Taking the USMLE before end of 2nd year?

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Hello, I have a question I hope someone can help me answer. I am a second year student (US citizen) in a foreign medical school looking to transfer back to the United States because of a family medical emergency. I have been researching schools in the US to transfer into, and many that I have found require submission of USMLE Step 1 scores along with the application. This wouldn’t be a problem, except the deadline for some of these schools is as early as May 15, while my school doesn’t end until the beginning of July. I have checked on the ECFMG website, and it states that you have to have completed your second year (and have finished exams in your basic sciences) in order to take the USMLE. I called the ECFMG last night, and they weren’t very helpful, only echoing the same thing.

It seems to me that even US second-year students wanting to transfer would have to take the USMLE Step 1 long before May in order to get their scores back in time. So to transfer and take the USMLE, their spring semester would have to end in January or February, right? Or do most students wanting to transfer from their second year have to take a year off? Is there something I misunderstanding or another scenario I’m overlooking? How long does it take to receive scores for the USMLE?

Also, has anyone had any experience with registering for and taking the Step 1 before they finished their second year? Does anyone know what this form 183 involves that the dean is supposed to sign, and does it state anywhere that the semester has actually finished? And do you know if they really do call to check on completion of the semester?

I feel I really have no choice but to take the USMLE early, as I’ve contacted the schools and many of them won’t let me delay submitting my scores until after my semester ends, on top of the fact that many of their 3rd year clinicals begin as my classes are ending. I really want to make transferring work, but it seems that little is being cooperative at the moment. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[t33sg1rl]

What about taking a year off to do research in the United States? There are some fellowships available, like NIH or Howard Hughes. Plus, doing one of those would really boost your chances of getting into a US school.

Otherwise, if you are planning to take step 1 early-you'd better be extremely sure of getting a good score. If you pass Step 1 with a low score, I doubt any US schools will want you.