Help please

Hani · #1 06-19-2010, 05:27 AM

I graduated in March 2010. I was planing to apply for internal medicine in this year's match.

I took the step 1 and it was 99. I was planing to take the step 2 ck in mid August 2010.

My step 2 cs score came back two days ago, and I found out that I have failed.

Now if I am going to take the cs again and take the ck, I won't have both scores until mid or late September, at least.

Should I still apply for the match this year? Or should I wait for next year?

Is it better if I take whatever residency this year (e.g. family medicine) and change it to IM next year? Is this possible?

If I wait for next year, can I still match in IM while I have a 1.5 year postgraduation gap and a failed cs attempt?

Thank you, please help me,

Bassel Atassi · #2 06-19-2010, 06:01 PM

Although you have less chance this year, mainly because you will not be ECFMG certified, but you WONT loose anything if you applied. If I am in your place I will apply, no more than second to third week of September.

I know that failing CS is not good in your CV, but I have seen many people who are in residency, they passed CS in 2nd attempt.

Family medicine is not easy residency to get, in the last few years experience, I did not see too many interviews offered to those who applied for FM. I would say it is close to IM

Keep in mind that you may not match this year, so do not keep gaps for next year match. Although you already graduated, but you can still fill you time with many things: electives, observership, research, residency back home....

Hani · #3 06-20-2010, 12:43 AM

Thank you so much...

Do you say that I should apply before I am certified (in September 1) or after that (in late September or October)?

Is it better if I'm fresh graduate and don't have 99 in step2 ck or if I apply next year and have 99 in step2 ck (I would have also passed the step 3)? Is being fresh more important or the step scores?

What is the best thing to fell my gap in? I don't think I can do electives any more, so is it better if I do observerships and research in the US or if I do residency at home?

Thank you Dr. Bassel, I appreciate your help...

Hani · #4 06-20-2010, 12:57 AM

How bad is that I apply for the match of 2012 while I graduated in March 2010?

amroalsaid · #5 06-20-2010, 03:15 PM

I seriously think that you still have a good chance, do not be so discouraged, look at it that way: applying one year later or even 10 years later would never change the fact that you have failed your CS however the fresher you are out of med school is a plus that you lose if you apply next year... and getting observerships is really not that easy at all and to many programs useless... so the year that you are going to waste for improving your CV is only going to add like 2 observerships or so... you can apply this year and work hard on your CK and worst case scenario if you don't match you'll still apply next year with much experience in the interviewing and the match process....
good luck

Bassel Atassi · #6 06-20-2010, 07:16 PM

I agree..
Apply this year, not later than second to third week of September, being certified is better as you know. You should try the best for the 99 that you mentioned.

If no match this year. Apply next year with step 3, US experience and try for research. And as Amroalsaid mentioned you will have experience in the interviews.

Good luck and I wish you the best...