maricar_chua
Forum Newbie
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Posts: 9
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hey there xthine,
how does one go about filing for an extension of stay with a tourist visa?
what supporting docs should i have on hand?
thanks
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| xthine
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 118
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Hi there Maricar! I still haven't filed mine, having second thoughts. As far as I know you will be needing a letter stating the purpose of your i94 extension as well as necessary supporting documents. You also have to pay a fee, I think it's 300 dollars?
Are you already in the states? When will you be taking your CS?
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| george_md
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 18
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Hello, people! I don't have much info to add just yet but I just want to greet my fellow Pinoy IMGs happy new year! Here's to a fruitful coming year for all of us.
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| maricar_chua
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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im still in the rp
will be taking cs in april
wish to prepare all possible docs i will be needing before leaving.
i am looking into the possibility that i MAY need an extension of stay soon
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
btw, for those who have taken step 2 cs
i am not quite clear with the closure part.
about relaying your impression and work-up plans to the patient
are we supposed to tell them a number of differentials
or can we state just a couple then elaborate on it?
and the labs and work-ups:
can one generalize like "blood tests, liver function tests. . ." when telling it to the patient
instead of alt,ast,alka.phos. . . .
any inputs?
thanks
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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To maricar and xthine RE: I-94 extension,
I would shy away from this process, as I have a couple of friends who filed for an extension, eventually got matched, and when filing for a J1 visa, they were denied on a basis of this extension. Its because of this- once you enter the US, the port officer will determine how long you can stay, then you need to go back before that date right?....filing for an extension is very legal, there's no problem with that. The thing is, if you're granted a J1, you NEED to go back to your homecountry due to the 2 year rule (which we all know), but if you filed for an extension during your B1/B2 status (though very legal), the embassy officer/consul sees it differently. Since you're applying for a J1, they MIGHT think you would want to extend and forego the 2 year rule (much as like what you did filing for an extension during your b1/b2 stay). I know there are waivers, but like what i said, if you're applying for a J1 visa, you NEED to go back after - and if the consul sees anything that you have a tendency of staying longer (even under legal ways), its not too favorable for them. Though these are only what my friends told me. They're both doing residency in the phils now.
To maricar Re: STEP 2 CS
Just say what you think your diagnosis is at first, then follow it up with something like "....but based on your other symptoms, it can still be (differential 1) or (differential 2), that's why we need to do some tests. We need to do (Test 1) to differentiate (differnetials 1/2) and so on..."
When talking to patients, always speak in a way that they'll understand you. Liver function tests is good, cox they won't understand what bilirubin, alt ast, lipase etc is. Unless you explain it to them, which will take more time for your closure. So speaking in layman is ok when doing the closure, but when you're writing your PN, you should be specific with your labs/ancillaries
Hope that helps!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| maricar_chua
Forum Newbie
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Posts: 9
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THANKS I was enlightened HECMD23
new topic,
i wish to ask if it will be hard to look for affordable apartments to stay in the east coast area like NY, NJ. CT. . . for externship purposes
where should one seach, over the net?
or is it when i arrive that is the time to do apartment hunting?
any inputs? thanks v much!
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| aloha30
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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hello there guys! i also need some help...i really want to have US clinical experience. can you guys help me how to get one? im here in Hawaii right now and i dont have any problem with regards to visa..
and goodluck to all you guys who are waiting for the matching result this march...i will pray for all of you.
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| hopefor2008
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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i got an interview invitation in UT houston fam med....
kung sino na interview na doon, share naman esp ung may pre-match na...salamat
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| ustmd2006
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 156
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hi everyone! i completed my 4th interview at LSU. it was very nice. i'm guessing that's probably my last interview as i've gotten nothing in my inbox for a while now. a few weeks ago i got a storm of rejections...some programs saying that they had kept my file active because of its strength, however they will not be inviting any more applicants...arg!
well, don't really have anything new to add...anyone else done with interviews?
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| deoriverajr
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 35
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GOODLUCK!!!!!to those who gonna go for 2008 MATCH!!!!we are all cheering for you guys!!!! 
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| vsmtghdy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
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Hello everyone! I am new to this forum (just found out about this 2 days ago). I am from Pinas as well and graduated Medicine a looooong time ago and had been practicing as IM (PCP Fellow) but I migrated here in the US 8 months ago. I know it may be too late for me but I would like to try my luck and hopefully practice my profession here too. I am planning to study and prepare for the USMLE Step 1... any advice on what study materials I may need to start my review?
Hope anyone can help me with this.
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| treblechar
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 92
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vsmtghdy,
for step 1 you need USMLE FIRST AID step 1. try subscribing to USMLE world with this link http://www.usmleworld.com/. those two are guarantees for step 1. also add Dr. Goljan's audio reviewers specifically for patho
for step 2 CK not so much on FIRST AID. again use USMLEworld. try also Dr. Conrad Fischers lectures on internal medicine.
step 2CS: again FIRST AID for step 2 CS. start your exam with this. rather than step 1.
step 2CS now. (review for ~ 1 month is enough. then step 1 and then step 2CK.
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| ustmd2006
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 156
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i agree with treblechar...however, i do think that first aid was just as helpful for step 2ck as for the other exams. the thing is, step 2ck covers material that is more familiar with us and hence easier to review. with that attitude, you start becoming lax and say "oh, i know this" and kind of skim through it instead of really understanding and memorizing everything. what i realized after taking the test and looking back at first aid for step 2ck, pretty much all the important info that i needed was in there. the problem is, i didn't pay enough attention.
usmleword is definitely the qbank to use for questions. and don't take the test without going through a qbank. qbanks help you to get a sense of how questions are asked and help you get used to the time pressure. plus, it gives you feedback on how you're doing and what subjects you need to focus on more. plus, more or less, the relevant topics are covered...so going through the rationales for each question whether you got it right or wrong is helpful in studying. just don't get discouraged by having an average of around 50%. these qbanks are naturally difficult! just keep at it! i used kaplan for step 1 and thought it was decent. did both kaplan and usmleworld for step 2ck and liked world better. read through the world cases for the cs and thought they were decent as well.
for cs, one month is pretty good. if you're going to study intensely, you'll probably be ready in two weeks. first aid is gold! everything you need is in there. the important thing for cs is PRACTICE! find someone willing to be your patient. you can't go in there without knowing what you're gonna say and do. and you'll only be comfortable when you practice. i suggest taking this part first as well. this is because the results take the longest to get released. plus, taking the written parts won't help you in preparing for it anyway.
good luck and god bless!!!
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| clyde driver
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 31
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hi ustmd2006. for which specialty at LSU did you interview for? Is it for FM? would you mind sharing your experience if it is for FM. thanks a lot. goodluck everyone.
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| ustmd2006
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 156
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hi clyde! no, it wasn't for FM. it was for pathology. and it was the shreveport campus.
is everyone ready with their rank lists? everyone have a clear number one? anyone certify their lists yet?
by the way, how are you all dealing with the anxiety of waiting?
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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hey there guys, been gone for a while, just finished up my last set of interviews. and yep, its gonna be a looong wait before results come out. there's no easy way to kill time, you can travel (if the match hasn't drained you yet) or just count the days til march 17 arrives. I'm telling you, this will be the longest two months of our lives.
Yep, certified my rol already, had a clear number 1 and 2 in my list (where my gf also inerviewed at - hoping to match there together!) but the rest, will still be going up and down in ranking, just depends on whats going to hapen (if i'll hear from these programs in the next 2 months). Coz I was surprised to receive a long and personal email a few days ago from the PD where i interviewed at last november. Was supposed to rank this somewhere 4 or 5 (though its a nice program, they only offer J1), but because of that email, might rank it a bit higher. But number 1 and 2 are pretty much cemented on its place.
Good luck everyone!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| aloha30
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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hey guys....nice to be here again.....hecmd i read that you had done observership, can you tell me how you went about it? i really want to have it also to have clinical experience..
and another thing, is being a phlebotomist considered to be a clinical experience also?
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| hecmd23
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 146
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hi aloha (sounds redundant, hehe),
didn't seem to catch what you're really asking about, is it how i got the observership, or how the observership went?
Anyway, like what i always say, looking for clinical experience is like shooting at the stars, you don't know if you're gonna hit something, but you will. eventually.
I started sending e-mails to hospitals and programs inquiring about observerships/research, sent probably a couple hundred individual emails, and only a few replied. most of them don't offer observerships, while a handful had their slots filled already. so, you're on the right track, starting out early is the key.
With regards to research, the same thing, a few only replied, most of them saying they don't need assistants and stuff like that.
I thought i was getting nowhere with these, so what i did was, i got a list of practicing physcians in the US and their email addies (i forgot the website, but just google it, and you can look at hundreds of lists, so narrow it down with regards to specialty). So i sent all these physicians an email asking for observerships or a research position. And I got a fairly reasonable response rate, better than what i previously did emailing programs. This is how I got my research position, one surgeon was currently doing a project, and he needed help doing stuff (was onboard his team for 6 months - but im still helping them out doing the finishing touches). With regards to observership, one physician replied telling me that he knew a doctor who can help me and he gave me his contact info, turns out that this doctor was a physician of a distant family member of ours, so i got the position.
Now, the downside doing this is, you'll most likely end up in a private clinic, which was what i did for the next 6 months. doing histories, PE, and when that darn phlebotomist excused herself for weeks at the clinic, i ended up drawing blood for lab tests too. I get to meet people, learned a lot, practiced speaking their language, and met lots of future contacts. So, its not that bad at all. Though it really is better to observe in a hospital, you get to be part of a team. My girlfriend was fortunate enough to get an observership at CCF, they have a really nice observership program and you get to rotate with different teams and you get lots of US Lors, in the 2 months she stayed there, i think she was able to squeeze out 6 lors.
Bottom line is, it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you can say in your CV that during these times, you've been active. Working as a phlebotomist is still exprience, it won't hurt to put it on your CV, it may be a plus, it may not be - but it you don't put it on your CV, then you wouldn't know what could have happened.
I hope that helps, good luck!
___________________
"I'm still the best there is at what i do best" -James Howlett
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| aloha30
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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thanks so much for the info,hecmd.
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| vsmtghdy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 3
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treblechar and ustmd2006 -> thanks for the advices. I only have the First Aid 2008 for now and I will visit the usmleworld site too. Does this mean I won't be needing the Kaplan lecture notes? I have read from the other site's forum about this lecture notes and not sure if I have to buy this one too?
I don't have much time to study since I started working December in an Acute Hospital as RN and I work on night's shift. Pay is good but I still would like to try my luck and work as a Doctor again. Besides, I need to earn and save for the USMLE exam fees. So any advices on the best review materials and advices on how to proceed with USMLE will be most appreciated.
I'm not sure how 2CS goes, but will this be easier than taking the written exams first?
Thanks again! God Bless!
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| ustmd2006
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 156
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vsmtghdy, CS is different than the written exams. i can't say it's easier. but the preparation for and the exam itself is different. if you do better with live interaction type of stuff, then CS would be easier and take it first. plus, like i said, studying for it takes less time...the key is practice! aside from first aid, i used "my step 2 cs tips n tricks" (google it...it's by digitaldoc)...has tons of pneumonics and stuff that really helped! master those and the "scripts."
with regards to the lecture notes, if you have time go for it. i used kaplan's home study guide (four thick books) for step 1. however, i found that as soon as i finished a chapter and moved on to the next one, i couldn't remember what i read! it's info overload...for me anyway. i guess it helped in the sense that when i read first aid, it made sense and was easier to comprehend (since first aid is outline form and doesn't explain anything in detail). what first aid did was compress everything to what was really essential...the must knows. i also did kaplan qbank (do NOT do questions without reading first...it'll overwhelm you and i don't think it'll be very helpful).
for step 2 ck, i used first aid exclusively...then question banks (kaplan and usmleworld)...oh and the surgery chapters in crush...i felt first aid lacked that. did better on ck, but i guess that's cause the subject matter is easier to understand...clinicals vs. basics. bottomline, it's really up to you...how much time you have and how you study. reading is very time consuming (so i did the minimum with first aid). questions worked better for me. it's up to you dude.
good luck!
for those in the match, how are you all doing? are you as terrified as i am? even with all the "you are a strong candidate" comments, you can never tell where you truly stand. i'm tempted to say, "thanks, but how many candidates are strongER?" lol! seriously though, i'm freaking out. any advice on how to decrease the anxiety...especially since we have two months to wait???
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| kali
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 25
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For those still taking Step 1, check out this blog -
http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/usmle-step-1/
This is written by a guy who got 240/99 on Step 1. It's a great guide for studying and helped me a lot. It even has corrections to First Aid. Yeah, this guy actually found some wrong info in the book. Btw, there are also some errors in First Aid Step 3, so watch out for that.
Oh yeah, and I agree, USMLE world is the bomb for all steps
Anyhow, good luck to all of us in the match! I haven't figured out my ROL yet, have one last interview to do. I know who's number one, and I know the bottom two, but the rest in the middle is still a jumble. Man, it's going to be the looooongest wait yet. God bless to everyone!
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| pinoyako
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Hey everyone,
I haven't been on this site in 2 yrs. I'm happy to announce I'm graduating this year from IM, then on to fellowship. Good luck sa lahat..
pinoy ako
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| pinoyako
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 10
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Pinoys...
Here are some things you may/may not know that may/may not help you.. I wish I had known this before so I would have saved money/time.
Some programs will not offer interview if you graduated 2 or more years prior to match year.. i.e. if you graduated in 2006, can't match for 2008.
Some programs will not offer interview if you have a failed attempt in any of the steps.
Some programs post a minimum passing score to be eligible for interview... it's not written in stone.
For those with mediocre scores, YOU CAN STILL GET A RESIDENCY.
Smaller community programs are IMG friendly, University programs are not so friendly.
Contact your residency coordinators, and be super friendly. Our coordinator told me that all my phone calls really helped me get my interview, and my spot. Speak clearly and slowly, because if they can't understand you, they will not want you. Don't call too much because it can get annoying. Trust me, my coordinator tells us these things.
If you don't need it for visa, wait until after one year of residency before taking step 3..it really helps.
Lastly, PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY..
Hope this post helps. Like I said before, I'm graduating this year and going to a fellowship. oh yeah, class of 2003 from pinas, a small unknown school.. not UP/UST/UE or any of the other "known" schools.
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| ryemd
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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hi pinoy ako
thanks for the message...and the encouragement...
i read your pm first before ur post here.
Again, many congratulations to you!
Anyway, thanks for keeping our hopes up. I wish more pinoys who are doing residency, and those have matched give more insights and encouragement. It's hard to find some light with my scores, but a lot of people are still encouraging me to continue this. Thanks to all of you.I'll keep your advices as I start to prepare for 2009 match.
To all of you in the 2008 match, i pray that you all get matched soon.
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