hanskenneth
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 55
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Hey NLP. Mine's on the 30th. Medyo takot din coz I'm doing poorly sa UW. But I'm still hoping to make it. Wala din kasi correlation yung Step 1 score ko with scores sa qbook and USMLE CD (didn't do any assessment then), so I'm praying for another miracle. Hehe. Right now, I'm still working, and will take my leave one week before the exam. By then, I'll be reviewing just my UW and FA notes. Good luck to us, again.
louisemd, how much did you spend for the applications? Coz I'll be limiting my programs as well. Most probably less then 30 IM programs. Cliche, but I'm just really hoping for the best. Thanks!
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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NLP,
probably one advice i could give you is don't take the exam if you're not sure you're ready for it.
So, how can you assess yourself? I dunno. Probably if you feel confident with the way you tackle the questions. remember, step 2 is very very different from step 1 (longer vignettes, questions about diagnosis and management, etc), so your confidence level for step 1 might be a little different from step 2 - well that's how i experienced it. And with regards to usmleworld scores, NEVER rely on it. questions are really hard in UW, and i found that they don't represent much of the questions for step 2 (more appropriate for step 1 ang usmleworld) - not that i'm saying the actual exam questions are easier (believe me when i say it's harder than step 3, still probably because i know what to expect with the step 3 already). but don't be too complacent either when you start getting higher scores in UW. As i have said, its your confidence. I don't know how else to explain it, but its all about answering the questions.... its like seeing 46 different patients in an hour.
with regards for review, i used kaplan notes for step 2 lang, and probably used a good 4 months for that (took four months to review in all 4 exams, execpt for the CS, probably 2 mos lang for practice).
I guess that's the only thing i can tell you. review well. if you're trying to take the exam as soon as possible to be certified in time for the applications... don't.
Take your time to review well. besides, many programs require an ecfmg certificate AT THE TIME of application (my mistake last year - half of the programs i applied to required a certificate before an interview is offered, but that's surgery....dunno with other specialties) so, if you're not ready, then postpone it. Like what i always say - when in doubt, don't.
You'll know when you're ready. Good luck!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| hanskenneth
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 55
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Whaaaat? hec, how will i know which programs require ECFMG certification before application? Do i e-mail them all? Coz I registered late for the CS and I'm taking it in November pa. I like your take on UW, as I've been getting constantly low scores. Hehe.
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| NLP
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 25
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hecmd23, thanks very much for the advice. I am still trying to figure out/gauge myself within the next two days if I should push through with the exam on the 25th or postpone it for a later date...Tingin ko kaya ka naman ipasa, pero do I regret that I did not go over the Kaplan notes and videos (which I did do for Step 1).
When it comes to answering practice questions, I think I'm basically on the right track kahit papaano. Are NBME forms recommended for self assessment in CK preparation? If I do an NBME form, would my score probably be a close correlation to my actual CK score?
I am scheduled to take CS on August 10th. If I do postpone CK, ok lang kaya yun that I take CS before CK? Wouldn't taking CK before CS help me prepare better for CS?
Haaay, good luck nga satin hanskenneth. Please include me in your prayers, as I will do the same for you. 
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| hanskenneth
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 55
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Good luck on your decision NLP. Same sentiments here, not really sure if I'll do good or not. In my case however, I will have to push through with the exam coz this is the last month of my already extended eligibility period. And i can't spare any more money. If you can, I think pwede mo pa ipostpone ang exam mo. People say CS can be done with a month of review. Then balik ka sa CK. If you're planning to do NBME, I read the closest correlation is with Form 2.
Anyway, hecmd23, can i ask programs what visa options they offer or is that gonna be rude? Thanks and good luck!
Sa tin din nlp, mas malaking good luck since madami pa tayong dadaanan.
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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hanskenneth and nlp,
don't fret. i understand the anxiety you're going through right now. believe me, i was in that exact same position last year...uncertain about so many things and i was lost with what to do next. so i think it's just right to share what i've been through to guide you guys.
with regards to programs' requirements, there's always freida. whatever written there is probably true. But, the obssessive-compulsive (haha) inside me, just wanted to be sure so I emailed all programs that I wanted to apply to (which I'm painstakingly doing again this year, trying to email ALL programs instead). Now, mind you, with the hundreds of emails you will send out, only a handful will reply. So, whatever info you can juice out from the website, assume that it's all current. Yes, you can ask about visa sponsorship, it won't be that bad, here's an email format you can use:
Dear program Director/residency Coordinator,
I am and international medical graduate from (scool/country - whichever you fancy), and I would like to pursue a career in (specialty). I browsed through your website and I am very interested with what you have to offer (whatever flowery stuff you want to say about them). In line with this, I would like to express my desire to apply to your program, and I would like to know your minimum requirements with regards to scores, clinical experience, ecfmg certification issues, and visa sponsorship. Thank you blah blah...
last year when i did this, and researching programs at freida, I focused mainly on the score requirements and visa issues, and I probably missed the ecfmg certification requirement. It is only now that i'm doing it again and I'm actually taking the time to read (between the lines!) the individual requirements that I realized that there are programs that require you to be ecfmg certified BY THE TIME OF APPLICATION. Don't get me wrong, read it carefully, some programs just need you to be certified by rank order list day, but some require it as part of your application, so that your application will be considered complete. Some even stressed the completeness of the application before it will be reviewed.
Like what i said, there are SOME programs who require this, but there are thousands out there who don't. so just review their criteria very well.
Now with the CS issues. Trust me when i tell you that if you can speak straight english, and you know how to extract a history and perform a focused pe, you're good to go for the CS. You don't need to be right sa CS, coz you won't be giving a definitive diagnosis...you will give a list of differentials with each case you handle. and the cases are really simple, the hardest i got was probably a stroke px (i didn't get any psych pxs - my friend did, which for her was the hardest experience she had during the day). Basically 2 weeks is enough, 1 month is good, 2 months is probably overdoing it already (which is what i did). Everything is in the first aid book for CS, you can't go wrong with it.
Now lastly, with CK. I heard (don't take my word on this) that the nearest correlation with your actual score was the NBME. I dunno what's the format though, if there are different forms etc, coz i didn't use it for my review. like what i mentioned in my earlier posts, never rely on your scores sa practice exams. That's why it's called a practice exam, for you to ONLY practice on them.... to give you a sense of feeling how the exam will be like. The real assessment will be how you feel about yourself taking the exam. The issue here is NOT about knowing everything there is about a disease/pathology - there are things that we don't know, and the actual exam surely makes you feel that way. The issue with CK is time. you are in constant battle with time in this exam, and you might encounter a few easy questions (that you actually know the answer) at the end of the block, but you might have a few seconds left to answer them. So, these practice exams serve to train you to read questions fast, and think fast. This will be a bit cliche but "if you don't know the answer, move on" You won't get everything right, but I'm sure you'll INCREASE your chances of getting more correct answers if you actually finish all the items. Based on my experience with my friends who took the ck with me, a handful of them failed the exam by a couple of points. and i remember them telling me that in each block, they failed to answer around 3-5 items. If only they were able to put answers in those items, odds are, they could have passed the exam. Now, like what i said, if you feel you can handle those 46 patients in one hour, then i guess you're ready, but if you always run out of time before getting to the last 5 patients, then, you might need more practice to perfect your strategy.
Now, these are my experiences, and my friends' experiences. It's a different story for everone. your stories are already developing. I know sometime in a few years, we will all be just laughing at this whole process.
Good luck!
Edited by hecmd23 on 07/16/07 - 01:12 AM
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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and i know you are concerned with the reality of the ecfmg certificate requirement, so i dug up a few program requirements from some programs i researched, these are some of their replies (some are different from what the website says):
from University of Minnesota Family Medicine Residency Programs:
1. U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible for a J1 Visa
2. Graduated from medical school within the last five years or have been working as a physician within the last three years
3. Be ECFMG certified by December 31, 2007
4. Minimum of one year of U.S. clinical experience
5. Passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (CK) each within two tries, there are no score requirements
6. Have a maximum of two unsuccessful attempts on all USMLE exams
7. Able to complete Step 3 within seven years of passing the first USMLE exam
from Cristiana Care Surgery Residency Program:
Available positions: 5 categorical ; 1 preliminary (non-designated)
Scores of 200 or above on USMLE are required
Christiana Care only sponsors J-1 visas
IMG’s with 12 months of prior US training experience are eligible to apply for a categorical position
A valid ECFMG certification is required to be offered an interview
IMG’s with no prior US training experience are eligible to apply for preliminary position only
Applications are accepted via ERAS only!
Application Deadline: We do not have a specific deadline for accepting applications. Applications are accepted on a “first come” “first served” basis. Once all interview dates are full no further applications will be reviewed or accepted.
from Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida Program
SURGICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM
ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008
The following are guidelines for submission of an application to the Surgical Residency Program.
Mount Sinai sponsors J-1 and H-1 visas. To qualify for an H visa, applicant must have taken and passed USMLE Step 3 before applying.
Your application will be considered complete and eligible for screening if you have submitted:
-Three (3) letters of recommendation
-ECFMG certificate
-Dean's letter
-Transcript
-C.V.
-Personal Statement
Interviews are held on Saturdays in December and January.
So, bottomline, its different for every program. just research them well. Good luck!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| NLP
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 25
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hecmd23, thank you so much for the advice. I'm still trying to figure out if I should follow my instincts. Honestly, at this point, I think my inner voice is telling me to take the exam and hope and pray for the best.
If I don't take the exam on the 25th, parang ang daming hassle pa mangyayari lalo, especially since I'm already booked & confirmed to leave Manila on August 3rd. So since I'm supposed to take CK here in Asia, I don't know how I am going to go about cancelling my appointment here and rescheduling the exam in the US.
Haayy, bahala na...
I did the Step 2 blocks on the USMLE cd, got an average of about 72% for all three blocks. hecmd23, are the actual CK questions similar to the questions on the cd?
hanskenneth, thanks sa support, kaya natin to...kailangan eh! hehe.
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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nlp,
well, ikaw lang talaga makakaalam. If you feel that way, then you're probably ready. So go for it then and good luck!
with the usmle cd, the questions there are very easy compared to the exam. So don't rely on them either. When i did the practice cd, something in me was hoping that the exam would be that easy, but the actual exam is harder, by a mile.
Good luck, hope for the best!. Hope you get questions you know the answers to. Did i tell you that i took the CK twice? Not because i failed it the first time but because 2 blocks to go during the exam, there was a power shortage. EVERYONE who took the exam on that day were able to continue their exams, except me. Technical error daw on their part. I was so pissed coz I felt good about my answers with that exam. so they rescheduled me on another day, and to my bad luck, probably a quarter of the questions i got were from topics i haven't reviewed very well. Still, I passed, though not a score of 90. but i'm happy with it. So, lesson of the story...its the luck of draw. pray you get questions you're familiar with.
Good luck!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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yep, it won't be a big deal for the port officer. Just tell them you will take the exam, and you are going to apply for a residency position. They will ask you how long you plan to stay, and sometimes ask for documentation of your scheduled exam (i was even asked how much the exam fee was, haha). Tell them you plan to attend interviews also. It'll be over in a few minutes, no other questions asked. Though I think it will depend where your port of entry is...i heard it's a bit strict when you enter via detroit, some of my friends were asked extensively about their purpose and the port officer asked about their scores - to the point that they had to inspect their checked bags (compared here in chicago, it's quite linient) That's what I did last year and they gave me 6 mos.
good luck with CS
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| oneirosdreams
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 8
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I'll be entering via LA. I hope they give me 6 months too. Thanks again hecmd!
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| NLP
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 25
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hecmd23, thanks for all the advice! Your experience was pretty horrific! But, hey you still did pass, kudos to you!
I've been praying really hard (to all the saints and angels I can think of), and I do hope I get questions that I can confidently answer...Only 6 days to the exam..Please pray!
Thanks again!
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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oneirosdreams,
no prob. Good luck with the xam, kayang kaya yan. it's the easiest of all usmle steps.
nlp,
yep like what i always say, its a different story for everyone, and that happens to be my story. Good luck with CK, keep on praying!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| lilac
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 40
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Hi guys!! Hope you're all doing well with your reviews and match prep. Just wanted to ask if anyone knows what programs mean when they say they "accept H1/J1"? Does it mean the same as they "sponsor"? Am getting confused, 'coz my friend says some programs want you to actually have either a J1/H1 visa already when you apply. I didn't really pay attention to that and just took it to mean that they sponsor. Now there might actually be a difference. Does anyone know?  Thanks!! I'm reviewing my program list all over again. 
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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not in the best position to answer this.... but for me i'm treating them as different.
You're right, there are programs who sponsor visas, while others only "ACCEPT" existing visas. I've seen a handful of websites from programs that say they only accept existing, and CANNOT sponsor a new visa, meaning, you must have a visa at hand. I even saw probably 3 or 4 fm programs who specifically said "We accept J1 and H1 visas, but the applicant must be responsible in acquiring a visa sponsorship/attorney services, because the program does not sponsor them."
But I guess that's where the ecfmg J1 visa sponsorship comes in. If the program cannot sponsor the visa, but they are willing to accept a j1 visa, then you can apply for an ecfmg sponsorship. I have friends who got their visa via ecfmg.
My take on this: "sponsor" and "accept" mean different things.
Edited by hecmd23 on 07/20/07 - 02:34 PM
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| lilac
Forum Junior
Topics: 9
Posts: 40
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OK Thanks hec! I thought I got it all figured out. I overlooked pala the most important thing. I feel really stupid. Hehe!! I have to re-check my program list again. This is exasperating ! Thanks again!
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| clyde driver
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 31
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Hi fellow pinoys. Anybody here who's had any experience in the surgery
interview trail? I was withdrawn from the 2007 match because the CS
result didnt come out on time but I have had a couple of interviews
early june . I have had interview questions that i would like to share.
1. was shown a chest xray. i was asked to describe
what i see. it showed pneumonia with infiltrates on one side. i made
sure i described everything i saw. there was a tracheostomy in place, a
central line, a deviated trachea, and even an ngt. heart was not
enlarged and there were no atheromatous plaques.
2. was given a case of a 60 y/o F, S/P colon
resection with end to end anastomosis. px was obese who suddenly
complained of dyspnea 2nd day post op. was asked to give my impression
and what i planned to do with the px. i told them that my primary
consideration is atelectasis since it was just early post op, or a
pulmonary embolism, or an MI, or pulmonary congestion 2ndary to fluid
overload. i ordered a chest Xray, an ECG, either a VQ scan or a CTA of
the chest, cheked for JVD, a doppler of the L.E. and blood tests to R/O MI. my immediate plans
prior to the the ancillaries were chest physiotherapy, deep
breathing and early ambulation . and the next few steps wld depend on
wht the tests wld show.
3. was given another case of a 60 y/o obese, F
status post colon resection also with anastomosis. 6th day post op with
chest pain. was asked for my differentials. told them of three, PE, MI,
pneumonia.
i was not actually expecting for academic/clinical questions but i did
get them. thru my readings regarding interviews only very few programs
do this. and the usual objective of the interview is usually to get to
know you better, if you are a good fit for their program. anyways my
point here my fellow pinoys is be ready for these types of interview
questions. i tried to analyze their questions and they seem to lead
towards post op care. i figured that this was just appropriate since a
first year surg resident will usually be the ones taking care of post
ops. also be ready for questions regarding pre operative care.
perhaps some of you may have other questions that you did not expect
during your surgery interviews and would want to share with our fellow
pinoys. medyo mahigpit ang mga "pana" competition natin and magagaling and they try to stick together . so lets help out each other and lets try to stick
together too. tama na yung crab mentality. and if we all get matched in the future lets all try to extend our helping hands to our kabayans kahit san pa sila nanggaling.
good luck kabayans.
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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clyde driver,
good to see someone for the surgery trail also. I did get an interview for a surgery position during the scramble period in one university program (told me they screened almost a hundred applicants and invited only two for interview, one of them was me) Unfortunately, the guy beat me to it coz he had a year of residency already (which was a big plus to the committee that time then) so he got the position.
Anyway, my experience was quite laid back a bit than yours, considering this was a university program, I prepared myself for academic questions and prepared an interesting surgical case i handled sometime ago. Was interviewed by 4 doctors (including the program director - who I thought liked me a lot) but we talked mostly about my lors, my plans and other stuff but mainly they inquired about my experience working in the surgical field, and some research. But it was pretty much very casual (even talked about comic books with one attending coz apparently we share the same hobby).
The only "academic" thing that happened to me during my interview was when I was invited to watch an OR - it was a 60/F with recurrent Crohn's, undergoing partial cecectomy with primary anastomosis. As I donned a scrub suit on the way to the OR, the attending started to ask me trivial questions such as why is furosemide linked to the "peeing like a horse" expression (lasix is used for race horses before any race to remove excess fluid in their body), and why was the sperm whale called a sperm whale (coz of the white thing on its head that looked like, well, sperm). But once inside the OR, he started asking me fairly easy questions..."describe the mcburney's point", "what is murphy's sign and rovsing's sign" stuff like that. And then came the hard ones about the case (I still thought they were very trivial) like "what mimics crohn's with regards to pathology" - I said TB ileitis (same answer as the chief resident assisting him) though correct, it doesn't count coz we all know TB is not that common here in the US of A - and so the answer was yersinia infection. Another one was (while they were mobilizing a section of the ileum) he asked me what I should look for when exploring the small intestine to see if the crohn's has extended to the area. I threw in all of my best guesses - inflamed LN, skip lesions etc, but can't find the right answer. Even the residents assisting him didn't know the answer (which made me give a sigh of relief) - the correct answer was creeping fat. Something I just heard that day in my young career as a doctor.
Well, that's pretty much how my interview went. Though they did inform me they regret that they cannot pick both of us, they asked me to apply again this year in their program (which i most definitely will). I have heard of stories regarding interview experiences that they were asked academic questions / present a case stuff....but in other specialties. not so much in surgery. Less pimping as I always say. I think, if you are invited for an interview to a surgical program, they pretty much know your intellectual capacity already, and its just about how expereinced you are in the surgical field...probably, they want to know if you're ready enough, or if you know what you're going into. Well, that's what i felt during my interview, and that's just one interview. And as far as I know, from my circle of friends and everyone I personally knew who went to the match last year, I was the only one granted with a surgical interview (aside from those I met here in this forum), so I don't have anyone to compare to really. Yet, I'm glad I came to know another fortunate soul who was given a chance for a surgery position.
Just shows, we have something in our application that can compete with the other surg applicants. Well, it's a start.
Good luck!
Edited by hecmd23 on 07/22/07 - 03:59 PM
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| taz31
Forum Newbie
Topics: 7
Posts: 24
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Hi to everyone! Am also taking the USMLE path and im about to take CK this sept and CS this oct at houston. Did some backreading and its nice to know ur stories and ur journies in aiming/becoming a US physician. sana ako din ay palarin na matanggap sa programs na balak kong pasukan. Good luck sa lahat!
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| hanskenneth
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 55
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NLP, how did it go?
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| NLP
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 25
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hanskenneth, sorry now lang...nahirapan ako...
had a couple of ECGs, very tricky yung questions and SUPER LONG, AS IN! It was really a test of endurance. I did have time to review the answers to my questions, but unfortunately, I can't actually say that I was confident in the answers that I chose...
really praying for a miracle.
Good luck.
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| hanskenneth
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 55
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just got back from the test center. Yeah, sobrang hirap ng exam. I marked about 10 questions in each block, and some of them I didn't even get to review. One block, I was rushing towards the end coz I had less than a minute for each question already. good thing though, the questions became a bit easier in the final blocks. Though may mga nasayang pa din ako na points. I actually had to take a break after each block since nakakahilo talaga. Twice, I went out to smoke just to relieve the stress. Anyway, ang daming questions wherein I was totally clueless, and some which required just a little more time that if you thought hard about it, you'll figure out the right answer. It's quite different from Step 1, and i must say that step 2 is harder by a mile. Hopefully, a miracle will come my way as well. I know we can do this, since we wont be able to go this far if we can't. Good luck sa tin. At least CS is easy na, as what a lot of people say.
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| clyde driver
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 31
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Hey hecmd. i just found out about 2 positions for prelim GS in MI for
pgy1 2007. PM me if interested. im also applying for this vacancy. i
figured that id rather compete with a fellow pinoy than other
nationalities. who knows maybe if youll get in first you might be
able to help me in the future.
good luck.
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| inaleamd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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hi!
i'm an IMG and hoping to get matched in OB prog this 2008. my USMLE scores are 88/85 (first attempt) and scheduled to take CS on Sept. 21, I graduated from medical school in 2006, with no US clinical experience, nor publications. i became a research assistant in Urology for a few months and moonlighted as retainer physician in various HMOs in my home country but not exactly Ob-related.
what do you think are my chances of getting matched?
how many programs do i need to apply to? so far i;ve got 26 on my list (those who don't require USCE and ECGMG upon application)
i plan to apply to FM as back-up, do you think i should let go of my hopes of getting into an OB prog and pursue FM instead, given my situation???
thanks so much in advance!!!
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| oneirosdreams
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 8
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Hey hecmd, going back to your previous post about fees. Is there a separate application fee per program for ERAS and NRMP? ERAS for example is $60 for upto 10 programs. In NRMP, initial $40 reg fee is good for up to 20 different program ranks on the primary rank order list. Is the $1040 for 60 programs you mentioned earlier for both ERAS and NRMP?
Thanks!
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