You are hereForums / USMLE Forums / Step 2 - CS / plz help me
plz help me
Hi,
I am an IMG wanting to apply in for this year 2008. I have really big problems which I hope you will help me. I have listed those below:
1) I have got the result that I failed in Step 2 CK by 10 marks. I had thought i 'd get good marks. I couldnot believe it. I read about someone's marks got changed in their quality check. Is it possible for me to have my marks rechecked or is it a waste ot money? Will it help if I give my exams again by November end? i just gave my step 2 CS.
2) My step 1 score is also in low 80's. Can I apply in programs that ask for only step 1 score at present? Do you have list of such programs in Ped, FM,Pschy and IM?
3) I have been a good student throughout my life. Always a topper in school and college, Done researches, published articles.,presented in conferences. I just messed up USMLE as I hurried for this year.
So, is there anyone who can help me? genuine help required... thanks in advance
I am an IMG wanting to apply in for this year 2008. I have really big problems which I hope you will help me. I have listed those below:
1) I have got the result that I failed in Step 2 CK by 10 marks. I had thought i 'd get good marks. I couldnot believe it. I read about someone's marks got changed in their quality check. Is it possible for me to have my marks rechecked or is it a waste ot money? Will it help if I give my exams again by November end? i just gave my step 2 CS.
2) My step 1 score is also in low 80's. Can I apply in programs that ask for only step 1 score at present? Do you have list of such programs in Ped, FM,Pschy and IM?
3) I have been a good student throughout my life. Always a topper in school and college, Done researches, published articles.,presented in conferences. I just messed up USMLE as I hurried for this year.
So, is there anyone who can help me? genuine help required... thanks in advance
Tags
Let me answer your questions:
1. I believe there is no use of getting score recheck, even if you get it rechecked it wont be good for you for your match application because the score of 75 would never get you any interview exception being you have a great CV/CAF, 99 in other usmle exams, did a lots of research. If I were you, I would write the exam again and try and get score in high 90's. As you said that you were a good student in your class, i would suggest to retake exam and get score in 90's, I think PD's would understand that it was some bad luck or some exam day accident. Good luck for your exam. 2. Match Application with only one score wont get you many interviews, but you can still try and apply to some community hospitals for Pediatrics, FM, Psychiatry, Neurology
or
Wait for next match, get good step 2ck score and ecfmg certification done, and get US clinical exp and some research paper done, get some feel of US health system so that you are pretty familiar with the US physicians, whom you plan to work with. Doing this all, you would be strong candidate and moreover you wont have to go for a speciality you never wanted to practice. So get exam done, apply for research and Observership in a good program where you get maximum learning and you would be great. 3. As I suggested on some of my previous posts, that never rush for a exam because attempts look bad on your application. Never get stressed by the failures. Take this exam as a challenge and put all your hard work, I am sure you would do great. Best wishes. I have some suggestions on step 2 ck preparation:
Do Kaplans usmle notes thoroughly, every single line has some meaning and content for answering the board question. Then try and do as many questions as you can so that you get some vision what is the areas of medicine is stress on in the usmle exams, when you are getting usmle world score b/w 55-60, revise usmle world explanation and kaplans notes again, and take NBME test. You would get idea about you preparation and areas of weakness from the nbme and usmle world evaluation report. Work on those topics and you are ready for exam. Let me know if you have any other questions which I can answer for you. I believe some of the things I write here look pretty depressing, but this is what I learned from my friends and working in US system that its not only the score (though it the first and main screening criteria for many programs), but applicant as a whole and interview is the most imp thing for getting a spot; good medical school evaluation, very good knowledge base and research would make you a strong candidate. Keep your enthusiasm high and work for the best.