What Can I do While Studying for Steps?

[RubberToes]

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I am an IMG and will graduate from medical school in June this year. I then plan to study and do the Steps after that.

During this period, I will be living in the US (specifically San Francisco). I understand that to get clinical experience in the US for IMGs, you need to have finished step 1, which I have not. Even so, I would prefer to get clinical experience after the steps anyway.

So my question is, in the many months it will take for me to at least complete Step 1, I am ready to give 2-3 hours for something that will add worth to my CV. What are my best options? Perhaps a course in BCLS, or BTLS, or something? Or just some voluntary work somewhere?

Any advice/experience is appreciated.

 

[Andreji]

How much time do you intend on investing in preparing for each test?

As an IMG with many IMG friends that prepared/are preparing for the steps, I found investing time exclusively for preparing to be a waste of your time and possibilities. I studied while working in research, and I figure unless you wanna do something like the kaplan videos, not too much 'exclusive' time is required and many research- or more importantly- clinical experience opportunities can allow you enough time to study and gain on your CV.

You are also wrong on how clinical experience requires step 1. Dozens, if not hundreds of hospitals (from top, middle and lower tier) offer externships/clerkships for students and/or observerships for graduates. you ought to bother researching for site-specific requirements and you'll realize the many choices in any and every field that are out there.

What I would (would've) advise(d) is you prioritize on clinical experience while as a student, since hands-on options are infinitely easier (and much more valuable). Procrastinating and postponing your clinical experience doesn't really help you much and rather gaps in your training, as well as "getting rusty over time" after leaving med school may well lead you to be less-than-stellar when the time comes to get your clinical exp on, which may reflect on your letters.

*addendum*: BLS/ACLS, as far as i've been told, is really worthless when it comes down to your ERAS CV- most (if not all) programs will offer it for their incoming interns anyway. Plus, what's that, a two-day course at best?

 

[RubberToes]

Thanks for your reply Andreji.

I intend on spending as long as necessary. If you check out this thread I found on another forum. I imagine I will need around 6-8 months studying 8 hours a day. If I have to study 8 hours a day, I'm not sure I can have more than say 3-4 hours a day for other things (because for me 8 hours worth actually needs 12 hours because I lack superhuman concentration).

So that's my situation. I also do not want to compromise on my studying for step 1; I realize it's very important to score well on it.

 

[Domenech]

This thread would definitely be moved elsewhere as it's not the right place.

I would have said "externship" if you were in New York. However california board has deemed externships as illegal so there's no way you can acquire clinical experience in California (over and above what a Physician Assistant is expected to do) as you have graduated (if my assumption is correct).

If you can enroll as a research assistant anywhere on a voluntary basis, that would be a useful option for you. Having a letter to testify you were not just studying for exams would be extremely useful. If you manage publications out, that would be an even better use of your time. Publications don't have to be extra-ordinary, necessarily.

Definitely seek something out. Most PDs would definitely dislike that you have taken time out just to study, which is something the American MS' never or rarely do.

 

[Andreji]

Definitely seek something out. Most PDs would definitely dislike that you have taken time out just to study, which is something the American MS' never or rarely do.

That's the basis of my point.

I hate to generalize, but I think IMGs tend to place exaggerate weight on the USMLE scores. That's not to say one should (or could) go across with bad scores, but things don't necessarily look much brighter if I have 245 and you have a 275 on step 1, but you spent 12 months doing nothing but that. And I guess PDs know that, too.

In my very, very humble opinion, I risk saying once you cross a certain 'score threshold', US clinical experience (and henceforth, the Letters that come from it) play the most important role in access to residency spots, and I was implicitly and explicitly informed of this as I interviewed. Many people with superstellar scores I came across in middle-of-the-road programs didn't access interviews I had. I can't say it was my USCE, but the top places I interviewed at (and where I prematched) all seemed to bring up the hospital I did clerkships at, and the 'outstanding LoRs' I had.

Failing to see the wholesomeness of the application is a mistake, I think.

To the OP: The usmle-forum link to me carries 2 great caveats:
-Many of the users there (and at prep4usmle or usmleforum) have a poor english. and english level must inversely correlate with study time somehow.
-Many of the very same users have graduated from school (and thus left any academic medicine) years ago. Fresh off from med school, things should be easier.

This all to say, things probably boil down to personal study habits, and your pace will modify as you go on. Just keep in mind, hyper-extensive study calendars can backfire especially with a poor attention span; and I know quite a few people who studied for way too long, to the point of retaining none of the knowledge (or ever applying any logic to it).

Finally, here's a helpful step 1 prep link I found to be extremely useful: http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/usmle-step-1/

 

[mphresidency]

That's the basis of my point.

I hate to generalize, but I think IMGs tend to place exaggerate weight on the USMLE scores. That's not to say one should (or could) go across with bad scores, but things don't necessarily look much brighter if I have 245 and you have a 275 on step 1, but you spent 12 months doing nothing but that. And I guess PDs know that, too.

In my very, very humble opinion, I risk saying once you cross a certain 'score threshold', US clinical experience (and henceforth, the Letters that come from it) play the most important role in access to residency spots, and I was implicitly and explicitly informed of this as I interviewed. Many people with superstellar scores I came across in middle-of-the-road programs didn't access interviews I had. I can't say it was my USCE, but the top places I interviewed at (and where I prematched) all seemed to bring up the hospital I did clerkships at, and the 'outstanding LoRs' I had.

Failing to see the wholesomeness of the application is a mistake, I think.

To the OP: The usmle-forum link to me carries 2 great caveats:
-Many of the users there (and at prep4usmle or usmleforum) have a poor english. and english level must inversely correlate with study time somehow.
-Many of the very same users have graduated from school (and thus left any academic medicine) years ago. Fresh off from med school, things should be easier.

This all to say, things probably boil down to personal study habits, and your pace will modify as you go on. Just keep in mind, hyper-extensive study calendars can backfire especially with a poor attention span; and I know quite a few people who studied for way too long, to the point of retaining none of the knowledge (or ever applying any logic to it).

Finally, here's a helpful step 1 prep link I found to be extremely useful: http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/usmle-step-1/

I am an IMG and I graduated in March 2010. I actually suffer from psoriasis. After graduation I joined as a research assistant in a tertiary referral hospital. It was a voluntary job.

I gave my step 1 and failed. (my psoriasis exacerbated real bad). I am really apprehensive as to how badly can this affect my chances of getting into residency. I gave my step 1 again and got 225 on it.

I actually am working under a US board certified doctor back here in my home country. I have about 9 international conference abstracts and a few papers to my credit. I am now applying for MPH as a back up option. Is this the right move? After getting a few admits for MPH my psoriasis also has come down (not sure if it is MPH admit but i want to believe that it is).

In the loop of prep for step 2 ck now... Kindly give your valuable inputs...

 

[sineapse]

I am an IMG and I graduated in March 2010. I actually suffer from psoriasis. After graduation I joined as a research assistant in a tertiary referral hospital. It was a voluntary job.

I gave my step 1 and failed. (my psoriasis exacerbated real bad). I am really apprehensive as to how badly can this affect my chances of getting into residency. I gave my step 1 again and got 225 on it.

I actually am working under a US board certified doctor back here in my home country. I have about 9 international conference abstracts and a few papers to my credit. I am now applying for MPH as a back up option. Is this the right move? After getting a few admits for MPH my psoriasis also has come down (not sure if it is MPH admit but i want to believe that it is).

In the loop of prep for step 2 ck now... Kindly give your valuable inputs...

Why did you not post this in the correct forum?

 

[mphresidency]

Why did you not post this in the correct forum?

I am sorry - which forum should I have posted it under... I am done with my CK now...

 

[ROBINHO]

I am sorry - which forum should I have posted it under... I am done with my CK now...

Well u probably already know that some programs will screen u out because of an attempt.
But scores aint everything...they look at the whole picture. The abstracts shows scholarship. Hopefully u have some publications too.
If u didnt do rotations here as a student then that could be an issue. U need to do some externships in the USA...and u need LORS from US based faculty/ physicians...that is generally helpful.

Hope everything works out

 

[mphresidency]

Well u probably already know that some programs will screen u out because of an attempt.
But scores aint everything...they look at the whole picture. The abstracts shows scholarship. Hopefully u have some publications too.
If u didnt do rotations here as a student then that could be an issue. U need to do some externships in the USA...and u need LORS from US based faculty/ physicians...that is generally helpful.

Hope everything works out

I understand what you are saying with regard to the attempt. Are there any programs which offer externships which you know off? I do have a decent number of publications (quite a few).. I have one LOR from a US based pulmonary and critical care physician under whom I work. He mainly works in India but is also an associate prof in a program in New York.

Hopefully I am in the right direction.. Thank you for your inputs...🙂

 

[Domenech]

I understand what you are saying with regard to the attempt. Are there any programs which offer externships which you know off? I do have a decent number of publications (quite a few).. I have one LOR from a US based pulmonary and critical care physician under whom I work. He mainly works in India but is also an associate prof in a program in New York.

Hopefully I am in the right direction.. Thank you for your inputs...🙂

Definitely contact the same person who gave you the LOR. He may be able to provide some externship offer to you, or at least email someone who could help.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

In my very, very humble opinion, I risk saying once you cross a certain 'score threshold', US clinical experience (and henceforth, the Letters that come from it) play the most important role in access to residency spots, and I was implicitly and explicitly informed of this as I interviewed. Many people with superstellar scores I came across in middle-of-the-road programs didn't access interviews I had. I can't say it was my USCE, but the top places I interviewed at (and where I prematched) all seemed to bring up the hospital I did clerkships at, and the 'outstanding LoRs' I had.

This is something even AMGs don't recognize - it's important to take it and do well but clinical experience is key since many people could do well on step one (basically a beefed up MCAT) but fewer people work out clinically. There is a bit of an art to clinical medicine and some people are not cut out for it, that is why references are key. With USMLE Step 1 score, sometimes a selection committee will just toss out a lot of applicants under a certain score and then take a look at the ones above in order to save time.