AhsanCorleone
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 6
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I graduated from a prestigious medical school in Pakistan that is well recognized in the US. Almost all of the alumni of my college have managed to gain admission into decent residency programs in the US, some even managing to get into places like Harvard, Duke and Mayo.
I was an above average medical student (though not an honor student) and have a good (score) transcript. I did three months of electives in the US (ENT, Cardiology, Gastroenterology at UT Houston and WVU Morgantown) and received excellent letters of recommendation. My LOR from doctors at my own college are just as good. I have half a dozen research projects under my belt, that I partook in during my med school training.
Right after graduation I was hit with a personal tragedy. As a result, my preparations for the USMLE faltered and I wasted a year, not being able to take the exam in time. For some reason I lost focus after this event. I had always been an excellent, hard working student, and even now I fail to realize just why I dissociated myself from my profession.
Thankfully, I have now regained my desire. I am currently both studying for the steps and working 2-3 hours a day at a hospital. I am confident I can achieve 90+ scores in both USMLE steps.
I am also confident I will do fairly well in interviews.
The problem is that I have a 5, yes, FIVE, year gap to explain. I cannot but feel this will severely hit my chances of getting a residency. In the interest of being realistic, I realize I have no chance of getting into a highly competitive program. However, I strongly desire to gain admittance into a university based program (Internal Medicine).
How do I go about this? How do I explain the 5 year gap in my CV? Should I just go with the truth or concoct something (which I'd rather not)?
Will my brother be able to help? He is a gold medalist resident from the State University of New York and an author, amongst other things. Will a good word put in by him grant me a decent chance to get into SUNY's program, provided I get very good USMLE scores?
What are my chances of getting enrolled into a university based program for Internal Medicine with 90+ scores on both steps? Or 95+?
Finally, will research in the US help? Say a one to two year stint, before I apply for a match? I am aware that paid research is very hard for an IMG to get, but I'm willing to support myself.
I'm desperate right now. I never saw this coming, and I deeply regret losing sight of what I could have achieved. Any help is deeply appreciated.
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| AhsanCorleone
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 6
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I made a slight error. The duration of my dissociation is four years, not five.
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| blueprints
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 89
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from ur messege i think u r most probably a grduate from aga khan univ.... i'm not from pakistan, but saw a lot from this univ grads during my interviews...some of them in very decent program others in below average programs..my point is, surely u should aim to get the best position possible, u already have many + on your CV...but even double 99 ca't guarantee u a position in a univ program. what u really need ( from what i felt after attending many interviews in this season) is high motivation, and good manner during interviews...and definitely proficiency in english. u sounds a higly motivated guy...so do your best on your exams, and try to apply to as much programs as possible...keeping in mind to apply to some back up programs.
good luck
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| blueprints
Forum Junior
Topics: 7
Posts: 89
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from ur messege i think u r most probably a grduate from aga khan univ.... i'm not from pakistan, but saw a lot from this univ grads during my interviews...some of them in very decent program others in below average programs..my point is, surely u should aim to get the best position possible, u already have many + on your CV...but even double 99 ca't guarantee u a position in a univ program. what u really need ( from what i felt after attending many interviews in this season) is high motivation, and good manner during interviews...and definitely proficiency in english. u sounds a higly motivated guy...so do your best on your exams, and try to apply to as much programs as possible...keeping in mind to apply to some back up programs.
good luck
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| bose
Forum Senior
Topics: 33
Posts: 162
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I can relate to you to a certain extent. You sure seem to be a decent candidate. Remember most of the time, the program coordinator or her computer filters out the applicants based on parameters like years since graduation, visa status, research, publications, usce, scores, references from friends etc etc. The most important thing for you is to get as many interviews as possible. The above factors only help you to get an interview. After the interviews are done, you will be ranked solely based on your performance during the interview. At that time none of the above mentioned factors count. So assuming you will be applying for the 2008 match, 5 years since graduation will meet many programs' criteria. The big plus for you is your electives in the US. Scores are important too, the higher the better. At this point forget about matching. Focus only on - what makes you get the maximum number of interviews.
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| whiterabbit
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Scores will clear your path............visit/phone/email your old american contacts remind them of your existence and try and get a new lor from them preferably do an observership under them again so that they feel comfortable giving you an LOR after 5 years.....handle this with tact and finnese and get that all important American LOR( preferably waive the right to see it..refer eras website for that).............I am sure u will get a good residency........All the best....ask anything you want....will try and help out.....
Oh, Ive seen fire and Ive seen rain
Ive seen sunny days that I thought would never end
Ive seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
......................................................................... ..................
that was from the song Fire and rain by James Taylor
Its somrthing everyone goes thro but then one day you will come out of the tunnel and light will blind you and then you realise how wonderfull life is again and then help others out like I am doing.
By the way I am an Indian.....but My heart beats for you cause you r just like me......its our so called leaders who have lost sight of their own humanity in their greedy grasp for power that drives us apart.
May the force be with you
WR
Edited by whiterabbit on 02/27/07 - 12:21 PM
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| royalgeorge
Forum Elite
Topics: 10
Posts: 266
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Hi dont worry of long term problems, take ur steps and get good scores at the earliest, try to work in pakistan at some hospital, so you regain some touch with patients.
In the meantinme use ur contacts to get an observership here in US.
Best of luck in ur carreer.
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| whiterabbit
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Yea................one step at a time...if u try and look at the whole issue you may get overwhelmed........so go step by step ............if u r aiming for 2008 match u r already late .....so make ur schedule accordingly..........
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| peace07
Forum Junior
Topics: 12
Posts: 36
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you thinking too much already with so many stuff and haven't taken any steps yet.....take one and get the feel of it. prove your worth first in taking step 1.
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