Time plan for the match (from nothing to ECFMG certification)

[El Duderino]

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Well, subject says it all, really. I assume it's too late to go from nothingness to ECFMG certification in time to match in 2005, but when does one have to start (as an IMG) to be eligible for the 2006 match?

Thanks!

 

[rapid sequence]

I would advise the sooner you start the easier it will be. It helps to have ECFMG certification at the time you apply for the match( according to some sources). I can only advise you based on how I did the process myself. I matched 2004. took step 1 jan 2003, step2 june 2003, csa july 2003, applied when my cert arrived sept 2003 , interviewed dec 2003, step3 jan 2004. I am sure it even helps to do step 3 B4 interview if you want a visa(H1). I think you could do it all over a much quicker time frame, but I have been out of med school for some time and was working fulll time while studying for the exams.Hope this helps a little

 

[El Duderino]

I would advise the sooner you start the easier it will be. It helps to have ECFMG certification at the time you apply for the match( according to some sources). I can only advise you based on how I did the process myself. I matched 2004. took step 1 jan 2003, step2 june 2003, csa july 2003, applied when my cert arrived sept 2003 , interviewed dec 2003, step3 jan 2004. I am sure it even helps to do step 3 B4 interview if you want a visa(H1). I think you could do it all over a much quicker time frame, but I have been out of med school for some time and was working fulll time while studying for the exams.Hope this helps a little

Thanks a bundle! Seems like it's definitely doable...

 

[El Duderino]

Quick question - I just saw that the late registration deadline for the Match 2005 is February 23rd - does that mean I could still make the Match as an IMG in 2005, or do different rules apply to us?

Thanks for any help - I need to hit the books... 🙂

 

[BellKicker]

Dudester,

It's been a while since you've been on SDN!

Here's my timeline:

Step 1: August 2002
Step 2CS: August 2004
Step 2CK: October 2004
First Interview: November 2nd.

Match 2005..... (JINXED!!!! 😱 )

I already applied (with only step 1) and have got several interviews.

Dude, you could still apply for this match but what you may want to keep in mind is that there's the beast known as the scramble. If you sign up for ERAS and upload all your documents - even if you don't have time to get one single interview - they'll give you the list of unfilled programs and send your stuff out for you.

If you're open to any location, you'll have hundreds of programs to apply to.

Lycka till (det s?jer man v?l i Sverige?).

I put "fluent in Swedish" in my ERAS appliation....... 😀

 

[El Duderino]

Dudester,

It's been a while since you've been on SDN!

Here's my timeline:

Step 1: August 2002
Step 2CS: August 2004
Step 2CK: October 2004
First Interview: November 2nd.

Match 2005..... (JINXED!!!! 😱 )

I already applied (with only step 1) and have got several interviews.

Dude, you could still apply for this match but what you may want to keep in mind is that there's the beast known as the scramble. If you sign up for ERAS and upload all your documents - even if you don't have time to get one single interview - they'll give you the list of unfilled programs and send your stuff out for you.

If you're open to any location, you'll have hundreds of programs to apply to.

Lycka till (det s?jer man v?l i Sverige?).

I put "fluent in Swedish" in my ERAS appliation....... 😀

Thanks man, what can I say? I can only quote GWB: It's good to be back in <looks at script> Kalamazoo!

OK, so my timeline will be somewhat different:

TOEFL, Step 1, Step 2, Step 2CS: Oct/Nov 2004.

It's gonna be a riot. 🙂

So basically I'm shooting for the scramble, yes. I'll be applying in path and possibly psych (no neuro). I know it's nowhere near a lock no matter my scores, but hopefully it'll work out...

Och jepp, svenskan sitter som den skall! 🙂

 

[BellKicker]

TOEFL?!? Unless you love easy, unnecessary tests, I would drop that. (It's no longer required).

Man, those are pretty hard specialties to scramble for. One position would freak em out but two (prelim AND PGY2)............ Ouch.

You're probably right about the sequence of tests. The only reason I took CS before CK was that score reporting is very slow now, so I wanted to move it up.

Stay in touch.

BK

 

[El Duderino]

TOEFL?!? Unless you love easy, unnecessary tests, I would drop that. (It's no longer required).

Man, those are pretty hard specialties to scramble for. One position would freak em out but two (prelim AND PGY2)............ Ouch.

You're probably right about the sequence of tests. The only reason I took CS before CK was that score reporting is very slow now, so I wanted to move it up.

Stay in touch.

BK

Would they be harder to scramble for than any other specialties? (I have to tell you, I don't really know the difference between scrambling and just being late.)

Oh, and thanks for the tip wrt TOEFL! No offense, but I think I'll try to get a confirmation from an official source as well... 🙂

 

[BellKicker]

The TOEFL is now integrated, so to speak, in Step 2 CS. I'm not kidding 🙂

The way people usually describe the scramble is that they send out upwards of a 100 applications out by fax to open programs all over the country. Some accept you on the spot, some want to make sure they can handle working with you for a year. It's supposed to be an absolutely crazy couple of days.

You would most likely have to scramble for both a PGY1 and a PGY2 spot, (which could ideally be at the same institution, of course).

But what's stopping you from applying once you have your step 1?

 

[El Duderino]

The TOEFL is now integrated, so to speak, in Step 2 CS. I'm not kidding 🙂

The way people usually describe the scramble is that they send out upwards of a 100 applications out by fax to open programs all over the country. Some accept you on the spot, some want to make sure they can handle working with you for a year. It's supposed to be an absolutely crazy couple of days.

You would most likely have to scramble for both a PGY1 and a PGY2 spot, (which could ideally be at the same institution, of course).

But what's stopping you from applying once you have your step 1?

Aha, ok, I thought scrambling was basically the same as sending in your application late (ie after the 'soft' deadline in December). My current schedule (if everything falls into place) will most likely allow me to apply in early December. Which is late, as I understand it, but not late as in having to rely on unfilled spots.

Does this sound anywhere near reasonable? 🙂

 

[BellKicker]

Why not apply with just step 1?

That's what I would do. Just convince them that you're on schedule to take all the tests before the match deadline.

If you have step 1 by early November and apply far and wide, you will most likely get some interviews.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[El Duderino]

Why not apply with just step 1?

That's what I would do. Just convince them that you're on schedule to take all the tests before the match deadline.

If you have step 1 by early November and apply far and wide, you will most likely get some interviews.

That's my opinion anyway.

Ok, I thought you actually had to have your ECFMG certification by the time you submit your applications (man I have to read up on this thing 😳 ). Anywho, I won't get my step 1 results until early December at best, and since step 2 takes a lot less preparation in my mind, I was thinking I should just get it over with. So roughly: Step 2 CS late October/early November, Step 1 early November, Step 2 CK mid-late November. If it can be arranged - and that is a big if - it might work. I don't think I would stand that much to gain by taking step 2 later - I'm hoping to get all of this done during a one-month trip to the US.

Btw, I'm really grateful for your help now that I finally got my skid (that last word is Danish) together and made up my mind...

 

[demspawn]

Emm, I just wanted to ask the person that took the Step 2 CS, what did he think...
Unfortunately by the time I got my act together for the Step 2 CK and CS, the earliest for Step 2 CS that I got was late November... and October for CK
(I wish it was the opposite...)
Anyway just what were your thought on the test.
how wasit and were the patietns unreal or every day stuff...

D

 

[BellKicker]

Ok, I thought you actually had to have your ECFMG certification by the time you submit your applications (man I have to read up on this thing 😳 ). Anywho, I won't get my step 1 results until early December at best, and since step 2 takes a lot less preparation in my mind, I was thinking I should just get it over with. So roughly: Step 2 CS late October/early November, Step 1 early November, Step 2 CK mid-late November. If it can be arranged - and that is a big if - it might work. I don't think I would stand that much to gain by taking step 2 later - I'm hoping to get all of this done during a one-month trip to the US.

Btw, I'm really grateful for your help now that I finally got my skid (that last word is Danish) together and made up my mind...

Duderino, you need to pass step 1 before you can sign up for step 2CS. So you gotta take that first.

You don't need ecfmg certification to apply. You don't even need it to enter the match. You must have passed all three tests by March, though; graduation is the only thing that can wait till after the match.

I think you would do best to just focus on Step 1 for now and ace the hell out of it. You could take that in Oslo or somewhere else in Europe. Then during the 4-week wait for the results, you can consider your options.

Take Step 1 in November. You get the results by December after which you grab the earliest CS date they have. Take CK sometime during all this. You can take that whenever you want, independently of Step 1.

Making the match and the scramble will be a tight squeeze but there are often positions open for a while after the scramble for various reasons.

You could also relax for now and get ready for next year.

Or enter this year with a serious plan B in Sweden.

BK

 

[BellKicker]

Emm, I just wanted to ask the person that took the Step 2 CS, what did he think...
Unfortunately by the time I got my act together for the Step 2 CK and CS, the earliest for Step 2 CS that I got was late November... and October for CK
(I wish it was the opposite...)
Anyway just what were your thought on the test.
how wasit and were the patietns unreal or every day stuff...

D

I didn't think it was too bad. Most of the cases were pretty straight forward. I forgot at least a million things in there, though, so I'm not too sure how I did.

If there were zebras, I was blissfully unaware of them...... 😕

 

[ys]

I am pretty sure ECFMG has removed the step 1 prerequisite for CS.

 

[16846]

I am pretty sure ECFMG has removed the step 1 prerequisite for CS.

Anyone know if this is true?

 

[BellKicker]

I have to admit I'm not 100% sure.

 

[El Duderino]

I have to admit I'm not 100% sure.

It seems they've changed their rules. Now you can take step 1, 2ck and 2cs in any order, which seems pretty reasonable to me.

Although from that earlier post here it seems like trying to schedule step 2CS in October is a lost cause. Dagnabbit.

 

[BellKicker]

Well, I really don't think CS is going to influence your chances of landing interviews. You must take it before Dec 31st to enter the match and that should still be very possible.