step2ckjan07
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 79
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Since everyone is making their own group, i thought i should give it a try too. I know everyone's situation and credentials are different. But there is a little group within us which is a minority. Women who got married, came to america, had kids and stayed home. We have clinical gaps but a green card/citizenship. I am still confused at the places where i should have applied.
Heres the problem.
1.We can't apply to university programs where ofcourse they want amgs, fresh IMGs with excellenet credentials, or a little less fresher PhD or research guy.
2.We cant get IV's from mid-bad community programs because they want graduates who have worked in their home countries so that they start working right away. Bad community programs doesnt have time or the resources to train people. What should we do?
Anyone in similar dilemma? lets gather up here and discuss!
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| muna
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 126
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Hi,i have same problem, married for 8 years, one doughter, pass step1,2ck,2cs, have gc, but nooooo working experience, stay home, now working on ps.
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| minang
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 226
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Some words of encouragement:
don't give up. I was in the same situation last year. 8 years out of medical schoold, no recent clinical experience, average scores, no GC (F2 visa), married, stay home mom with 1 kid.
But, then I got observership 2 months before application process and got nice LOR from there.
And now....I'm a Ped intern at a University program in my home town.
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| salmonella
Forum Elite
Topics: 45
Posts: 265
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A 1999 graduate ,with a 6 year old and twins of 4 year old.
Passed step 1 with 92 and cs,yet to take ck.
Iwill apply in a couple of days as havent decided when will i take ck.
am a full time mom for the past couple of years.By the grace of GodI got to volunteer in research and observership at a family medicine 2 months ago. Now Just praying that God will help me and all moms who want to work and want to take care of their kids.
I am in a dilemma ,what to take FM or psychiatry......means a residency which can be managed with the kids and the home
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| mytime
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 38
Posts: 3,195
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OK........HI there! Will come back after my Step 1.   AM trying to beat the rush for 2008 am sooooooooooooo freaking late! But better late then never! 
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"Samay sai phelay na kuch hua hai na kuch hoga!" - B. Gita
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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hey count me in! though i m relatively a fresh grad , (grad 2004) but i am a full time home maker since my grad.i hv an 18 mths old kid.
in the past 3 yrs, i only had 2 mths of externship exp in Saudia.
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| maoudoody
Forum Elite
Topics: 20
Posts: 373
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although the title made me smile
wish u all the best!!!!
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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minang:
Thanks for sharing, it gave me hope.
My situation: graduated in 1992, worked as a cardiologist in my country for 8 years, three kids and not working as a doctor during the last 7 years. step 1= 84, step 2CK = 99, CS in February, GC, I want to pass step 3 next year, to keep me studying so I don't get bored and desperate. Three amazing LOR from doctors who I worked with as an EKG/holter/pacers and ICDs tech. Does anybody know if that could be considered USCE? Three weeks of observership.
The most challenging aspects of my matching (I'll try 2009 only) is the long time after graduation, that's what scares me the most, and I will apply only in the city I currently live in. I don't want to move anymore.
I am sure that, although it's been a long time, I am capable of being a great doctor, again.
Let's keep the good energy flowing, I hope we'll have lots to share and celebrate!
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| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,203
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Hello guys,
I'm very happy to see there are many people out there like me. I grad and got married in 2001-2002 and came to USA. Then for the three to four year i was just a mom and a home maker until i decided to study for usmle. I have a huge clinical gap, where i absolutely did nothing. I am pretty sure this will come up in my IV's and i practice what will be my reply to that question.
I tried to get some USCE in the past 4 months with pvt physicians and got 2USLOR but my experience is nothing compared to big names researches. I dont know how the match season will unfold for me but there is nothing more i could have done considering my circumstances.
I applied to every program i met the minimum criteria and saw faces of fmg's in Current residents list although i deleted big names.
I think it will be nice if we can get feedback from more members like minang regarding their strategies for the match and IV questions especially the most dreaded one "the clinical gap".
Goodluck to all of us!
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| Dinie
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Hi, thank you step2ckjan07 for starting the thread. Count me in too, I have all the gaps you have plus need visa H1B (My home country doesn't support J1).
Came to US in Dec 2004 with a 11/2 yr old son and a 31/2 year old daughter to keep the family together. My son saw dad after a year and called him uncle for 2 months (His dad was in the photo in my diary and on the wall.)
Became a full time mother until April 2007 till I started an observership. quite honestly had the most wonderful time in my life with my children and my husband. Been too busy back home working and doing a post grad and always wished I had more time for my family. My kids are 4+ and 6+ today and I feel so ready to get back to work again.
Applied to 60 Im programs in OH, NY, NJ, CT, MN, WI and MD. No IVs or rejections yet but staying positive and focusing on step 3. I will be really sad if I do not match but I can go back once my husband is done with his studies and work in my home country again. I will be grateful for the wonderful time we had as a family here and will start again as a stronger woman.
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| zoeya
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 83
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hello ladies,
i m in same boat-i graduated in 2003-came to US same yr and then-was home for2 yrs-got a 20 mnth old lil daughter -for past 2 yrs i m vonlunteering in a hopsital /like an observership -on and off(took time off near days of exam)passed stap 1 in 80s and took CK(recently)waiting for results and need prayers) and hav cs scheduled in dec-----hope we all get into decent residency programs----INSHALLAH--good luck to all
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| ujaala
Forum Elite
Topics: 60
Posts: 333
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Hi every1 ...I wish all of you best of luck 
the weak point in my cv apart frm the clinical gap is that i dont hv any USCE . Actually I am in Saudia for the last 3 years and went to USA for only 15 days (leaving my 1 yr old behind) to take the CS . I wanted to get sum observership but I couldnot leave my baby alone for longer , as it was also creating problems for my husband as well.
Anyways, we all have done the best we could in the circumstances that we were in. We all are strong women and should be appreciated !!
Dinie which country are you from? I am a permanent resident of Saudi Arabia (but Pakistani citizen). I will not get the support letter from saudi MOH ...so I will prefer H1b as well because going on J1 means giving up saudi aqama and going to Pakistan for the visa process...but if i do end up with a j1 ,, i will do that..
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99/95/CSA cleared/ecfmg cert/step 3 pending/2004 grad/need visa/no USCE
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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Dinie:
Please keep us posted, I am rooting for you!
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Don't charge for what you've received for free!
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| step2ckjan07
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 79
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Hello girls,
I have two IV's in IM but strange thing is i searched these forums but no one else claimed to have been invited to these places. I havent posted the names of these programs and i think if someone else has been invited to these two hospitals, they are also playing it safe. Another funny thing is i did not get IVs from places who are sending it to everyone. I am so confused as what is the REAL criteria of these programs. I am seeing people with better, worse and similar credentials as mine getting IVs from Kingsbrook, st barnabas, seton hall, crozer chester, suny upstate im but i did not get calls from these although i applied sept 1st too. I did not get their rejections either.
So i dont know...this match is becoming a mystery! I know people on this forum are very nice and you guys dont like negativity here but sometimes i just can't help but being my-psychotic-mean-self. I am very confused these days why these places called others but not me?
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| salmonella
Forum Elite
Topics: 45
Posts: 265
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hey step2ckjan07
Good luck for getting the interviews.
U started the thread but we want to know more about u...........
would u mind telling us?
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Allah he Allah kia kero, Allah he say dara kero!!!!
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| Dinie
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thank you arlete and sure I'll keep you posted. I was motivated a lot reading your posts. BTW, one of my friends who just finished residency said ECG tech and physician assistant work is considered hands on USCE by her program. Hope it is good news for you.
Ujaala, I'm from Sri Lanka. Two of my friends applied for J1 did not get the letter from health ministry.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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Dinie,
This is one of the best news ever! I was able to work as an EKG tech because of some interesting life circumstances, so, for me, it looked like God was working my way to that place. I was very happy there, and maybe now it will help me to fulfill my dream!
Let's keep in touch, I hope I will open a bottle of champagne here for you ASAP!
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Don't charge for what you've received for free!
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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step2CKjan07:
I usually participate in another forum, and it's been terrible there! Everybody was friendly during the tests, now they are saying very nasty things and misleading others, it's very sad. I don't believe that's happening around here, but you know, some people are more competitive and more insecure than others...
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| step2ckjan07
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 79
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hi salmonella, My scores mid 90's ECFMG certified all first attempts, Us citizen, yr grad 2002, no research, 3 months USCE with 2 physicians 2 uslor, 1 month observership at a community teaching hospital. I have been a home maker since 2002, have a baby to takecare of along with a hectic life. Just like all of you i have also worked very hard to see this day when i'm applying to hospitals. I dont know about others but everytime i see a place who invites others with similar credentials as mine i get confused. To add to my list of disappointments are hospitals such as interfaith, wyckoff, Winthrop and caritas carney who have started sending invites and have comfortably decided to ignore me
I think its more than just credentials, now they are probably reading personal statements and looking for genuine interest thats why some are getting the invites and others aren't.
Well anyway, enough of my rambling....i'm not always this pessimistic and iam not always this mean. I hope all of us get whatever we deserve. Goodluck.
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| chiqui
Forum Senior
Topics: 5
Posts: 170
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Hi. I'm in similar boat. I've applied for Match (Psych), but am still in medical school abroad. I am a US citizen, but this is my second career, so I'm a little older. I have a 3 year old and a 7 month old. 83/87/awaiting CS results. No USCE, no US LORs. I can't afford to take a year to obtain clinical experience, as I need to start earning money ASAP. I'm currently in my Surgery internship, feel like I never get to see my kids, spend every free moment studying (here, if they ask you questions at the hospital and decide you haven't studied enough they "lock you up", meaning, you get 4, 12 or 24 extra on-call hours as punishment. So I HAVE to study.) Then on top of that I have to run around chasing people for my LORs (a lot more work than you would think) and Dean's letter. Plus the usual things associated with taking care of kids (daughter outgrew all of her shoes from one day to the other, son was a month late with his vaccinations, birthday party is coming up), a house (the PILES of laundry are scary) and a husband (no comment). I'm still nursing, so I'm starving all of the time and still look like I'm pregnant. Sorry - I didn't mean to complain so much - I guess I'm just really tired and anxious about having applied (just sent them off yesterday, WITHOUT the LORs, Deans letter or transcript). Oh well. If it is my time to enter a residency program, God will show me the way. I am humble. I'll take any program that allows me to live with my parents in NJ and avoid a lengthy commute.
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In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
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| Allymd
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 118
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Hey, count me in. I just became a mommy in August and my daughter is 1 month old. Took Step 1 in october/06 (97), CS in march and now preparing CK (hopefully to take it late october - early november), having a hard time but trying my best. Applied to 40 IM programs, in couple with my husband. He is ECFMG certified already (97/pass/99) and we both are IMGs with no USCE with very similar CVs. I havent gotten any IVs, but my hubby already got 3!! I just hope I start to get IVs soon. It was a hard decision since many ppl told me to wait another year to apply for match 2009 so my baby would be older by then, but I dont think it would make a difference and I really need to start working again. Good luck to everyone and let´s pray so we can all get what we deserve!
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| muna
Forum Senior
Topics: 17
Posts: 126
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thank you , all of you are my inspiration
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| di
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 32
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Hi,
I graduated in 2001, did internship for one year in my home country and was working till 2005. I met my husband in 2004, and got my visa and came to the US in 2005. I have 4 months observership. And I have a 3 MONTHS OLD BABY GIRL. So you can imagine what I might be going through. Though I was 7 months pregnant when I gave my step 2 I somehow managed to score 90, I have also passed CS. But I have no excuse for scoring 79 in step 1. Anyways now I am applying for IM, FP and pediatrics programms. I also have 3 good US lor`s. My main conscern is leaving my daughter when I travel for interviews ( that is hopefull thinking as I have no interviews yet ) But I am hoping I will get something. So guys goodluck to everyone and lets hope for the best.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 25
Posts: 1,792
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di:
Some programs do consider step 2 more important than step1 score (which makes a lot of sense to me). Good luck, keep us posted!
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Don't charge for what you've received for free!
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| Allymd
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 118
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I have the same concern on who will take care of my daughter while in the IVs, she´ll be 3-4 months old :S Suggestion accepted .
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