GOODLUCK