Chris Palmer
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 3
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Hello everyone!
I'm a British fourth year student at Newcastle University and have become interested in the USMLE for a little while now given the state of the National Health Service. I was wondering whether any of you knew the answers or could help me with the following:
1) What is the process for getting the USMLE?
2) When should I start to take it? - I'm a fourth year student now and plan to do an MSc in Neuroscience next year and then go into Final year.
3) Would I apply for a residency immediately after qualification or do my 2 year Foundation Scheme (2 years of junior doctor rotations around medicine, surgery, general practice and specialities of our choice)?
4) Are there syllabi to follow, especially for part one? What study guides are available for practice MCQs etc? Are there core text books?
5) Lastly, as a british student, what are the chances of being successful and what sort of red tape is there before I could begin work in the US?
Hope some one knows something!
Thanks very much,
Christopher
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| p53
Forum Guru
Topics: 51
Posts: 804
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first of all, refer to the
www.usmle.org
and
www.ecfmg.org
about resources for step 1: http://www.prep4usmle.com/resources/29
then buy 'First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: 2006', by Bhushan.
___________________
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein
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| saahil47
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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Hi Chris,
I am also at Newcastle University. I'm in my third year and am currently on Public Health. I took Step 1 in Easter and got 189/77 which is a pass but not as high as I wanted. If you need any help then get in touch. My email is saahil.mehta@ncl.ac.uk. Good luck with it all. Its an absolute nightmare.
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| kjab
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 7
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Chris,
I graduated from GKT in London in 2004. I knew I wanted to go to the states ASAP after qualifying so I started the process in my 4th yr. The ecfmg.org website is very good and will tell you all the technical details about applying to the USMLE exams. I do have some advice on it. Do not do it if you are not serious about it for two main reasons
1) It is an expensive process if you are not sure
2) You can not retake the exam to get better grades if you pass
I found Step 1 very difficult. I had to learn a lot of new stuff. I was an average student and I only scraped a pass in Step during my 4th year. With hindsight I would have done it a different time such as during my Bsc. You need at least 2-3 mths to revise for it.
Step 2 was a lot more comparable to my finals. I had to reinforce some areas of learning but generally it was exactly the same type of clinical scenarios we had learnt. I revised over 2-3 mths solid and did considerably better in this exam.
I would recommend doing at least 1 year of foundation (I graduated the yr before it fully started and did my 1 yr PRHO as normal) so you become fully registered with the GMC. Meaning if you want to go back you can do it more easily. However training past this is not needed as the US recognises little training outside of their borders.
I would also advise you do your elective (or at least part of it) in the US. It is very important to make contacts and get a foot in the door. I was lucky to know a doc at King's College Hospital who went to America and has helped me a great deal.
If you want any other advice let me know b/c I know what it is like. England is obviously not set up to help us get in to the US!
Alll the best
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