Value of clerkships in Residency Match

[DRJK]

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Is there a huge advantage in a clerkship as a student at the hospital you are applying for, when matching into a IM residency program?

Or do high USMLEs, LORs carry more weight, regardless of where they are from?

Btw I'm an FMG. Thanks in advance.🙂

 

[typhoonegator]

Short answer: depends on the program, depends on the specialty.

At my hospital, I don't know a single neurosurgery resident that didn't do a tryout rotation at my institution. Whereas in neurology, only a few did one.

I think in all cases, excellent performance in an away rotation at an institution you are interested in will help you.

 

[DRJK]

Short answer: depends on the program, depends on the specialty.

At my hospital, I don't know a single neurosurgery resident that didn't do a tryout rotation at my institution. Whereas in neurology, only a few did one.

I think in all cases, excellent performance in an away rotation at an institution you are interested in will help you.

Hi typhoonegator, thank you for your reply. I'm quite interested in gastroenterology which would be an internal med residency, and I am keen to try for Mayo Clinic, which I am told accept quite a few FMG, like myself.

Unfortunately Mayo Clinic do not accept final year electives from FMGs without a USMLE step 1 score, which I do not have. So I have two options:
1. cram for and sit USMLEs during 6 months of subinternship and then apply for a clerkship at Mayo, or
2. do a gastro observership elsewhere in the states and take time out to sit USMLE properly, after graduating.

So in summary what I'm wondering is whether going for a fantastic USMLE step 1 score would be more advantageous than a not as good USMLE score but a student clerkship at Mayo.

Thank you very much for your time!

 

[doc20]

step 1 scores win all the time!!! against everything and everyone!! no matter what anyone says