Timing of Step 2 for ERAS

[samdaman]

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Hi All,

I am a Foreign Medical Graduate and plan to apply for Emergency Medicine in 2003 and go for the match in 2004. I have a questions about timing the Step 2 exam.

I just received my Step 1 score a few days back.. 98/242. As I have been reading on this message board, people recommend giving the step 2 max by the end of september so that your result is in with the program in time. However, I wont be able to give the Step 2 before mid october... does that decrease my chances of getting an interview considering that (a) I am an FMG and (b) I have a reasonable Step 1 score. How important is the Step 2 score in getting an interview call and when do u recommend I should apply through ERAS? As soon as it open in August, or should i wait till mid September/End of September to apply?

Thanks in advance to all. Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Regards,
Dr. Samdaman

 

[mikecwru]

Originally posted by samdaman
Hi All,

I am a Foreign Medical Graduate and plan to apply for Emergency Medicine in 2003 and go for the match in 2004. I have a questions about timing the Step 2 exam.

I just received my Step 1 score a few days back.. 98/242. As I have been reading on this message board, people recommend giving the step 2 max by the end of september so that your result is in with the program in time. However, I wont be able to give the Step 2 before mid october... does that decrease my chances of getting an interview considering that (a) I am an FMG and (b) I have a reasonable Step 1 score. How important is the Step 2 score in getting an interview call and when do u recommend I should apply through ERAS? As soon as it open in August, or should i wait till mid September/End of September to apply?

I took my step 2 in January which was too late to be used in interview decisions, but early enough for ranking decisions (if used). And I got lots of interviews.

If you take it in October, you'll have your scores back in time for most of the interview season, I would think. For programs that really care (not a lot, from most peoples' accounts) it may delay interview offers a bit, but wouldn't be a major hassle.

In short, October is early enough. Of course, this is american grad advice. EM is a DO friendly specialty but seems like a notoriously FMG unfriendly specialty in a lot of places. I would study hard for step 2.

mike

 

[samdaman]

Thanks for the kind advice. I agree about the IMG unfriendliness but quite a few people from my Medical school have gotten into really good places in Emergency Medicine all over the US, and in other specialties as well. It is going to be competetive though.

To put my question in another way... If I were to give my Step 2 at the end of September, would that in any way increased the number of interviews I get or 15 days to the mid of October would'nt make much of a difference?

Thanks and Warm Regards,

samdaman

 

[mikecwru]

Originally posted by samdaman
Thanks for the kind advice. I agree about the IMG unfriendliness but quite a few people from my Medical school have gotten into really good places in Emergency Medicine all over the US, and in other specialties as well. It is going to be competetive though.

To put my question in another way... If I were to give my Step 2 at the end of September, would that in any way increased the number of interviews I get or 15 days to the mid of October would'nt make much of a difference?

Thanks and Warm Regards,

samdaman

I don't think it would make or break you. Take it when you're most comfortable. Realize that AMGs have the luxury of holding off on Step 2 usually if they have a score like yours and just riding on that. The theory is a low(er) step 2 score can only hurt you if you did well on step 1. So, make sure you put alot of effort into step 2 and do equally well. (It should be less difficult than step 1; the bonus is that it is easier).

I didn't say it would be impossible, just that there would be discrimination. Some places will just not interview you if you are a FMG. Others will offer interviews, but only because of your relatively high accomplishments... you a FMG w/ 240+ board scores, when they're interviewing some AMGs with a 200. Your FMG counterparts who have just average scores are going to be really screwed.

It's obviously not all board scores and I don't know if you are an american who went to a foreign med school or someone who needs to get visas, etc. That may be relatively tougher. There is a frequent poster on here who is an american who went to a Caribbean med school. Maybe he'll weigh in. It sounds like he had to work harder than others and scrambled into a good spot this year after not matching last year.

mike

 

[samdaman]

I agree with you. I am an non-american FMG and offcourse I will have to face a lot of competition, considering all the visa issues as well as the inherent bias associated with being an FMG. I am sure that many programs wont even consider my application because they dont really consider FMGs, so I am saving myself a little time (and money)... I am calling all the programs and asking them flatly about visa issues, and FMG bias etc. That way I am sure I would be down to about 60-70 programs... and then i'll try my luck and apply to all of them!

So ur saying that if I dont do all that well in Step 2, then it would actually hurt my application? I think I should stick by my plans then, and give the exam in mid-October as I have planned.
Thanks for all the info. Best of luck!
Regards,
samdaman

 

[sgufmg]

Actually, I'm an FMG myself, but a US-citizen. If I were you, I would take that Step 2 as soon as you can because 1) Many programs will not consider you (as an FMG) without Step 2 2) Some programs weigh Step 2 more heavily

But the most important thing, is to get a CORD SLOR from a US Emergency Medicine Residency Program, preferably, from a program director, assistant program director, medical student director. Without this, I think you face significant hurdles regardless of your Step scores. Only 13 non-US/Canadian citizens matched this year out of 1200 positions. Many people can get high step scores but are not clinically superior.

I can tell you first hand, after going through the match this year, step scores are one part of a much larger picture. Many of my friends had scores similar to yours yet had only 3-4 interviews due to the absense of outstanding SLOR letters.

Hopefully, you're from Sackler or Trinity if you're not a US citizen. These schools have placed students in EM in the past.

Let me know where you plan to rotate.

 

[samdaman]

Hi there,

Good to know that you matched as an fmg. Basically, I have already rotated through the ED at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. I have two amaing SLORs from the medical student coordinator as well as the assistant residency program director. I also rotated through trauma surgery at the UCLA medical center. Other than that, I have molecular biology research experience at Stanford University, Department of Vascular Surgery. I have two publication, me being the first author, and 6 ongoing projects which I dont think i'll be able to finish in time, but the ideas were solely mine all the same, and other people are now working on them...

I dont know if you've heard about this school... but I am from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan... We have only graduated 15 classes of 75 students so far (mine being the 15th) and we have had 4 people into EM... 2 at Yale, one at Beth Israel New York, and one in some program in Pennsylvania... so things are'nt that bad (or so I like to think!!!)

Step 2 scores do count as I've read that they are a better predictor of how you would perform clinically rather than the step 1 score... I guess I'll have to take my chances and hope that i'll get interview calls soon after the programs receive my step 2 score!

Thanks once again and best wishes
Warm regards,
samdaman

 

[Apollyon]

Hey Mike, thanks for the intro. End of year party on boat last night, then $12 drinks at the Copa. Oh my.

I am an anomaly among FMG's in EM, because my boards were horrible. High numbers put you inside the circle. Beyond that, it's individual. EM is "applied medicine", so, with 240's on your boards, programs can't have too many "deep thinkers" - things happen NOW in the ED. What you need to show is that you have not only the brains, but also the hands. Your rec letters are what demonstrate this.

Unfortunately, there's one other thing - your writing is very clear, so I don't think this applies, but a thick accent can be a deal-breaker.

You're well on the way, so make sure you dot all the i's and cross the t's. And apply EARLY! Then, with your hardcore numbers, YOU set the tone for the application season. Don't let your boards be what defines you, though. Your EM career is much wider than some generic exams.

 

[samdaman]

Hey Apollyon,

Your reply made me smile. Thanks for the compliments... but I dont think i would be exagerrating if i said that if u were to hear me talk (but not see me), you would'nt be able to tell where I was from... It has happened before... and THAT is another advantage that I have... or so I like to think!!!

And I agree... my board scores dont even come CLOSE to what I am... so they obviously cant define me... The reason why EM is exciting... because it is the NOW... and not waiting for weeks to see your patient improve
Thanks once again for the great input... its good to know what people think when the term "FMG" pops up 😉
Warm Regards
samdaman