cuadrado_g
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 153
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Hi everyone
There is a company called Americlerkships,
http://www.americlerkships.com/?gclid=CKiRy5Keq44...
offers a clerkship (hands on experience) in some specialties, it seems that you do in an office rather than in a hospital; and at the end your "attending" gives you a LoR
1. Anyone has done that? what feedback can you give?
In the field I am interested, Psych, they ask me to do 8 weeks, for $3500 aprox...
The interview season will start in 4 weeks and I already sent my CAF...got one "informal observerships" with a LoR of a Family Physician.
2. Do you think its worthy to spent that money and time...I think that by the time I am done maybe it will be too late for this year match.
Thanks for any response. Good luck to everyone with your applications!!
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| cuadrado_g
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 153
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Please guys, what do you think? Anyone in the same situation??
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| MDin08
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 95
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i guess the caf is already submitted so even if u did this observership, the only time u'll be able to mention it is in IV & u'll get there by ur caf info so it's ur personal choice b/c u'll be able to mention it in an interview only or if u get a call for that...which means that maybe they already r thinking of selecting u that's why they gave u an iv...but it's a personal choice in the end if u think u can spare $3500 then i would say go for it but if it's gonna hurt the # of aplications that u can apply to then i would say don't do it!!
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| cuadrado_g
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 153
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Hi MDin08
Guess your advice is right, its better to save that money for more appl rather that paying some ambitious MDs
Hope your problem with the LoR gets resolved soon
GL
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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just keep in mind that it is NOT in hospital settings, but IN THE OFFICE
if you will be lucky, they might take you to the hospital to see few patients, but they are not bound to do that by the contract
good luck
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| hungt
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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Hi,
Don't waste your money. I did 4 weeks of clinical clerkship with Americlerkships & it was the worst rotation I had ever had. I worked 60 hours a week & the doctor that I worked with did not even write me a letter of recommendation. I had to write my own letter & get her to sign it. During the 4 weeks I never got to come to the hospital. I spent 70% of my time with the doctor counseling people on bariatric (wt loss)stuff & selling people milk shake drinks for their diet. Don't believe anything Americlerkship states on its website. I moved from LA Cal to Cherry Hill NJ to do the clerkship. I spent a total of $5000 on housing, car rental & tuition. It was a complete waste of time & money. I found out when I applied for residency that unless clinical externship or clerkship is affiliated with a residency program, it does not mean much. If you want to do clerkship to get a letter of rec, you can just write one yourself and volunteer a couple weeks at your family doctor clinic then have him sign it.
I have nothing against Americlerkships or any similar companies out there. I just don't want people to waste their time and money like I did.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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just what i keep telling all along.....
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| hypomanic
Forum Senior
Topics: 11
Posts: 153
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For those interested in electives- only possible if you are still in med school- Look at this site from AAMC
http://services.aamc.org/eec/students/
It has info about which colleges accept IMGs for electives and what it will cost
According to the site an elective at Yale with housing costs approx 2300$ and at Mayo 400$
___________________
Life is short, the Art long,opportunity fleeting experience treacherous, Judgement difficult - Hippocrates
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| RaghavendraRaoS
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 2
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Anybody else who has applied for Americlerkships please post.
Anybody who has applied for general surgery?
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| Moozy
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 783
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OK.... in my personal view.. the way elective helps you is if you do it in a place where they will observe you and will consider you for an IV and possibly residency. You can get excited by doing at places like yale and Mayo or any other big names.. but look at your credentials and ask yourselff if these places will actually invite a visa requiring FMG for an IV and offer a post.
Yes, you may get a LOR from the program about your paid observership and how much weight that LOR carries, you never know as all the PD knows is that it is not hands on clicinal experience. If you have nothing recent or have home country LORs, it wont hury to do sucha paid observership but don't be overtly oprimistic about it.
At the same time, an opportunity in a smaller program where other FMGS have gotten IVs after showing dedication will be a better choice. Go for the community places I'd say.
It's your decison and $$. Use wisely.
___________________
Inability is a disaster; patience is bravery; abstinence is a treasure, self-restrain is a shield; and the best companion is submission to Divine Will
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| mazinger
Forum Guru
Topics: 46
Posts: 917
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Agree a 100% with moozy very wise words...
I rotated at mayo and dont regret it a bit, but when I interviewed at community programs I realized imgs whom rotated at the same program had the lead..
Hope you get the point 
___________________
original mazinger z
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