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No this is not true that u need >90 to get any residency.
As in every exam the more scores u have the better it looks on ur application. But u get residencyon basis of ur entire package-lors, us clinical experience, research, reputation of ur med school in home country, interview skills.
Also residencies differs in terms of competitiveness with respect to specialities and institutes. For ortho u possibly have to have everything in the best category while family medicine may be more relaxed. Mayo will obviously be tough to get into!
In any competition to win u need to show that u are better than the rest. As an FMG we are at a disadvantage in that we come from a system different from where we want to do residency so by default unless we are really worth the risk why should someone opt for us?
Doing well on a standarised exam taken by both AMG and FMG is one of the few ways of directly beating competitors objectively...i mean they can say ur medical education cant be compared because they dont know anything bout it, but they cant say a 94 score cant be compared to a 88 score...coz it can be and is better!!
So do try to score well...it may not be all important but it is worth the hard work....dont start ur preparation thinking that is so difficult that i cant do it....dont even think of that...just try ur level best
GL
P4a99 Moderator
Topics: 50 Posts: 2,513
05/23/08 - 07:02 AM
#3
AMG or IMG the better scores you have the better chances you have. But getting a position for residency depends on a lot of things, not just on your score.
___________________ Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
Haisook Forum Junior
Topics: 12 Posts: 74
05/23/08 - 08:18 AM
#4
Thank you for the replies.
So there are other important items... hmm.
What about my scores in my medical school in my home country? do they count? And what exactly is meant by the 'reputation'? I mean how to acquire it?
And as to the research and clinical experience. How and when can one have them?
scores in med school counts in 2 scenarios--firstly u were in the top say 10% and u have proof of that (like it is mentioned on ur MSPE) and that is good, it gets noticed ...or more unfortunately u have an attempt and then u need an explanation for that.
Reputed med school in home country is a tricky one. Let me give u my countries example, in India we dont have any ranking system to rank medical schools but it is common knowledge (probably based on facilities, patient care and on how tough it is to get though the entrance exam) that college A is the best, like AIIMS in india or Aga Khan in pakistan (this is what i have heard, am not sure!). During Interviews it depends on how much they know about your college, do they have students from that college in their program and what ur country residents in that program say bout ur college. It is very difficult to prove objectively that ur college is 'reputed'...just indirect ways
for research and clinical experience try other threads on this forum...there are many dedicated to those topics...
P4a99 Moderator
Topics: 50 Posts: 2,513
05/23/08 - 08:44 AM
#6
The one basic thing is that you need to be ECFMG certified. That is number one. Then because there are 10000s of people applying they have to set people apart. They do that according to your Step 1 score then Step 2 score (and there is a reason for that beign in that order) then passing Step 3 ...
and you have something called USCE ( US clinical experience) which can be many things: visiting electives (when you are medical student you go to the US during your last year of school and attend a rotation over there which may last 4-6 weeks (it sounds funny but yes they do it all the time ... some places its free and at other places such as Harvard it is not) ...
there is something called Observer ship (that you can do when you Graduate ... it is inferior to the Elective thing previously mentioned) ...
research ... Google for opportunities at well know institutions and have a look at websites of big universities ...
Medical school grades from outside the US ... I do not think the give a s*** ... why do you think they make us go through all these USMLE exams? ... Unless your GPA is Sky High I do not think they would even look at it...
You can do voluntary work ... work at nursing home... bla bla ....
The thing is ... graduating from Egypt or anywhere around ... when you are applying for residnecy your CV is clear pure white zero empty ... the only thing on your CV is that you graduated and passed the USMLE ... so you need to full it up with exciting things that might impress your interviewer ...
In your spare time you can work at a private clinic ... public hospital ... just anything that might be worth mentioning on your CV
I visited your blog a while ago ... its funny that I ended up talking to you through this forum ... if you want we can work on some stuff together ... if you want contact me through email
Edited by praying4a99 on 05/23/08 - 08:52 AM. Reason: terrible spelling!!!
___________________ Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
P4a99 Moderator
Topics: 50 Posts: 2,513
05/23/08 - 08:44 AM
#7
Man, mukho you are too fast for me!!!!!
___________________ Congratulations Paheli! --- Congratulations Feyza! ..... Good Luck drnaik-faraym-Gogeta-Bioguy-arlete
mukho Forum Elite
Topics: 6 Posts: 558
05/23/08 - 08:59 AM
#8
genbot Easy...
Topics: 20 Posts: 1,051
05/23/08 - 09:43 AM
#9
Scores do matter but only so much. Its the whole package that counts dear friend. ___________________ Finally got started with the interviews!
kono Forum Newbie
Topics: 2 Posts: 40
05/24/08 - 05:11 AM
#10
hi haisook yeah .....as you have been told it's the whole package that is looked at but your scores is a very important part of this package,,,,and now with huge and tough competition yes you need to score in high 90s to get a residency (and even with high 90's and it's not a guarantee for residency)...BTW high 90's is doable..just work hard and u will get wt u want.....and try to build a strong base while you are in medical school so it will help u through ur whole life....and once u finish your school go for the exams in ur internship year... GL
Haisook Forum Junior
Topics: 12 Posts: 74
05/24/08 - 05:37 AM
#11
Thanks for all your replies guys..
Now remains a point; I haven't prepared for Step 1 at all. I know I'm late, but alas I didn't have the USMLE in mind earlier. I've already read through Step2CK (KAPLAN/FA). I have 2 years remaining in med school + internship.
When should I prepare for Step 1? (And should I really take it before Step2CK?)
i suggest that you focus in your study in college in 1st place and you may use the kaplan sources besides the sources u use in each course so when u finish ur medical school u r in shape to do the usmle in ur internship year... how do u study for step 2 ck while u didnt take ur last 2 years which include (OBGYN,PED.,Surgery,IM!!!) strategy is: focus in ur college>graduate with good scores>starts ASAP in ur internship step1>step 2 ck>step2 cs>step 3 and 1st of all be optimistic work more and talk less GL
Haisook Forum Junior
Topics: 12 Posts: 74
05/24/08 - 12:57 PM
#13
Hi kono,
No, actually I've studied IM, Ped., Psychiatry along with my medical school stuff (5th year). I'll keep Surgery and OBGYN to next year.
Thanks for your advice, but I guess you would talk 'more' if you were like the bunch of us who need to know more about the USMLE.
Guys can anyone tell me what are the specialities which are easier to get irrespective of the scores. What i mean is the least preffered ones??
sigh Forum Guru
Topics: 36 Posts: 470
06/03/08 - 01:22 PM
#15
The less attractive residences for american med grads are family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and next one is probably internal medicine. If you hold a Green Card or can became a citizen you are in better situation. Recently I got some info that if you are from Middle East with no Green Card you are probably not going to get anything even with 100% on all steps...
Haisook Forum Junior
Topics: 12 Posts: 74
06/03/08 - 10:36 PM
#16
Hey sigh, I don't think it's true; one poster on my blog got 94/99/pass/84 with NO USCE, NO greencard and got a residency (don't know where though). And you'll find many ppl from Middle East getting residencies, so don't be let down!
You do need high scores (above 90) which might seem difficult but is achievable.
I an IndianIMG but working in the middleeast for purely financial purposes!! Guys do you think its going to hinder the USMLE experience in any way, I mean is your nationality considered or the place youve been working?? Also i read in the usmle website that people applying from the middle east have to follow a separate set of rules for immigration and visa. I am so confused, my exam is on 25th August. Ofcourse I plan to go back and apply from India, but will the middleeast visa stamp f--- it all up? Can anyone help please???
classymom Forum Newbie
Topics: 2 Posts: 19
06/07/08 - 12:15 PM
#18
Thanks a lot Haisook for that small piece of encouragement!! Wish you luck too!! My dday is 25th Aug. I am still pretty nervous still. God bless me!!
Haisook Forum Junior
Topics: 12 Posts: 74
06/07/08 - 12:43 PM
#19
classymom,
I don't think the visas and all those stuff have any effect in the interview. You only get a bonus if you have an American greencard. All this talk about not accepting Arabs, or Middle Easterns is relative, and I don't think they care about that as long as you got good grades and preferably some USCE + good communication skills in the interviews. Besides, India is not considered a Middle Eastern country afterall, and Indian physicians are so many and well-received in the US.
I suggest you put the thinking about the visa and such aside at present and concentrate these days for your exam. You will need to think about that when you plan on taking Step 2 CS after Step 2 CK. You will find lots of info at the corresponding forums.
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