puchpal
Forum Elite
Topics: 43
Posts: 392
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hi guys
life is like hell difficult
i got 90 in step 1
thought it was not a good score till i got my step 2 83
i dont know
what i should do
guys please tell me if i should pursue further
or should i call quits
and if i should continue
do i have any chnace of getting an observership?
all suggestions are welcome
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| kald
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 35
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Scores are important but if you get USCE that can cover deficits in score/ in CV. So it would be good if you can get observership and USCE. Dont quit but try harder to get into observership. I know some who made into good programs with your scores by getting USCE. BTW scores donot matter for observership
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| puchpal
Forum Elite
Topics: 43
Posts: 392
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thanks alot kald
i am trying the hardest to get an observership
please do tell me if u have any knowledge about any programs and collleges that might be offering observerships
thanx again
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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dude,
ur scores r good. i hate it when others ask this question. ur scores may even be good enough for surgery but perhaps not ophthal or ortho. for psych it is an awesome score. i got 85/78 (i had to rush step 2.) i notice i did not get some interviews because one of my scores was below 80. however i got 48 invites. i matched as well. i bet if u get some usce and apply to every program u will get atleast 60-70 invites. it is perhaps only possible to go to 50. (i went to 44.) whatever u do, atleast go to 25 interviews. also i got invites to top rate programs. i think there r very few programs that will not invite u on the basis of ur score and even then it would have been unlikely to match there anyways. but dont rest on ur great scores. work on ur cv. ps is very important in psych. atleast apply to 140 programs. aim high. cover ur base as well by applying to ny img sweat shops to one horse towns like mobile alabama. also apply to top rate programs. get ur cali letter as i got 7 interviews there with my lower than your scores.
if ur smart enuff to get 93 then u should know ur scores r good.
for externships try lij in long island, cedars-sinai, st elizabeth washington d.c., brookdale, nymc vallhalla and or jamaice.
(just google them or look in freida. they all r residency programs.)
also apply on day one. ur scores r good and will help. only maybe harvard, etc. u may have trouble. i matched in a university p[rogram with my low scores.
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| nosha
Forum Junior
Topics: 1
Posts: 46
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What is ps?
I am volunteering at one of the research centers at institute of living & working on publishing at least 2 papers.
Still need to take the steps.
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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ps= personal statement
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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Thx... sga..... ur words r very encouraging!!!!!
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| puchpal
Forum Elite
Topics: 43
Posts: 392
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dear sga
i dont know what words should i use to thank you
u have really been a ray of hope in this darkest of dark times
but there are a few points that i would like to ask
1) im a foriegn medical graduate
2) i do not have any research experience
3) i do not have any publications
now copmare these things to yours and then reply
and do tell me what is going to happen then
looking fwd
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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i am an img as well. i had minor research and publications. some of my research experience was from my externship. with your scores u should match. however i feel by doing a 2-3 month externship u will end up with a much better residency. i feel ur not getting the full picture. yes as an img u should worry about matching. however u should also get the best residency in the best location as possible. it is 4 years of ur life. not all areas in america r equal. (assuming ur from india, is bihar=goa?) so like i tell others. aim high but cover ur ass at the same time. do what i did. i applied to all psych programs except for puerto rico (no habla espanol) and the miltiary (only for military.) it was about 170 porgrams (some where not on eras.) i got 48 invites, went to 44 interviews and ranked 42 (the other 2 were not in the match.) i matched at #19. since my list was long, my top half were all good. (my top 5 were friggin awesome!) anyhow my point is do an externship right away. u will get about 60-70 invites. go to atleast 25 interviews. rank them all. rank them how u like them. and u will end up with something good, probably better than me. good luck.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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also i feel externship is probably better than research (unless u do it for a year.) u dont have time for a publication unless u can sneak onto one. also volunteer if u can. i volunteered at katrina. also in psych write a good personal statement. go to medfools.com and get first aid for the match. maybe get it professionally edited. make sure it is not boring. i must have spent 3 months on mine. and i got complimented on it. a good ps makes for a good interview. in my view apply to all the externships. externships r better than observerships. also with ur scores u have a shot at california. i had 7 interviews in california. get ur cali letter now asap. why not go to cali? dont resign yourself to a one horse town or a inner city ghetto. aim high.
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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Hi sga… hope AMS was nice. Did u take the canal tour??
I think in my case… what is hurting me is that I am here on an H4… so the visa issue makes things just more difficult. Taking my step3 on May 19… have heard that having S3 helps.
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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Like u sga i also took my step2ck in a hurry.. & did not do too well....... SO am taking my own sweet time for step 3.... so that I can get a good score...... What do u think sga???
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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drorange,
step 3 will help but in my opinion externship will help. if u need to do step 3 for visa reasons then u could do both. do a psych externship and do outpatient rotation or something light. when i was doing outpatient i was doing about 12 hours a week. in south beach when i did radio (this is b4 i got my psych externship) i think i was doing about 10 hours a week. in mem disorders did around 20 hours a week. i feel even doing a externship for 2 weeks is more helpful than the extra point u will get from studying those 2 weeks.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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also i would get an externship pronto. u could turn in ur step 3 score later. as long as u turn in ur step 3 score in by november it will help. however it would be better to have an lor by a us shrink sooner than that. step 3 in a way is extra credit yet lor from us shrink is essential in a lot of programs.
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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Thx... sga. am trying to get a psych externship.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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however if u have multiple attempts on both steps, step 3 is more important.
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| puchpal
Forum Elite
Topics: 43
Posts: 392
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dear sga bhaisaab
yaar ui have been trying like anything and everything to know about an externship
please do tell me how can i get it
as yet no good news or even information has come to me
please tell me the various places where i should apply
and if at all i find a place
tell me how to apply to that place
life reallly sucks
looking forward to ur reply
p.s i know i must be taking on your nerves..but i think u are a person who can understand my feelings and by the way where have u matched
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| DrOrange
Forum Senior
Topics: 6
Posts: 136
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sga…..This might sound like a dumb question… but r u M or F???
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| mona1976
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 119
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hi sga its nice to hear about ur experience. I gave my step 1 and waiting for result.i m also new in northcarolina ,USA.would u plz tell me how to get externship?how do apply in hospital and also for observership?
thanks.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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i am a male. to get externship contact the program coordinator at the program. go online. google around. it is not difficult nor does it require a detective or a cia spy to find information. use google and ye shall find.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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btw i found my externship by emailing every program. there over 170 programs. i made the mistake of not calling them. i got offered one externship a year later - after i matched. if i called them perhaps i would have got it sooner.
in the day of internet and all it is not difficult to find. go to freida to get the contact info of all residency programs. also u can do externships at VA hospitals but this entails paperwork and a sponsoring doctor. u can also shadow a private psychiatrist. however residency programs r the best place.
when u email a programs minus well ask about research and also tell them ur interested in applying there and would like additional info on the program. tell them why u r interested in the program and location. there is no rule against communicating ur interest in a program u can address it to the prog director and coordinator. dont be annoying but u can follow up with a phone call after sending ur email.
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| sga430
Forum Guru
Topics: 29
Posts: 268
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if u cant get an externship then observership is a safe bet. while ur doing ur externship why not also do research?
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| blury
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 92
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hey puchpal...sga is right...scores r not everything...i had very very average scores...in the early 80's in both steps but i matched into my 2nd preference at a very decent univ program...i just had an observership in a psych hospital...but all my lors were from psych n so was all my volunteer which showed my interest in psych...plus ps is also very imp...i made mine in abt like a week...never used fancy words..did not get it proof readed by a professional but u know wat..it was abt me...it was who i am n wat r my life experiences...and once u get an interview trust me its all abt communication skills n personality...my other plus was that i was a fresh graduate (2005) n did not need visa...so dont lose hope...if ppl like us with average scores can get in,so cn u,...ur scores r awesome ...dont lose hope!n good luck!
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| blury
Forum Senior
Topics: 32
Posts: 92
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hey sga430 btw congras on matching...i matched at my 2nd prefernce...it wud hav been great if i matched at my first but i'm still thankful that i got in..
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| puchpal
Forum Elite
Topics: 43
Posts: 392
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hi friends
thanx a lot for the encouragement
i have written a number of mails to many places
but all the time i get a reply saying
"sorry we offer observerships/externships" no longer
but still i think i have time and im trying to put my best foot forward
sga though i may sound a bit speculative
but a plain simple question is i am just worried that i may not end up going neck down in debt.........
so im asking if a person with some average scores is dying to get a residency
are there chances that he may have to return empty handed
regards to all
p
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