paheli
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Hi.
I request those who matched/prematched this year to please contribute a little time to write down something concerning the entire match process and experience, esp pertaining to Pediatrics. While there's tons of useful info over at Match Support about applying etc, there's very little about Peds per se. Most info was regarding Gen Residency and IM/FP. And, out Peds forum was a little sleepy.
Please do leave us some guidelines on how to go about it this next Match, so that we are as successful as you have been.
Thanks a lot. Good luck with intern year! 
Edited by praying4a99 on 05/02/08 - 06:54 AM
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| angel^Doctor
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you saved me the effort! thanks paheli
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| paheli
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You into Peds too, angel?
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| angel^Doctor
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well i have 1 one more year to think before graduation but sure it's my top choice so far
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| paheli
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Well, that's great. You have time to make yourself a better candidate.
It's funny that you and I are conversing here by ourselves. Hope someone who's matched chips in and makes this thread credible! 
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| angel^Doctor
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| dr_ayyad
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count me in ...........peds 4ever
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| paheli
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Ok, it's 3 of us here. Now, let's work at keeping this thread alive, people!
I'll start with a qn for those who're on the other side, erm, who've matched.  Do you guys have any Peds centric common qns that were asked to you during IVs? Anything to share, please?
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| dr_ayyad
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a girl from my home country matched peds :
scores 96/97
no USCE
2006 grad
1 year ped experience home
needs visa
uni of iowa
another girl
99/99
no usce
needs visa
2006 grad
uni of iowa
a guy
2005 grad
2 year ped exp home
90/94
2nd ATTEMPT CS
MATCHED AT HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER
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| mahaatma
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I matched at Uni of Oklahoma, oklahoma city.
2003 grad
GC
9 month observership in IM
Research work in IM
90/90/CS 1st attempt
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| mukho
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hi guys,
peds has indeed been a bit slow this yr but i think lots of ppl have done really amazing stuff, so go for it!
at the risk of repeating myself, let me pen down somethings i noticed ( coz am sure i must have mentioned the following stuff somewhere but still...)
Firstly its a long process, even for the most focussed and supported a year is minimum...3-4 exams, miles of papers work, travel abroad if ur outside US, interviews...it isnt quick or simple...however it can be, with some luck and the right attitude, a lot of fun. So make up ur mind first, that u will dedicate this time and effort.
Secondly why peds...i was already a pediatrician and my aim was to get speaciality training beyond general peds...and doing a repeat resdiency was fine by me so peds was the obvious choice...for me US was a academic desicion not a lifestyle issue, so i applied to only peds...mostly only to programs i could visualise myself in for nxt 3 yrs
Score well...it, of course, is important, not everything but still important....even step3, if u do take it before Rank order list gets finalised, a good score always helps
Application-go thru it over and over again....ask seniors to share their's with u...presentation and content both are important...no spelling mistakes...think up of all good u ever did and make sure it gets mentioned...in peds, child advocay, NGO experience, public health voluntary work all count...when describing rotations, describe the NICU/PICU...give them an idea of where u got trained ...there seems like the risk of sounding pompous, but better that than being unnoticed...of course tone down the language ..make it sound objective
Statement of purpose--every word gets read...my take on this is , be honest...i mean most people who want to do peds are usually driven by some affection for children...money and stability are there but then they are there in many jobs which we did not chose, we chose this... so go deep into ur own psyche and find out why u did...then write it down, if any of u have kids do mention how that affects u as a prospective pediatrician...
USCE---if any doubts how important this is, let me tell u...its very very very important....contact everyone u know...contact ur country people, distant contacts and arbit names...anything, but get that experience....for peds, i got the feeling getting into Intensive care observerships was easier than the floor. When doing it get more than just academic experience ..try to get a feel of stuff that is the crux of US health system.. medicaid, foster care, social workers...whose job is what and how it gets done...what are the current issues...get a feel of medical problems that maybe u didnt see in ur country incase ur not from US...sickle cell, cystic fibrosis in my case....all this makes u more confident to discuss what ur experience was like in observerships at the Interviews
LORS--work during observerships, give smthing for consultants to put down in ur LOR when they write u one...only thing worse than not having US LORs is having a lack lustre one
IVs- peds questions i got asked were mostly pertaining to my residency in India; those that i remember specifically from peds were---a case where u were dissapointed with urself; case that taught u something profound bout medicine; why peds---(and coz u will end up saying u love kids at some point of the conversation , nxt ques will be how do u deal with loss of life of such kids); what aspect do dislike about peds; any subspeciality choice....also keep ur questions ready...more than 50% of interviews are based on what u have to ask them
Correspondence--starting from when u start contact with programs, whether thru emails, phone calls, interviews or second visits...how u carry urself matters...besides being polite be intelligent and frank...peds ppl are in general nice and friendly...the parties are very relaxed...all u have to do is actually relax and have some fun...enjoy the travelling , the exploring and it will show
Traveling--i had relatives in US and so it was much easier for me than it will be many ppl who go there alone or based on friends...well internet is ur friend, philosopher and guide...refer to it obsessively...i am a bit of a control freak, but even o/w i would chart out all details of my travel before leaving for an interview...the flight, how to get from airport to hotel, which hotel, hotel to IV site, how back to airport...food...everything...googlemaps are great for directions, yahootrips/expedia/motel6/supershuttle...all good travel sites...when u get a call and if they provide a hotel, book as soon as possible...carry eatables with u, granola bars, cereals and hot chocolate sachets kept me alive for extended periods of time....i always traveled with all my luggage as hand luggage, but then thats just neurotic me!
Well, hope some of this helps...
All the very best....world cant have enuff pediatricians
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| angel^Doctor
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Thank you so much mukho! amazing post
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| paheli
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Awesome, mukho! I'm so impressed with the ton of practically useful stuff up there, that I find myself wordless!
How would you rate the competition in general? It prolly wasn't very worrysome for you, due to your additional Peds degree, and your scores. But, how would it be if you were to see it from the shoes of someone who's going to do their first Residency i.e. without years of Peds experience?
Thank you.
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| mukho
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well...worrisome is an understatement...i received rejection from 34 places remember! I wasnt even eligible to apply in scores of programs because either i wasnt a fresh grad (and the MD doesnt count btw) or i didnt have hand on experience or i didnt have long enuff observership...whatever happened, was i think the result of my parents good deeds (cannot be mine i'm afraid!)...every possible alternate was possible ...let me state some general examples...
i have a friend 99/99/pass with a MD peds (same batch as me in fact), applied a bit late, had 5 or so IVs...didnt match
i also know one old grad (even more than me)...MD from home country, 88/86/pass...3 IVs...matched
98/99/pass/80...fresh grad...did MPH from US, no USCE...applied to both IM &Peds...26 IVs...did all...matched at #2
86/88/pass...old grad...DCH from India...4 IVs...matched
all of these and many more illustrate what after much hrs of contemplation we all have decided...Peds isnt a fall back anymore...but it remains very possible...upto the getting of interviews, scores, application etc matters...from there onwards...its more ur personality and maybe to an extend on ur english than anything else
So if u like peds go for it...gl
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| P4a99
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Thanks a lot Mukho
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| paheli
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At least, that 88/86 applicant is encouraging. Congrats to her/him.
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| cargue2007
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First of all, congrats Mukho for your success on the Match. I hope you have a great residency!
Now regarding my application for the match:
2004 IMG Grad from latin america
Need visa, will be going on J1
Step 1:99 July 2006
Step 2CK 99 July 2007
Step 2 CS pass Aug 2007
3 mo observership in US
6 mo research in home country (though it wasn't my own, it got me a nice LOR)
3 US LOR, 1 LOR from peds chair from my med school
Applied to 54 prog, Peds only
No prior residency, worked as a general physician for a couple of years.
Received 13 interviews (in the order that they arrived: Georgetown,St John Detroit, Cook County chicago, Maimonides, Albert Einstein philly, UF Gainesville, SUNY Downstate, Cincinnati, Miami Children, Penn State Hershey, Wayne State, Children National DC, Jackson Memorial. Received 2 more in early to mid december, with only 1 or 2 available dates (which probably means I was their backup UAB and El paso)
Received about 20-25 rejects. The rest didn't even bother lol
Attended 11 IV, Prematched at Wayne State
Have to agree with what mukho posted. I'll try to add something else:
Scores are REALLY IMPORTANT. Try to aim for a high grade. Scores might not get you a residency if you blow your IV, but they sure will get you some interviews. I forfeited my 1st app for step 1 because I didn't felt ready for it, and paid the exam fee again. Looking back, I couldn't have made a better decision.
Also very important is USCE. Try to get it in a place you plan to apply in the future. It will make it easier for you to get an interview there later. It can make up for low scores, even. The more prolonged your USCE, the better.
Apply early. This can make a BIG difference. And try to apply being ECMFG certified. If you can apply early to mid september, you'll maximize your chance for interviews.
Try to have a very decent spoken english. This is a personal impression of mine, but a lot of people interviewing out there spoke really fluent English. If you think your english is not fluent enough, try to get it in its best shape before your interview season.
For all the spanish speakers out there, this is VERY nice added perk that you have. Since the hispanic population in USA is quite big, your language skills will be useful and the PDs know it. Then again, this differs from program to program.
Regarding the interview itself, I believe they are mostly low key and very relaxed. I sincerely have no clear idea how do they screen applicants in the IV lol. Try to be yourself (but show enthusiasm, confidence and a little humor). Been just a tad goofy served me in some IVs. Be polite to everyone, even your fellows interviewees.
In the end, the IV is a big part of the process. There is always candidates that have better grades/CV/etc than you. A lot of people might look good on paper, but you have to show your uniqueness and sell yourself. Try to relax, you do get better interviewing with time.
Well that's my 2 cents. Good luck to all future pediatricians out there!
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| angel^Doctor
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thanks a lot cargue2007
what ur advice to students to optimize their chances of getting into a good residency program. is research for peds worth it?
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| paheli
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Thanks very much, cargue. Wow, 13 IVs! That's great. Also thanks for the IV tips.
Guys, I have a more gen. application qn for you please. How did you guys choose which progs to apply to? Also, is there any way where you can share negative stuff about progs you know about i.e. the so-called 'malignant' progs, without your getting in to trouble? How do you spot such progs? What are the signs that should trigger our alarm bells when you notice them while IV-ing or even via email/telephone?
Thanks a lot. This is invaluable stuff.
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| paheli
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Also, could some of the folks withOUT 99s please post your experience with the Match. No offence to mukho or cargue, I admire you guys immensely. But, I'd really like someone to tell me that Yes, they've done it without 99s.
This year, ~ 42% of non-US citizen IMGs matched succcessfully. That's not such a good number. I wish people would post who were more 'average' .
Thank you.
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| cargue2007
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Ok, this is my point of view from the questions asked:
angel: I did not have any Peds research experience. My research experience was in adult ID. If you're still in med school, what I would advice is the following:
Start studying early for your exams. It took me a good 3 years to clear the 3 of them, and some places wouldn't accept my application due to my grad date. Of course, you still have a lot of options (there are about 200 peds program out there) but if you wanna take your pick, apply within 2 years of graduating.
Try to do good in the exams. You don't have to get 99, but if you score above 90 you are in good shape. It is really doable. I wasn't really top of my med school class or anything like it (actually was more like average-lower tier of my class).
Account for your time since you graduated. Try to get like a nominal or half time job that allows you to show that you've been practicing medicine and just not studying. Some programs like research better, some that you've been practicing medicine continuosly. Try to get into some research or get something published (I didn't had any publications).
On a personal note, if you can afford Kaplan courses (for what you need to be obscenely rich), I've heard from a couple of friends who did score well, and the prep time is shorter than if you do it yourself. This of course needs to be carefully thought, because you're gonna be spending a LOT of money taking the exams, doing USCE, applying and interviewing.
Peds I believe in general is less competitive than IM. Problem is some people apply to other specialties and use Peds as a second choice, so this might make it somewhat tougher. But with a good profile, you do stand a fairly good chance to match.
Paheli: There are several comercial lists or even free lists of what programs are IMG friendly. This should be your main objective. Apply to programs where IMG apply (obviously programs that IV IMG or have IMG residents come first). Unless you have the CASL, Cali programs are left out. Main states that have IMG friendly programs are NY, NJ, TX, FL, IL, MI, PA. There many other isolated programs as well. Look into their webpages. Nobody is gonna tell we do not IV IMG. Try to see whether you see IMG among the residents, or if you heard from somebody who IV or matched there. I made a preliminary list, and compared it with a list which I bought from a website, and then refined it with each program criteria for applicants. I emailed and phoned a lot of programs during July and August to find out this.
About finding which programs are malignant, well there are several approaches:
Direct information from a friend/grad from your school or country who is a housestaff in the program.
During the IV, if they do not give you alone time with the residents (not the chief residents only), this is a major red flag. Talk to the INTERNS, they'll tell what your life is gonna be like.
Get some info about the PD. If you don't get enthusiast comments from the residents, something might not be good. Get a feeling of the PD during the IV. Does the PD seem concerned with the residents, or are they a bit on their own?.
I also read some program comments on www.scutwork.com, but several reviews are outdated. Don't rely to heavily on this.
If there are several IMGs in the program, this doesn't imply it is friendly. If there are no US grads in the program, there might be a reason behind it. Is it because of the city, the expenses, the quality of the program or the workload/work environment?
Some programs take very good care of their applicants (nice program coordinator, schedule well managed, several interviewers, face time with PD, lunch with the residents, nice tour of the hospital, even sometimes free hotel stay and dinner with the residents the night before). The way I see it, if someone takes good care of their applicants they are more likely to take good care of their residents.
On the other side, I agree that 42% percent of succcess matching is not a great number, but this does not take into account the amount of people who accept out of match positions (which are almost fully IMGs).
This is my point of view. Would love to hear some comments from other people. Unfortunately, sometimes we IMGs tend to see each other as competition, and this causes that information is not always shared among us. Sadly, this is sometimes reflected during interviews (i had a couple of funny situations regarding this last point during IV seasons).
Anyway, GL to everyone for the upcoming Match. Sincerely!
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| P4a99
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Thanks a lot Cargue.
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| flintstones
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I am a graduate of 1999. I did one year of house job in Neonatology and 2 years of private practice in my home country. Since 2002,I was a stay at home wife and mom as family gained precedence over career and it was never a good time to take the exams. In june 2005 I just started as I had to start somewhere.
I did not have a good network of friends or any college seniors who could guide me.But the turning point in my preparation was going to a medical school library where I met other people preparing fro USMLE EXAMS and took full advantage of it. My scores are 93/99/91/cs pass all in first attempts.Having a compatible study partner makes a lot of difference.
For people interested in Pediatrics, any kind of pediatric experience is a must..The applicants are two kinds: Fresh young graduates , or pediatricians with completed post graduate training in their own country.For in between candidates like me, US clinical experience in any pediatrics sub speciality adds tremendous value.
As Mukho said,ICU observership comes easy than floors. I did NICU observership in two places and got letters but I waived my right,so I don't know what was written in those letters. My best advice is don't leave any gaps in your resume. Even though I had decent scores ,Green card and US experience,my application was rejected by so many programs due to the 5 year gap. Some programs had asked me to explain the gap after seeing my application, if they found the explanaton unsatisfactory did not give me an invite.
I had 16 interviews 8 university and 8 community programs,matched with University program in Virginia.
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| paheli
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Hi again, everyone. Does anyone have any info about Fellowship opportunities in Peds? How competitive are they? What's the procedure to apply, or is it too early to ask y'all?
Thanks.
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Prepare as if you're the worst, Perform as if you're the best! As you dream, so you manifest. So, DREAM BIG!! When you face hardship, remember, God never gives you more than you can handle. Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
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| P4a99
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Man, I wish this was a FM thread 
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