eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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1. If you don't score above 95 in at least one exam, consider yourself a spectator in the game
2. No one gives a damn about your personal statement.
3. Or how many prizes you won in your obscure medical school
4. Or your probably-forged LORs
5. And irrelevant extra degrees and pseudo clinical experiences k.a observerships
6. Apply after september and you are probably generating revenue for ECFMG.
7. Expecting IVs after late November is just what they say to prevent you from having panic attacks from the fact that you may not match next year.
8.And finally, in your next world, ensure you are a citizen and in case you missed that opportunity because of your parents' lack of foresight, don't be a dumbass and marry for love.
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| deja_vu
Forum Senior
Topics: 4
Posts: 213
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Eida, Dear you seem to be sooo much in pain.. 
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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Pain is an understatement.
I am tired of this profession.
It has caused me nothing but heartache for the past 10 years.
But, I'll be fine.
This venting is therapeutic for me.
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| SSCOOL
Forum Senior
Topics: 10
Posts: 118
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Relax dear,
I'm also in the same boat.
Let's hope for the best.
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| DrVirgo
Forum Hero
Topics: 1058
Posts: 3,384
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eida,
I feel your pain man.
Read my signature line... i have to tell myself this everyday!
___________________
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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you definitely sound bitter, but i soooooooodisagree on your statements. everything you listed comes more from your bitterness and "pain felt for the last 10 years" (i wander why would you make yourself suffer).
everything matters. and as for the scores, there only a small fraction of people with 99s, and if you look at the statistics, majority medians are not around 97-99, admit it.
remember Solomon? it will pass too.....
I wish you a good luck, and work your interviews as if it was Harvard and there is no other place to go. keep your mind open and do not hang on low number of IVs. only 1 needed to have a chance. use it.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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as for PS, i had few comments on mine from different people.
they do read them.
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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i could comment all other points, but i think you know everything without my comments.
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| shpp
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 34
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Eida, I feel your pain,man....I'm in the same boat...extra grad degree from US, excellent US lors, observerships, topped in med school,.....BUT 8YRS GAP AND MID 80'S SCORES trying to balance work and family.......2ivs. During one of my iv, interviewers were actually scrambling to find out everything about me in 3mins!!! and most places I called said they had to use score cutoff because a "large pool of excellent applicants".
However, I wouldn't blame my parents.....I am proud to be who I am, but I guess we underestimated this competition thinking of the complete package and didn't work hard enough for the scores....there's no shortcut to grand success! Just hang in there and see where you can work for next year, if not matched this year. As for me, this may be my first and last try, as I am better settled in my other career.
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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To Babydoc4usmle.
First of all, it's obvious you have no sense of humour whatsoever.
And secondly, I don't remember mentioning "99" in my post.
Thirdly, you are wrong about few people having 99.
Fourthly, most ppl read ur PS just b4 ur interview, AFTER U HAVE BEEN SELECTED.
Finally, I want to apologise to other members of the forum for causing this diatribe bc it was hardly my intention.
As for calling me a bitter person, duh!!!!!!!!!
I myself admitted I am bitter.And i owe u no explanations for that.
The purpose of this forum is to say how u feel without fear of being judged.
And I still wonder what i said that comes from my bitterness.The fact that being a citizen is a huge advantage.Or the fact that great scores really count.
Yes I am bitter but it doesn't cloud my judgement in any way especially when reading a sarcastic post like urs which makes fun of me for being bitter and tells me in the end to be hopeful.
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| jole
Forum Elite
Topics: 8
Posts: 253
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this post may not be too pleasant but it painfully has a ring of truth to it.
I don't agree with the parent part though-am afraid we can't all be american citizens(then whats the rest of the world for?) no matter how much it helps the process.
So eida just hang in there dear;your day will come when u least expect it.thats how it always happens.All the best.
___________________
Never underestimate the power of prayer.
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| wally
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 18
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i would say it has more than a ring of turth ?!
if ur not a citezen , then u have a 50% no to match !
mean step 1 score of those in the match is 220 (90) , so u can figure who goes home unmatched !
rest of selection criteria is n/a to FMG
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| babydoc4usmle
Forum Guru
Topics: 18
Posts: 634
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well, sorry i paid attention to your post and answered it. i thought people could say whatever they want without being judged.....
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,710
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It's not just scores - applicants today had from the mid-80s and above - it's not about the 99/99/99 persons. We have a number of them that we haven't even offered interviews to.
It's about the fit in the program. That's truely what the interview is about . The problem is with the NUMBER of applicants - how to decide who to interview. It's all a crap shoot. Do programs miss out every year on a number of highly qualified candidates? Sure we do - but how do we know when we offer interviews? We don't. Yes, it sucks.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| intern_doc
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 433
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I agreed with babydoc,
I have attempts+low scores. During my IV, they drill me with my personal statement. They were so impressed by it. Man, I am glad that they asked me that.
If you looks at the stats on NRMP. so fews YES SO FEWS get 99% tile. Dont believed everyone on the net saying 99 and put you down. NUMBERS dont lie
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Please call me by my first name on March 17 - Dr.
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| plastic_surgery
Forum Junior
Topics: 2
Posts: 135
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Eida, I share your pain and have felt the same through last few months... I know nothing is going to help nor any words of sympathy... BUT YOU WILL GET THERE....
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| new_n_lost
Politically InCorrect
Topics: 650
Posts: 6,061
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bbb wrote:
It's not just scores - applicants today had from the mid-80s and above - it's not about the 99/99/99 persons. We have a number of them that we haven't even offered interviews to.
It's about the fit in the program. That's truely what the interview is about . The problem is with the NUMBER of applicants - how to decide who to interview. It's all a crap shoot. Do programs miss out every year on a number of highly qualified candidates? Sure we do - but how do we know when we offer interviews? We don't. Yes, it sucks.
Let a person vent guys and if you are getting the panic attacks then you sould read BBB's post its very very informative.
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FORUM RULES-- Those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand. I get enough exercise just by pushing my luck --P4U World.." The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
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| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 818
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I totally understand your frustration but what I've learned about the match so far is actually the opposite... it's not all about scores as bbb truthfully said... listen to every word she wrote because that is totally true!! Try to remain positive because negativity won't get us a residency spot. Sometimes I feel like you are feeling right now but I immediately try to take those thoughts out of your mind and do something productive instead. BEEEE positive!!! Your thoughs are strong and can move mountains!! You want to move them to your advantage! Pray and be positive! It's not over until it's over! God bless and take care!
Edited by GLO MD on 12/13/07 - 09:28 PM
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Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
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| ShweHope99.9998
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 12
Posts: 2,548
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bbb I feel ur frustration, pain .
Also I feel eida's & then others try to help , tell the possibilities .
bbb , am so glad to find out my motto ... just make sure you hit the cutting edge of interview call , now .. mid 80 , get the interview .
So even at least one then , show them you're fit to the prg , shine at the interview ... eida . Go with positive mood to IV , show them ur the best, score is just the # , as bbb said even some 99er did not get interview, that I also know few recent grd .. no interview few yrs in a roll , so score is not every thing though , it is part of the game , so did the citizenship one , etc etc . But the key is get chance to sit at the table face to face , so the prg know ur the one .. if u fit .
GL
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| kity
Certified.............
Topics: 31
Posts: 1,066
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really I was wondering this issue over some time & came to conclusion what bbb said.
getting Iv is a matter of chance.. proving them you are worth for teh spot is the only thing we got in our hands.
this is a gamble for program & as well as for us applicants. after all they cant know & judge anyones potential by the application alone. so being +ve is the mantra.
GL
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NO PAIN .. NO GAIN ..
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| wolverine9
Forum Senior
Topics: 14
Posts: 186
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eida, you really need to get some perspective and weigh your options instead of coming on here and venting your frustration about the system. The system is fine...of course scores matter, that is how it is in any field in any country. Let's face it, if you were a program director, would you judge a person by USMLE scores or PS's?? About your comment on citizens, that's just how this world works...there are many brilliant people around the world who cannot even dream about the opportunity to even try to match in the US because of various circumstances....Many people aren't getting IV's, but people understand the situation instead of coming on these boards and venting their frustration....
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| eida
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 112
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WAOW! Seems like I have ruffled quite a few feathers by my heart-felt post.
Thanks BBB for your reply. As always, you provided a soothing and reasonable explanation.
I wrote that post for 2 reasons.
1.To express my feelings and the feelings of many others.
2.To state the bitter truth so that future candidates will not fall into the trap of thinking that all these extraneous factors will save them.
As for all those chastising me for venting my frustrations. I bet none of you has a clue as to how it feels to be in my situation. It's so easy to love the system when it's in your favor. Think about others for a second.
Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
And to those who appreciated my pain, THANK YOU. It means a lot to me.
I'll keep u posted.
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| Lainie
Forum Junior
Topics: 13
Posts: 50
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I deffinatelly understand your frustration, i have felt pretty frustrated myself on several times, but i believe it is unfair for the souls that are reading this post and will feel very hopeless after doing so. Here is were i disagree with you:
1. Grades are deffinatelly important and it may be the only thing they consider to give you an IV. You need to screen 800 applicants somehow!! The cutoff varies according to programs and residencies, if you are applying for surgery or radiology for example, you might need a lot more than 85 but for other specialties that should be enough. Also there are programs within specialties that are harder to get into than others.
2.If they were not going to read your PE they would not ask for it. They definatelly don't read everyone s P but they read the ones that they choose to interview. I recently interviewed and the PD seemed to know mine by heart and asked me like 5 questions about it.
3.Although it is extremely important to apply early it does not mean that all hope is lost if you don t . I know a person who applied in early October an has over 10 interviews (not a double 99er)
If you graduated more than 5 years ago it is going to hurt you no matter how well you did in school or on the exams.
I hope this helps everyone.
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| cadp
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 37
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From my experience, there is an amount of randomness in this process, and not in just one point but perhaps in all the steps. I applied late, with incomplete application, to 20 FM programs. My ECFMG certificate was issued Nov 9. The following day I sent an email to all the Program Coordinators, except for one program, which sent me a rejection already, and another program that only listed the Program Director. So, from 19 follow-up emails, 15 did not respond, 3 took the opportunity to send rejection, and one-the one with Program Director as contact person-invited me for the interview.
I went there for two days (one day in clinic and one day to speak with about 8 residents and faculty). Most of the interviewers appeared to have read my application quickly and just minutes before the interview and all seemed busy. My strongest impression is from that point on (after you have bee selected for the interview), what matters most to them (faculty, but especially residents) is the feeling they have that the candidate is a good fit, that is someone with whom they will like to work with in the next 1-2 years.
As I see it, many random things happened. I applied to this program because it was close to home, but I knew (from 3-4 years ago) they have almost only American graduates. To my surprise, the 2008 class is now 80% FMG and also the other years. The other thing was emailing with the update that my application is complete. Then it was the PD and not the coordinator being listed, which may have changed the odds a little. And the examples can continue.
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,710
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eida wrote:
WAOW! Seems like I have ruffled quite a few feathers by my heart-felt post.
Thanks BBB for your reply. As always, you provided a soothing and reasonable explanation.
I wrote that post for 2 reasons.
1.To express my feelings and the feelings of many others.
2.To state the bitter truth so that future candidates will not fall into the trap of thinking that all these extraneous factors will save them
And to those who appreciated my pain, THANK YOU. It means a lot to me.
I'll keep u posted.
Vent away! That's what a forum like this is for. That's what my last two subjects that I started were - a vent because I know that I can't email an applicant and say "you dirty rotten......how dare you stand me up on a date." I know about the weather, I know that visas are hard to find. But you still should have let me know - even if it was a call the morning of the interview (like the young woman who showed up directly from the airport because her flights were cancelled and she missed 1/2 the interview. She called from pay phones at each leg of her journey to let me know how sorry she was. And you know? She interviewed GREAT!!).
Good luck in your stressful situation
___________________
bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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