doc1996
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 13
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Hi i have been posting in this forum less often but i really admire how you guys give suggestions to each other. i am an 1997 graduate. i want to start studying for the usmle.will my old degree have a bad impact on my application. is it possible for me to appear for 2007 match. i live in Canada and did all the Canadian exams now i am an M.D. with no luck .i regret why i wasted my time in Canada. Can any one please tell me how to start. i want to start from Step 2. Please some one guide me about the books.and is the proceduretTo get a residency position in California is different and time cosuming. please somebody help.
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| doc1996
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 13
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nobody even have the time to read my posts.thanks guys.
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| kingsofke
Forum Guru
Topics: 24
Posts: 715
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Relax it take time to for people to read posts and reply, everybody is not online all the time  . Somebody will awnser you in time . As i am still preparing for step2 myself so i dont feel confident to tell you how to prepare. There are so many posts out here that are just about preparation, please go through the old ones. If you are quick with your preparation then you can catch 2007 match ,it will be ideal if you complete steps till sept-oct but you can go as late as late jan though that will decrease your chances of a residency, yes your old graduation will have bad impact but its not hopeless , a lot of programmes are accepting old graduates , i read about this topic too, please search for them. Procedure to get the residency is same all over US.
Somebody with better insight will post soon hopefully.
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In Life there are neither rewards nor punishments, just consequences.
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| drkill
Forum Elite
Topics: 15
Posts: 189
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hi
well ive seen a lot of old grads n u have canadian md so it shd help ,u wont have a prob getting into residency in usa.if u wanna start step 2 ...maybe refer kaplan notes n qbank.u can join the course too.its helpful.first aid/crush the boards is good guiding book.usmleworld is also a website wid questions online.best of luck
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| azirikani
Forum Elite
Topics: 49
Posts: 158
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dear doc1996
It is better to start with step1 exam.most expertes recommend to start with step1.however it is your choise.
I am an old grad,1998 ,living in canada ,preparing for step 1.I know that I have less chance to get to residency in usa that recent grads but I have more chance in usa than in canada.I have never tried to write canadian exams!!!!!!!!!!!.
lets try our chance.
good luck.
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| doc1996
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 13
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Thank you all for replying to my quiry. I have kaplan 2002, lecture notes and q book. Will those be sufficient. How many hours per day you guys study. i have a 7 year old too but i am trying my very best. Will three months be sufficient for me.
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| msashraf
Forum Senior
Topics: 7
Posts: 156
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i suggest u to read kaplan lecture notes for step 2 and do the mcqs from usmle world, dont waste ur time doin kaplan q bank , its a waste of money and time. I am telling u from my personal experience. I also had 3 -4 months to study and when i took kaplan q bank i realized what a mistake i made.try to utilize ur time carefully.KAPLAN q book is good but not enough .Do usmleworld. It is highly recommended for step 2. I also studied with a toddler while i was pregnet with the second child. So its hard but not undoable. Try to study atleast 4 hrs a day. And since u have taken canadian exams it will be easy for u to start from step 2 bcoz the materials covered in these exams are same.Try to finish wit your exams atleast in september. As u are an old graduate i would suggest u to apply earlier asap and also apply all over USA donot limit ur self to CA. Its hard for imgs to get there plus CA letter takes atleast 9 months and u should have ur ecfmg certificate b4 that.
goodluck.
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| achilles
Forum Guru
Topics: 87
Posts: 1,208
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hi doc1996,
i just read this somewhere- "you are not finished when you lose,you are finished when you quit" and i believe you understand this very well as you are still trying and everybody has obstacles during his pursuit for achieving what he/she sets for himself but we will all make it ...try and give the step 2 first as you have gone thru all the material for your canada exams already...
try and read a lot more than 4 hrs...atleast 8 hrs of good study and if you plan to do it in 3 mths you need to study more(i am talking considering potential of average people like me and i believe you are capable of much more)...do the kaplan notes that you have and usmleworld qbank which i too found to be better(i was myself given this advice by another friend here on this forum)...try and repeat/revise all the material you go thru atleast 3 times rather than go thru different books( this is entirely my opinion)...
i am reading the kaplan notes,usmleworld qbank and ucv's and kaplan qbook...might do first aid but there's is not much new in that book and i'd rather revise the material i have already gone thru...i have blueprints too but i am not sure if i will go thru them...i will consider how much time i have and will actually try and do them too...
i too have a question...i just gave my mccee and will be taking the usmle step 2 ck and mccqe1(hoping to get thru the mccee)...why do you say the canada exams were a waste of time??i stay in mississauga...is doing volunteering or observership mandatory for trying to get into residency in canada??...( sorry guys i know this is the usmle forum ).
good luck to all here.we are all gonna make it.
___________________
" it's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up"
" i have miles to go before i sleep "
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| achilles
Forum Guru
Topics: 87
Posts: 1,208
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sorry...forgot to mention doing the kaplan live lectures which are gr8 ( if one can afford them )...
___________________
" it's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up"
" i have miles to go before i sleep "
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| alhambramd
Forum Senior
Topics: 8
Posts: 128
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Hi!
I'm going for the 2006 match and because my husband and I intend to stay where we are, I applied only to programs in the San Francisco Bay area. The greatest difficulty in applying for residency in California is dealing with the Medical Board of California. For IMGs, we have to obtain a Post Graduate Training Authorization Letter, better known as the PTAL. I've posted more extensive posts on the topic in this forum in the past. Feel free to look it up... 
I dont know the requirements for Canadians graduates though. Maybe the best bet is to look through the website of the medical board of California http://medbd.ca.gov
Good luck!
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Today is the first day of the rest of your life...
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| achilles
Forum Guru
Topics: 87
Posts: 1,208
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hi alhambramd , all the very best to you both for the match
...
___________________
" it's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up"
" i have miles to go before i sleep "
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| windcold
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 34
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| doc1996
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 13
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soory guys, it took me so long to reply you , as i rather became lost track. i had a newborn and could not even find the strength to study but now i am determined to start again. Regarding observerships, they are very difficuilt to find and even then you have to have very good reference letters from the physicians and its better to put efforts in the right direction(usmle). I will be needing more suggestions. is the new first aid a good book(2006) edition.
Thanks every body.
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