usmle99
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 49
|
Hey friends,
I need your advice. I have been interested in IM since my med school years. I have applied for residency this year for the 2008 match, all internal medicine programs. Since I am an IMG and I dont have step 2 CK score, I guess no one is considering me for an interview. But I need a residency position this year, as I need to start residency in any department cos of some family problems and things like that. So I have decided to apply for Pediatrics residency as well. I might consider to change to Internal medicine next year or just continue in Pediatrics, If I get one ( depending on how much and whether I would like to be a pediatrician all my life, thats another story. Most probably I will just stay wherever I go ). But since I had not given it a thought all these years I have LORs only from the Internal medicine department. I have also done observership, again in IM. I have very good letters from my observership. I was thinking of requesting the letter writers to write a letter which would not specify a particular department ( like they have written I am very much interested and I will successfully complete the Internal medicine residency ). Do you guys feel a general LOR would help? would be OK to send to Pediatrics programs?
Thanx.
Edited by usmle99 on 11/15/07 - 10:22 PM
|
| usmle99
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 49
|
hmm 32 views and not a single one to come out and advice. Guys pls..I need to know this as early as possible ,as its already late to apply anywhere and I need to apply SOON.
On the other hand, giving it a second thought, I am in such a situation that I need to apply to Pediatrics with a suitable LOR or not. So I might just go ahead and apply with the LORs I have .
|
| carvedilol80
Forum Senior
Topics: 38
Posts: 135
|
i dont want to discourage you brother but i think we don't have that luxury of changing programs any more.its hard to get even into pathology this year....btw ..all the best if you score gud in stp2 ck ,may be u stand a chance.
___________________
grab your fears!!!!!
|
| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 186
|
There are so many factors for into getting a residency, it's hard to ask for advice without giving all the details...for example, what is your visa status? second, is your step 1 score competitive?? Have you passed the CS?? Without knowing all that, all I can say is go ahead and apply, you have nothing to lose...(other than a few $$)
|
| ram3
Forum Guru
Topics: 47
Posts: 513
|
I dont know what planet you are from but pediatrics is very competitive also and they are far fewer positions available so it might even be more difficult to get a pediatrics residency than an internal medicine residency if you think about it also its to late to apply now to pediatrics I can honestly say that probably the majority of the programs have given their interviews by now and the fact that you have not passed usmle step 2 ck makes your chances very low
|
| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 186
|
ram3, i don't know why you would discourage one so much...you seem sort of frustrated...first of all, paediatrics isn't very competitive, second, it isn't too late to apply, i know people that applied in december and still got residencies and interviews, interviews go on until february, (also applying improves your chances of post matching), also he didn't mention his step 1 score, so if he got a great step 1 score and is a citizen/green card, he would have a great chance at getting paediatrics...also, what would he lose by applying and taking a chance....
|
| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 519
|
ok ...i am not discouraging, just stating facts...i am 99/99/pass, 2002 grad with MD peds (2006) from my country...applied in sept 1st week to some 50 progs and have till now received 14 calls..and many rejections....i cant say if this qualifies for being competitive or not...similar profiles are there on the peds forum... but if u think u want to apply do it NOW! gl!!
|
| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 519
|
also regarding the original ques ...many peds prog require at least 1 lor from peds faculty, so chek that b4 applying; if ur lor says u wuld do well in internal med and u send in that lor...be prepared to ans why u applied in peds at the interview...; observership in IM would not be a drawback i think; a general LOR would def be better and if they are strong then thats perfect!
|
| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 186
|
mukho...i'm shocked that you are 99/99 and are not even getting interviews from paed...Paeds is not known to be one of the more competitive programs...I have an IMG friend who got late 70's(both on second attempt) and matched into paed 2 years ago, of course he is a citizen...
|
| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 519
|
i need visa...but i doubt if peds is as less competitive as ur friends example would lead us to believe...or again, maybe its just me!
|
| usmle99
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 49
|
Thank you very much for the response, friends. Like everyone does, I feel good too when encouraged since I am human and from planet EARTH. Though I can not complain since everyone is entitled to their opinions and I was basically looking for advices and opinions anyway. I was told that Peds and family medicine are not as competitive as IM and many apply to these programs as a back up plan. Thats the reason why I decided to try my luck there. I dont have great scores like many other do in this forum. I am a 2002 grad, step 1 90 and step 2 CS pass, both first attempt and I very much need visa ( I am not a GC or a citizen ).
Wolverine : Thank you very much for the encouragement and support. I have heard the exact samethings you have mentioned. I do know that its very late for me to apply to many of the programs , but some are still accepting applications. As I said I dont have a choice. I need to try my luck everywhere. I am thinking about other things as well other than residency which might help me sail thru this phase of life. Thanks once again for all the support. Wish you luck !
Mukho : Thank you very much for answering the question I had asked. I was worrying about the LOR, cos I need to apply ( competitive not competitive ). I had requested the letter writers to modify the letter to make it sound more general. One, modified it in front of me, ask me to read and I posted it to the ECFMG immediately. The other letter writer has asked me to send the cover letter. I dont know what makes it a strong LOR, as I see everybody has a different opinion of the same thing. But the first one writes : She has ( by the way I am a she! ) a good fund of knowledge and gets along well with everyone and all that stuff and has written that she is interested in your program ( not mentioning which ) and that he is very sure that I will complete the residency successfully. I dont remember the exact words but he has written some more good stuff. The second one, ( I have seen the LOR for IM ) he says she clearly has the knowledge base for this and her knowledge is substantially better than our students here. and in the beginning he writes he recommends me strongly. I have not seen the newer version of the letter though. So this is what I have. I had called one of the Peds programs and after listening to my story she says, all the interview slots are filled for now, but you seem like a good candidate. I have written down your name and credentials I will pass it on to the PD and if he decides positively then we would call you for an interview if any of slots become available. For me that was a positiove response and thats what made me think about applying to more Peds programs.
Wow !! that was a long story !
Anyway... Your credentials are fabulous and you have also specialised in Peds from your country I dont see why anybody would not want you. I want to say...you will get into a program of your choice and there is nothing to worry about . Wish you luck !
Thanks again everyone .
|
| mukho
Forum Elite
Topics: 6
Posts: 519
|
thanks usmle99... ur lor sounds great...all the best!
|
| CocaCola
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 908
|
don't be upset by what ram3 is saying... most of his responses to queries has the same tone - pessimistic and a bit rude...
however its an open forum and he/she is entitled to post his opinions!
___________________
There is one thing we can do, and the happiest people are those who can do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can give all our attention to the opportunity before us!!!
|
| goodluck usmle
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 66
|
dear fiend its very tough to get a n iv now that u apply so late.....i applied late.....and suffering
___________________
http://www.AWSurveys.com/HomeMain.cfm?RefID=rajmy...
|
| usmle99
Forum Junior
Topics: 4
Posts: 49
|
Thank you very much for the concern cocacola . I am not upset cos I know that I posted the topic in this forum to get opinions and advices. And I am very well aware that not two ppl will have the same opinion. I am welcome to all kinds of comments and suggestions. It would if any, be only helpful.
Goodluck usmle : I know how much anxiety and stress this matching process can cause. The only things we can do is apply, wait and get thru this streefull phase of life today or tomorrow. I know its late, but not applying is not going to enhance my chances of matching into a program. Thats the reason why, even if its late I am trying to apply. Now that you have already applied, I will join you pretty soon in the wait. So we are two now, going thru the same thing. So lets try to wait patiently and lets do whatever we can in getting a residency. I dont know what else to say...
Good Luck to you!
|
| Rafo
Forum Senior
Topics: 23
Posts: 62
|
Just throwing in my two cents (that´s how you say it, right?):
Peds is competitive...but perhaps it depends where you apply to. For example my credentials are: 88/99/no step 3/need Visa/IMG 2003 grad/doing pediatrics residency in my home country (3rd year). I applied to 37 programs, most of them University based or big community hospitals. Until now I have only 5 interviews confirmed. I have thought of applying to more community programs but I´ve checked and most of them have already stopped receiving applications or say they don´t have interview slots left. So i have decided to sit and wait since I still haven´t heard from a bunch of them (and I´ve seen they do send rejections).
For someone that really loves pediatrics, to hear that someone is trying to get in pediatrics just because "she has no choice"...well, how can I put it??...It is a little hard to take and perhaps offensive. But circumstances are not the same for everyone and I understand that sometimes life forces us to do things we don´t really want. I don´t see myself choosing a career path I don´t like just because I´m waiting for things to get better. Medicine is serious business. But again, that´s just me and my opinion.
Have you thought of applying to prelimary positions?? That could be the solution. If you don´t really like pediatrics you will just regret your choice.
Good luck with everything.
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
