Time Sensitive Question!

[emily27]

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Hi all,

I have a dilemma that I do not wish anyone to ever have...

I am an IMG student with great transcript and great LoRs from US & International rotations. I also did research for one year. I want to apply to Internal Medicine or Pediatrics programs; however...
I passed Step 1 on my 2nd attempt (190)
I passed Step 2 CS on my first attempt
I just got the result for Step 2 CK this morning and I failed it... (200)

I already applied to ERAS last year just to give it a shot when I only had my Step 1 but I did not match.

My dilemma now is if I should try again or wait for next year... I am just wondering if - besides the money lost - there is any disadvantages for me to apply again this year?... I am planning on taking my CK in mid-January in order to get the score before Feb. 26 (Rank Order List Deadline) - For unfortunate personal health reasons I cannot take the CK earlier than that.

Anyone's advice would be a tremendous help for me and would be really appreciated.

Thank you all and good luck everyone!

 

[MadHopsMD]

I do not believe there is a disavantage applying again. For personal experience couple programs that rejected me prior gave me an interview this cycle. I did improve my application.

btw fail now on step 2 is 200??? When I took it it was high 180s. Damn

 

[emily27]

I do not believe there is a disavantage applying again. For personal experience couple programs that rejected me prior gave me an interview this cycle. I did improve my application.

btw fail now on step 2 is 200??? When I took it it was high 180s. Damn

Thanks MadHopsMD for your response. Yes they increased the minimum score 3 months ago from 186 to 203! I am so frustrated... If I had taken it 3 months earlier that score would have been sufficient...

The only thing I am scared of is if I don't match this year again, next year the programs will be like: "she applied 3 times, no way I am looking at that application..." I don't want to reduce my chances for next year by applying this year with a somewhat improved application (CS passed and a few US rotations with good LoRs)... But maybe I am just making this up...

 

[Iamnotme]

Thanks MadHopsMD for your response. Yes they increased the minimum score 3 months ago from 186 to 203! I am so frustrated... If I had taken it 3 months earlier that score would have been sufficient...

The only thing I am scared of is if I don't match this year again, next year the programs will be like: "she applied 3 times, no way I am looking at that application..." I don't want to reduce my chances for next year by applying this year with a somewhat improved application (CS passed and a few US rotations with good LoRs)... But maybe I am just making this up...

My advice would be for you to do your medical training in a place other than the US. Given the ever increasing # of AMGs due to the expansion of US medical schools and more DOs, it is becoming more and more difficult for IMGs to match. Unfortunately having 2 step failures, with many/most people having no failures, is a big problem for you. Programs cannot see how many times you applied per se, what they can see is how many years out you are from graduation. It's possible technically for you to go on your interviews if you have them and retake step 2 and hopefully pass it but if you apply next year, the failed step 2 will be visible for sure, which will make your application uncompetitive. I would just stick it out with this match and see how it goes. The more you are out form medical training the worse you are off.

 

[rokshana]

Hi all,

I have a dilemma that I do not wish anyone to ever have...

I am an IMG student with great transcript and great LoRs from US & International rotations. I also did research for one year. I want to apply to Internal Medicine or Pediatrics programs; however...
I passed Step 1 on my 2nd attempt (190)
I passed Step 2 CS on my first attempt
I just got the result for Step 2 CK this morning and I failed it... (200)

I already applied to ERAS last year just to give it a shot when I only had my Step 1 but I did not match.

My dilemma now is if I should try again or wait for next year... I am just wondering if - besides the money lost - there is any disadvantages for me to apply again this year?... I am planning on taking my CK in mid-January in order to get the score before Feb. 26 (Rank Order List Deadline) - For unfortunate personal health reasons I cannot take the CK earlier than that.

Anyone's advice would be a tremendous help for me and would be really appreciated.

Thank you all and good luck everyone!

are you talking about applying NOW? at the end of October?

 

[emily27]

are you talking about applying NOW? at the end of October?

Yes

My advice would be for you to do your medical training in a place other than the US. Given the ever increasing # of AMGs due to the expansion of US medical schools and more DOs, it is becoming more and more difficult for IMGs to match. Unfortunately having 2 step failures, with many/most people having no failures, is a big problem for you. Programs cannot see how many times you applied per se, what they can see is how many years out you are from graduation. It's possible technically for you to go on your interviews if you have them and retake step 2 and hopefully pass it but if you apply next year, the failed step 2 will be visible for sure, which will make your application uncompetitive. I would just stick it out with this match and see how it goes. The more you are out form medical training the worse you are off.

Thanks for that answer. Especially when you said that there is actually no way for them to really see how many times I applied. Because if the money invested in those applications is not the issue, then I am not sure what negative point would bring to my application if I try again this year... what am I losing?!?! I just graduated in May 2013 btw.

 

[Iamnotme]

Yes



Thanks for that answer. Especially when you said that there is actually no way for them to really see how many times I applied. Because if the money invested in those applications is not the issue, then I am not sure what negative point would bring to my application if I try again this year... what am I losing?!?! I just graduated in May 2013 btw.

They can't tell how many times you applied no. I was under the impression you had already applied this match. If you have not, it is quite late at this point especially for someone with some red flags (given the step failures). Can you apply this year and perhaps luck out in a place that most people don't want to go to? Sure. And yes mostly you would be losing money, so in that sense it's no the end of the world. But I think that if you wanted to apply this cycle you should have applied already. I realize that you can't really change what's been done, just saying. But to answer your question, yes technically the only thing you'd be wasting at this point would be $$.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I'm going to agree with the thoughts on this thread. It's almost pointless to apply this late with a failed CK. Had you applied earlier you simply could have not re-released your USMLE transcript, but it's too late for that. Your two step failures are going to be a big problem when applying to programs -- unfortunately they are likely to be given more weight than your letters, transcript, rotations, or research. It's critical you find something to do this year that tries to keep up / improve your skills and apply on time next year. Rather than rush to take CK, you should ensure that you get as good a score as possible on it.

 

[rokshana]

Yes
I am not sure what negative point would bring to my application if I try again this year... what am I losing?!?! I just graduated in May 2013 btw.

if that's the case, then it is extremely unrealistic for you to think you will get any interviews...you just have too many red flags on your application despite good LOR, grades, etc.

ERAS opened Sept 15 and the MSPE has already been released to programs...the majority of invites have gone out and to get one now, you m/l need to have a rock star app...which yours is not.

yes, the deadline for scores is ROL day, but really its not...its like being on time for a surgery meeting...on time is late...during the interview season, you want everything (esp as an FMG) to be COMPLETE, on the 1st day ERAS opens...over a month later all you will be doing is throwing your money away.

use this year to study for CK and get an extremely high score to help offset your fails on Step I and CK...

also try to get something to occupy your time in a productive manner...clinical would be great, but may be difficult, unless its in your home country...maybe research at a place that has a residency program so you can get to know people in the program.

once you have passed CK, then you may be able to look for off cycle positions and then apply for next year's interview cycle.