gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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I remember when i visited this forum after step1 ,i too had many doubts abt ck prep and the timeline to complete exams for residency application.i think most pple starting ck prep would be planning for 2008 match,so keep the timeline in mind for all the exams left and prepare accordingly.i would say start studying immediately and try and take ur ck by july end or early august and cs in the july to september block so that u get result by october end.The ideal scenario(difficult to happen unless u have planned from the start) would be to finish all exams and be ecfmg certified by mid to end september and give step 3 after that say in nov/dec(for those who need h1).i would do the following.
1.decide first which match u want to take part.
2 look at the cs schedule and decide to take the exam in a schedule such that results are out in oct or early nov to maximise iv chances.(earlier the results better it is)..give urself 1 mth for cs prep
3.start ck prep immediately and study for a month and depending on how confident u are after 1 mth pick up a date.
4.for ck prep:- kaplan notes,qbook,uw are more than enough to score in 90s...do kaplan stimulated and nbme to evaluate urself 3 wks bfore the exam.DO im,psy very well.rest of the subjects will be equally distributed.key to high scores is doing im well and solving as many qs possible from different sources.if u have kaplan dvds i would say im and gyn are very good.psy u could see as it will be like a revision.rest of the videos are bad.i have also heard crush is very good for revision.
surgery read the initial chapters on trauma and resucitation,gen surgery well and go thru the rest of the stuff...read only the vignette portions of each chapter as both are the same. According to me(i maybe wrong) after the exam i thought that the subjects in order of importance would be MEDICINE,PSYchiatry(long cases),paeds on top priority followed by surgery and gynaec which had an equal no of questions.In the exam everythng is tested so dont leave any subject but u could use the above as a guide on what u shld read.While preparing for the exam taking a complete 2 day break from books was very useful to recharge myself as one does have periods during prep when u re not able to read anythng.
uw:-very good for exam prep.i had atleast four q from uw in my exam.Do it well.dont get worried abt how much u score in uw as the qs are tough but exam qs would be similar to them.qbk qs are easy and i would say ck qs are b/w qbook and uw with regards to how tough they are.I did uw in tutor mode but whichever way u do read the explanations well and if need be do it twice.
exam: it is a a tough exam day more stressful than step1 as the qs are really long and it gets really heavy towards the last 3 blocks.So when u practice use sources which have long qs only as u will see lots of them in the exam one after the other.I remember in one block i had reached a state where it was difficult to read the q and i was marking stuff based on my instinct as i wasnt able to think logically.So plan ur breaks well.I found the psy qs were very long and in most cases u would come dowm to 2 answers and for some qs all 4 answers looked right.in that situation dont waste too much time just pick the one u think strongly and move on or else u will be stuck with it.Also for the qs u could read the first line and then have a quick look at the last line and see what they are asking so that u can read the enitre q faster.
residency application:during this period u shld also keep in mind that ur residency application is shaping up well.Download the eras application form for reference and chk for urself the areas that u need to work on.Get ur lors ready from ur med school,just keep writng pts abt stuff to write in personal statement,get a common email ready to send to programs maybe arnd july, august asking them abt their criteria.use freida online for email address of programs.See to it that during ur ck prep u also are giving some time to get ur application ready so that u dont have to rush thngs up in the end.Just be aware of what all u need and work on the weak areas
keep all this in mind but the primary goal shld be to score high.dont push urself to take the exam early if u re not ready for it.take them when u feel confident as scores are equally important to get u ivs in addition to applying at the right time and having a complete application.all the best to all of u.i hope this is useful as when i began step2 prep i too didnt have any clarity abt the match and have learnt all this the hard way.i Hope to get into a residency when the match results are declared.cheers!
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| robin082006
Forum Hero
Topics: 471
Posts: 5,125
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Thank you.
Good luck for the match.
Can you share your credentials? How many interviews did you receive?
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The Key to Succeed is Patience.
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| kingkong
Forum Senior
Topics: 29
Posts: 65
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very useful post.u will definitelymake it.
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| young_doc
Forum Guru
Topics: 55
Posts: 732
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Many would argue though that with a Good Step 1 score, it's better to take the CK a little bit later, and apply with only ure Step 1 scores...
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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thanks kingkong.i am talking strictly abt imgs esp those without a gc and for us having all scores in, complete application with usce is essential to get maximum interview calls.i dont see what the point is to delay ck as in the end they are going to see ur complete package and for all u know it reduces ur chances for a prematch.With regards to cs it is ok if u have a results awaited status in ur application.Since the mths from the end of oct to mid jan is peak iv season, having ecfmg certificate by max nov end will really be helpful(ideal scenario)
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| scooby
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 42
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hi gv5..
i found ur post quite helpful..thanku .
could u help me in clarifying a doubt....can an img apply for residency with just the step 1 scores? what is the procedure? i mean should we be ecfmg certified or something?
i am an img from india and am done with step1 and plan to take CK in april.
other than applying for exams i don't seem to know much about the match
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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its good u re taking ck in april.as told above for imgs i feel getting done with all the exams and scoring well is important.u can apply with step 1 scores also but for u i would say try and get ur ecfmg certificate by september so that if u need ur h1 u could come to the us and take step3 also as u require to be ecfmg certified to take step3.
i dont know much abt ur credentials but u shld work on the following
1.lors from ur college and get good ones.get 3 from ur college or if working anywhere 1 from them so that u have 3 letters ready.u need 3 lors for a complete application so be ready for that and u could change letters later on during application with better ones
2.try and see if u could get some observership,if possible externship here and lor from the doc under whom u work.
3.start working on ur personal statemnt
4. go to eras website and read the stuff they have atleast more than once.it is explained very well ,read it and eventually u will know how it works maybe after reading it twice or thrice.also just check out the match section of the forum and keep reading all the post as u have very good posts over there this being match season .u could read the posts of the last 4 months maybe.
5. try get high scores in ck .u could give it in may also if need be and then just pick a date for cs as slots get full very fast in philadelphia.give urself 2 mths after ck prep if u can before u take cs so that u have enough time to study,travel and work on ur visa .
which part of india are u from?which med coll.all the best.if u have any other doubts just send me a pm i ll try my best to help u.
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| solitarius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 71
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Hi gv5...first of all I would like to congratulate you for completing all your exams(am i right?) and wish you to get into the residency of your choice.I am an IMG from Russia(but indian)and have GC.I really think your advice regarding exams and applicaions for match is very useful and especially very easy to understand.I would like to ask you few questions:1-I had step-1 and my score will be reported next week,I already have step-2cs date in late april,can i prepare for step-2ck in remaining time to be qualify in 2008 match?2-what material would be best for cs if I am an averaga student and your advice regarding spoken english proficiency?3- i really have no idea about externship,USCE,and research programmes,how to get into these programmes?4-If i got into these stuff then would it be enough time for me to prepare for the exams?5-Do you have any sample resume to be involved in these programmes?I have GC so no visa problems..and 6-what is prematch?primary?and all...right now I have FA for cs and kaplan videos for ck but no lecture notes,I am looking for notes but couldn't find yet.will subscribe UW for both ck and cs.How it sounds?thanks again and in advance for your reply and wish you very good luck for catching all of your goals.thanks
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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thanks solitarius for the best wishes.i am done with my exams except step 3.
1. yeah u have enough time to prepare.ck results take abt 1mth to come out so accordingly plan.if u have all ur results by sept end u shld be fine.u could apply early september with ck result status as awaited.
2. i have written a detailed cs prep in the cs exam experience part of the forum.u could read that for more info abt prep.
3. its tough to get into any of them so just see if u could get in touch with pple u know in the u.s to help u with observerships....also since u re a gc some hospitals do give externship so just check with the university and community programs via email for externships.with gc its easier to get externships so just send emails to hosp in ny,nj and try ur luck.there is no fixed method to get usce.research work is very tough to get esp the good ones which will help ur application
4. yes it would be tough to prepare for ck and do some clinical stuff.u have to decide for urself.u could finsh ur exams and then do some observership and then try get a lor to add to ur application
6. prematch is when u go for an i.v and if the progrm likes u they will then offer u a position before the match happens.so u dont need to participate in the match and can accept the position earlier and then relax.
all the best
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| dr.shailu
Forum Senior
Topics: 26
Posts: 192
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thanks gv5,ur post is very usefull.
can u plz tell what is difference btwn obsevrship,externship and usce.
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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among usce externship is better than observership
externship: u work in a clinical setting with patient contact and are as an extern in that hospital.difficult to get but possible.
observership: u shadow a doctor either in group practice,private setup or in a hospital.u just observe what he does and answer his qs.end of it u try and see if u can get a letter from the doctor as it strengthens ur application. whatever form of usce u get just go for it and try to get a letter from the doctor with whom u worked,it really helps
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| dr.shailu
Forum Senior
Topics: 26
Posts: 192
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thanks gv5
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| solitarius
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 71
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Hey gv5 thank you so much for your nice explanations and info.I got it and will try to complete all the results by the end of sept...and i think I have plenty of time.I wish you very good luck for your step-3..plz tell me If i dont have step-3 result,can I still apply in ALL programmes or my choice can be a little narrow?and If i will do kaplan notes with videos and UW q bank-will it be enough for ck?thanks again in advance..bye and take care.And please tell me If someone has kaplan lectures+Q book for ck in your friend circle...then I am ready to buy it or make a deal.thanks..
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| glaucoma
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 47
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thank you for your eloboration on this very important topic. if i don't do well on my ck, i will come looking for you! 
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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yes u can apply without taking step 3 to almost all programs but if u require a h1 visa then u need step3.kaplan,uw and nbme sounds good for ck prep.all the best
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| linaorvos
Forum Elite
Topics: 47
Posts: 258
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thanks a lot for sharing you experience.
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| lecheah
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 83
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thank u so much gv5
wishing u the best with ur match
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| scooby
Forum Junior
Topics: 11
Posts: 42
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gv5...thanku sooo much for ur reply..i'm sorry for replying late
i'm from hyderabad..india. i graduated in 2003.
i will go through the ecfmg page again...tx
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| hypomanic
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 153
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Thanks gv5- You answered the exact questions that i had- i wish the moderators would put up this info as a sticky because this is an important issue for planning the exams and has to be done year(s) before the Match
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| gv5
Forum Senior
Topics: 28
Posts: 178
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i am happy that u found the post useful.while preparing for ck i too had these doubts and even though pple in the forum tried their best to help me,i still was uncertain abt the steps ahead.its only now after being thru the process that i have got my answers hence though i shld write down whatever i learnt.all the best
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| saan
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 5
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thanks gv5.i gound ur post reallu helpful.i trie dto search ur post for cs experience but coulldnt find it.could u pls post the link .thanks.good luck for the match.
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| saan
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 5
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sorry for typo.
gound=found
reallu=really
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| star1
Forum Guru
Topics: 93
Posts: 826
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gv5
Friend we are very thankful to you for your nice input .
I need to get only one answer so please advise me. I m having some problem with me so cant visit
cafe for internet so I am intended to buy a LAPTOP while in USA . should I buy this one?
will this help in my ERAS application process or I have to go to net cafe?
which Laptop is better plus do it has net connection ?
thsnk
Good Luck to your residency Match
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| mazinger
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 917
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Hey star1.. what's up? go for a mac! no crashes, no viruses, no nothing...
Are you applying for this year's match?
Nice to see you though..
BTW gv5 thanks for the input...
Edited by mazinger on 02/14/07 - 04:16 PM
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original mazinger z
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| star1
Forum Guru
Topics: 93
Posts: 826
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mazinger
thanks for reply , No I will apply for 2008 match INSHALLAH,
what is this mac? I did not understand,
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