what are my chances for next year?

[sga430]

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this year my score was late i have not done any pscyh observerships so didnt match. i have 85/78 on steps 1 and 2 first attempt. i am a US IMG and have some minor research and publication and volunteer credits. i will do a psych observership. if i do a psych observership what are my chances of matching??? i will also do another publication project and maybe some research. thanks.

 

[alwaysjammin]

this year my score was late i have not done any pscyh observerships so didnt match. i have 85/78 on steps 1 and 2 first attempt. i am a US IMG and have some minor research and publication and volunteer credits. i will do a psych observership. if i do a psych observership what are my chances of matching??? i will also do another publication project and maybe some research. thanks.

Don't worry so much about scores, esp w/ psych. most programs only require a step 2 score of above 200. then it's all about your interview. if u do an observership and get along with everybody, chances are u will match. don't take anything for granted however, as psych gets more and more competitive.

 

[sga430]

Don't worry so much about scores, esp w/ psych. most programs only require a step 2 score of above 200. then it's all about your interview. if u do an observership and get along with everybody, chances are u will match. don't take anything for granted however, as psych gets more and more competitive.

my step 2 score is 191. can i make it up with a good step 3 score? since my step 2 score is lower would i get to interview at the same places again. i got an interview at harvard south shore with one score - step 1 (85 or 209.) also how can i improve my interviewing. 3 of the progs i interviewed well and the other 2 not so well. is it worth asking the prog coordinator why i didnt match? i asked at iol and they said i was not an ideal match. i am thinking they got a us grad in the scrambe??

 

[prominence]

my step 2 score is 191. can i make it up with a good step 3 score? since my step 2 score is lower would i get to interview at the same places again. i got an interview at harvard south shore with one score - step 1 (85 or 209.) also how can i improve my interviewing. 3 of the progs i interviewed well and the other 2 not so well. is it worth asking the prog coordinator why i didnt match? i asked at iol and they said i was not an ideal match. i am thinking they got a us grad in the scrambe??

in general, if you are an IMG, apply to alot of the community psych programs in the NYC area. also, as an IMG, definitely getting your ECFMG paperwork organized and passing step 3 will be a big plus.

good luck bro.

 

[sga430]

the administration at the Institute of Living (Hartford, CT) are a bunch of of lying *ssholes. i dont know if you are a caribbean grad, but they are anti-st george's. but for whatever reason, they get wet over SABA grads. i wonder what they consider to be an ideal candidate since IOL didnt match all of their spots this year.

in general, if you are an IMG, apply to alot of the community psych programs in the NYC area. also, as an IMG, definitely getting your ECFMG paperwork organized and passing step 3 will be a big plus.

good luck bro.

thanks for the advice. i graduated from India btw. i felt that IOL seemed like a friendly place. my guess was that in the scramble it is possible for a program to aim higher than in the match since there is a higher desperation factor. also i feel that IOL can attract us grads since they do a decent job at teaching psychoanalysis.

anyhow, should i give priority to step 3 or an observership or research?

 

[prominence]

thanks for the advice. i graduated from India btw. i felt that IOL seemed like a friendly place. my guess was that in the scramble it is possible for a program to aim higher than in the match since there is a higher desperation factor. also i feel that IOL can attract us grads since they do a decent job at teaching psychoanalysis.

anyhow, should i give priority to step 3 or an observership or research?

i would recommend step 3 and research.

 

[ratched]

I wholeheartedly disagree with Prominence's assessment of the Institute of Living. It is a wonderful place that offers tons of psychiatric services and has many top-notch faculty. They treat their residents well and offer excellent supervision. Like many of the nation's most prestigious mental health facilities, the IOL took a serious financial hit with the advent of managed care in the early 90's. As a result, they merged with Hartford Hospital, and the residency merged with UConn's. They have recently parted ways with UConn and are trying to reestablish their identity. My interactions with the administration were nothing but pleasant.

I do agree that the city of Hartford is not the most attractive or the safest in the Northeast, but there are many charming areas just outside the city.

Sga, I have much sympathy for you. I'm sure that if you keep an even head about this, you will overcome this temporary setback.

 

[sga430]

thanks. i am not sure if prominence is correct when he says that step 3 and research are more important than an observership. this may be tru for a US grad but for foreign grads i believe observership is more important as psychiatry is given little emphasis in other countries. a lot of programs asked me if i have us clinical experience. of course research and step 3 will help. i will try and do all three.

i just got an offer to do a psych project and write self-help tips for this med info site about anxiety, depression, etc.

 

[prominence]

thanks. i am not sure if prominence is correct when he says that step 3 and research are more important than an observership. this may be tru for a US grad but for foreign grads i believe observership is more important as psychiatry is given little emphasis in other countries. a lot of programs asked me if i have us clinical experience. of course research and step 3 will help. i will try and do all three.

i just got an offer to do a psych project and write self-help tips for this med info site about anxiety, depression, etc.

bro, if you are asking for advice in choosing between an observseship vs. research, my advice would be to pick the research option.

i am not a program director by any stretch of the imagination. i do not know what your goals are as far as how prestigious a place u r trying to match into. however, keep in mind, that there are a good number of psych residents who did not have any prior research experience before beginning residency. some programs do not even require an academic project of any sort during the residency training. there are a good number of IMGs in NY and NJ who are similar to you in that they have done all of their clinical training outside the U.S.

if you are trying to make urself stand out, i would still recommend the research option. in this way, u could establish good connections. if you are fortunate to publish something, programs will view this as a positive. u will be seen as an even more attractive candidate who potentially could pursue research interests as a resident in their program, and thus, further add credibility to their program. places want someone who can bring something to the table for them.

obviously passing step 3 should be a high priority in ur case. ideally, if u could pass step 3 as well as do the observeship and the research, that would clearly be the way to go. if you have to be pick between observseship or research, i would personally pick the research option. nobody is a born psychiatrist right out of medical school, except maybe poety. a limited observeship/volunteer opportunity may show your interest in the field, but it may only provide a minimal boost to ur overall application.

just my 2 cents. i am not in ur shoes, but i wish u the best of luck.