eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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It's obvious right!
I remember when I was upset about my mid 80 scores in step 1 and CK and people consoled me by saying that scores did not really matter.
Well, the happenings of this season have once again proven that scores are all that matter.
I have 3 interviews till date, 2 of which were solely because of contacts.
I still don't have any assurances despite the interviews because I don't have step 3 yet.Imagine that! When did step 3 become a prerequisite for hiring a resident.
I have a very good resume, a postgrad degree from here and good LORs and wonderful MSPE.
Well, guess what? Thousands of candidates have that and even more. Everywhere I go , I see MRCP, PhD etc.
So, how do they judge.SCORES!
Of course, at the interview, it's level ground. But b4 u even get to that stage, SCORES!
PS, LOR, etc. All BS!
When I call programs, they say my application isn't strong enough bc of my scores.
From the way some programs respond, you can tell they didn't even look at your application at all bc you are not in the 90s league.And these are community programs!
Well, it's a bitter lesson.I wish I worked harder
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| dearlife
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 25
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even at the interviews they see SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!! UNFORTUNATELY
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| imad
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 29
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no point blaming urself dude..its obvious that everybody works as hard as they can(except the geniuses who abound here) & its just what u do THAT day at the exam center that shows up in the result..so u had a bad day..thats just what it is..a BAD day..n its silly that some dude sitting in a chair somewhere in this country thinks.."hmm..this guy has mid 80s score..maybe he isnt as good as the 99ers?"..even sillier that "essentially" what he is judging you on is a friggin DAY of ur life..not the rest..
scores are after all what they look at but that doesnt mean that the 99ers are better doctors..AND before some 99er on this forum takes offense, lemme say, "sure dude..you are a good doc too"..there, i hope there are no more ruffled feathers..
maybe 10 yrs down the line when we all have reached where we want to be in life, we can all sit back with a joint (or your choice of poison) & find out who actually cares HOW they got there..
by that time, tell me if you ever sat on the beach totally stoned(or drunk!) n stared at the ocean? its not most peoples idea of fun, but have you? how do you know if it is fun or not, if u havnt been there?..n if u havnt, chances are you wont after that either..double 99ers,any input?
as for this whole process eida, dont think too much bout it dude..you did more than what most others do or will do..n if life wishes otherwise..so be it..my advice is to always keep a backup plan dude..always..u did what had to be done, n now its all about the big dude upstairs..as they say.."nothing happens without allah's will"..
so for the moment, sit tight..it aint over till the fat lady sings..
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| moe214
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 120
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eida; how many prog did u apply 4?i got low scores too..but applied to 170..got 12 iv's but havnt got any since oct 25th..am i nervous? ofcourse i'm..pretty soon i'm gunna start calling'm. ask bbb or some of forum elites some advise..dont give up and dont dwell on the past.
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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moe!
i called already and i recommend it. In fact, I think my calling program was what triggered this mood because I found out they were not even looking at most applications. And most have closed for the year. Believe it or not.
One PC told me they would download my application for review right away.And I'm like "i have to call you to get my application reviewed.It's the least you can do for me for $25'
And some were outrightly rude on the phone. They wouldn't do that to an AMG, would they?
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| mph
Forum Elite
Topics: 19
Posts: 341
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eida, I understand ur concern and frustration.
However, every one here works hard to squeeze into a position, with all possible means.
In my opinion, score should be the last thing for you to discuss, as no matter how many unexpected factors u encountered during the exam day, u still could control it much more easily than deciding where you were born(to become an AMG). Let me tell u the truth, in my opinion, at least 30% forum members here can make into Ivy league med school if they are born here. Amazing determination and courage, didnt u see it?
There is nothing u can do now about ur score, so cheer up and work on ur remaining ivs. If u have connection, u have a chance. Dont give up this early.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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eida wrote: I wish I worked harder
well, there goes the answer to your pain.
persevere and you will be rewarded accordingly.
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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Thank you for your "PEARLS OF WISDOM".
Gee, I didn't know perseverance was the key to success.
WAOW!I wish I knew this earlier.
Please, explain that word better just so I'd be sure my "bitterness" isn't affecting my sense of reasoning.
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| medicus_81
Forum Elite
Topics: 12
Posts: 428
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eida,
I think you wrote here just to vent your frustration and not to hear what anybody has to say about it. Well, you did it, hop it helped you.
I get the feeling that whatever anybody would try to tell you, at this point you will always find a sarcastic way of answering. Yep, life sucks sometimes but don't get angry at the people who did not have a bad day on the exam...
And I would disagree with you on the fact that scores are the thing to get you an interview. I personally interviewed at 2 university programs where they have residents with scores ranging from barely passed to double 99. I doubt that these programs are the only ones in the country.
Good luck.
___________________
If you judge people you have no time to love them
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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Why do u think I am angry at ppl who got great scores?
What is it with u ppl?
Is there any thing in my post to suggest that i am ANGRY at ppl who did well.
I merely said I regret not doing well.
I can't believe the accusations I am getting just bc i vented my frustration which by the way I didn't know was a taboo on this forum.
I didn't start the sarcasm.Did I? Read babydoc's reply to my post on "What I learnt from this year's match"
As for the programs u interviewed in, these residents were from last year, right? I am talking about this year. Last year, my friend who scored 86/89 had 10 interviews. And she prematched in her 2nd IV. This year ppl with similar scores can't even boast of 1 interview. Years ago, with this type of score, you could boast of 20 interviews and step 3 was a none issue.
Besides, the fact that u saw some low scorers in a university program does not mean they like low scorers. People get into programs thru various routes. e.g they know an influential person or they are citizens etc
Please, I don't like this labelling as a frustrated person bc i know what i am saying is the truth.Whether i sound frustrated or not.
Let's be objective about this.
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| sarika
Forum Guru
Topics: 195
Posts: 1,200
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Guys I think what eida is saying isn't totally wrong. And I didnot find her being angry at others who did well so please dont accuse her/him
And anyways, being a friend isn't always about advicing or telling your friend whats wrong with them, sometimes you can just be a good listener and comfort others.
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| doc1981
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 211
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I agree with Eida... This has been an exceptionally tough year in terms of interviews and the number of applications. I think most of us out here will vouch for that.
One PC that I spoke to today said she and her program had been overwhelmed with the number of applications and she said there were hundreds of eligible applicants that met her program's criteria. They were having a very hard time selecting people for interviews. I guess thats one reason Step three has become a big issue this match season.
Lets just hope for the best and pray that we all get a position of our choice.
We've come this far, we'll reach the end of it.
___________________
Rome wasn't built in a day!
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| wally
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 18
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Eida i totally agree with what ur saying !
its sad to know that what determins ur chances for getting into a proper program is the result of a standadized exam with total disregard of every thing else that u have on ur CV !
when u end ur day with an email saying that ur rejected even though u have good credentials , it only adds to ur frustration ...
how sad
what can one do about this !
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| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 185
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eida, I really don't understand what your post is about...you knows scores are the main factor and they always will be...you expect programs to judge you by LORs or PS's?? The USMLE scores are the only way to really judge FMG's, and if you were a program director, that is what you would give importance to also...I think you understand people told you that at the time just to make you feel better, if that was who the original post was directed to...
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| E2O
Forum Senior
Topics: 19
Posts: 190
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I disagree with you eida scores are only one half of it. mid 80s can not be considered bad scores. I have scores like that I applied end of sept and I still got 10 IV's the packkaging is what comes into play when you have passed the scores hurdle next to that is where did you apply. Have some faith in the system and use your contacs that sometimes is more important than your score or year of grad.
Brighten up and its not yet over till its OVER
___________________
Remain Recoverable.....................
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| wally
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 18
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http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2007.pdf
i am sure u all have seen this !
interesting statistics
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| ravedoc
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 47
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i am sure its not all about scores
LoRs seemed to have worked to many of my friends and seniors this time.
...this is not to comfort eida..just a matter of fact!!
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| uphill
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 94
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she is right when she says u have to call up to get the application seen.that happened with me too.
not all applications have been seen.this in PC s word.She said since I had called she will put my application in the file which the PD will review.
U r not wrong eida,we r all in the same boat.
this has been the toughest year so far.
do write , vent your anger,talk to people about it BUT keep working towards ur goal ,eventually u will reach there as we all will.
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| arlete
Intern in 2009!!!!!
Topics: 30
Posts: 2,216
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eida:
I hope things will get better for you.
___________________
When men make the rules, God decides the exceptions.
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| drffk
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 6
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beleive me scores are not IT.i got 99 ,99 on step 1 and 2, applied to 74 prog got 2 iv !!!!!!
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| dearlife
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 25
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drffk wrote:
beleive me scores are not IT.i got 99 ,99 on step 1 and 2, applied to 74 prog got 2 iv !!!!!!
I am honestly surprised.... I thought scores are it!
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| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 185
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Scores are obviously not the only factor, but they are the main factor...obviously visa issues are a very important factor. Citizens and people raised in the US will be preferred over people who need a visa. Many programs don't even sponsor visas. And good LORs and PS's will definitely help, as will research and clinical experience. Overall, I would agree scores play about 50 percent of the factor. I know people with 70's getting interviews if they are citizens with solid clinical experience. As far as what eida is going on about, you should look at many other countries and even many other fields in the US, where scores are 100% factor and nothing else is even considered. The system for residency is actually much better in the fact that they look at many factors...
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| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 185
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to drffk, you got 99/99 and got only 2 IV's out of 74?? Did you pass CS on the first attempt?? That's the only thing I could imagine preventing you from getting IV's. Also, which fields and programs are you applying to, if you are a foreign grad applying to programs and fields basically reserved for AMG's, you won't get many IV's. It's still surprising though, I know many people with late 90's and they are getting iv's basically everywhere they apply.
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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wolverine, In some fields in the US, scores are not 100%.
I am in public health and LORs are big in this field. A simple LOR from your internship mentor or a faculty, especially an influential one, is capable of throwing open unbelieveable doors. They value personality, work ethic etc because you'll be amazed at how important these issues are to Americans , far above "paper brilliance".
Some of the foreign students who had graduated and had to leave often get good public health jobs with H1B sponsorships just because they impressed someone.
Of course, it's hard to be dumb and impress someone at the same time. But it's not like, " show me your 4.0 GPA or else........" .
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| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 185
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Scores are used to initially screen applications and they should be, you aren't going to screen thousands of applications by using LOR's and PS's. Once the application's are screened, they look deeper into the application which includes LOR's and PS's and many other factors. The system is still better than many countries where scores are 100% and your entire life depends on what is sometimes a 3 hour exam...
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