03-23-2014, 11:44 AM
I am a PGY3 Pathology from India. I want to join pathology residency in US. I have read to lot of posts on how to get matched for pathology residency, what they ask in interviews and stuff like that!
I am still to complete an year of my residency in India and after that I will join in some teaching institute and simultaneously prepare for steps. I will give step 1 after my PG final exam. After that I will take ample time to brush up my clinical subjects and go ahead for CK. Then probably after 1 month of some clinical externship(again to brush up my lost clinical skills), I'll appear for CS...I am planning to complete all my steps before 2016 match. After that I'll decide whether to apply directly for 2016 match or wait for an year and try n get some US experience in pathology with hopes of getting LORs and apply for 2017 match
I just wanna share why I feel I have good chances of matching for pathology-
1. I am confident and I have my pathology degree back-home to fall back to! So I will apply only for pathology residency and won't consider applying for FM etc. It will be a targeted and precise approach. I am sure it will reflect in whatever I utter in my IVs
2. Step 1 - Might become easier for me coz of my extensive knowledge of pathology, immunology and good hold on anatomy. Still I will devote 4-5 sincere months before I appear for it.
3. Getting observerships in pathology can now become a bit easier as I am already a pathologist. I can offer much more help to a PD than a simple graduate student IMG/AMG. I can work more efficiently to deserve the LORs I desire.
4. PDs are mostly interested in your "interest" toward the subject. I have a "passion" for pathology. So much so that I am ready to pursue the same residency twice. I am sure PDs will make this distinction between interest and passion
5. By 2017 my YOG would be past by 6 years but out of these 6 years, the last 5 were spent in pathology(I think while you are in pathology IV, 5 years of pathology even if itz in India would sound better than some clinical externship in US), so I will enter the interview with a 5 year experience in pathology (AP/CP). I don't think YOG would be a big hindrance.
6. Another thing I came to know of was that the PDs ask you which books have you read for pathology. The site mentioned we should always say Robbins. Well I also checked out the books that a pathology resident in US reads. I have already read all of those books and by the end of 2015, I would have read all of them twice, may be 3-4 times by the time I am called for an interview in 2017. I think this will leave a strong impression on the PDs. I am ready to face pathology related questions too in my interviews
My shortcomings could be -
1. Step-2 CS, not becoz of English but because I am out of touch. But I am determined to make it up. My father is a physician. I'll train under him for few days.
2. Visa - Nobody can do anything about it.
3. If I don't get US LORs despite working days and nights(I have heard these things happen)
4. YOG could be a problem but I think I'll get it covered
5. I do not have any contacts in US, no first degree relatives, no US doctors.
I gave a detailed description of my USMLE plan here coz I want some genuine suggestions, some genuine criticisms and may be some US slang words (those that I can learn). You guys are far too experienced than me and may be some of your suggestions would surely increase my chances of matching! Thanks in advance! Have a good day!
P.S. I'll proceed for CS only if I get a 90+ scores in both steps, so having low scores is out of question.
I am still to complete an year of my residency in India and after that I will join in some teaching institute and simultaneously prepare for steps. I will give step 1 after my PG final exam. After that I will take ample time to brush up my clinical subjects and go ahead for CK. Then probably after 1 month of some clinical externship(again to brush up my lost clinical skills), I'll appear for CS...I am planning to complete all my steps before 2016 match. After that I'll decide whether to apply directly for 2016 match or wait for an year and try n get some US experience in pathology with hopes of getting LORs and apply for 2017 match
I just wanna share why I feel I have good chances of matching for pathology-
1. I am confident and I have my pathology degree back-home to fall back to! So I will apply only for pathology residency and won't consider applying for FM etc. It will be a targeted and precise approach. I am sure it will reflect in whatever I utter in my IVs
2. Step 1 - Might become easier for me coz of my extensive knowledge of pathology, immunology and good hold on anatomy. Still I will devote 4-5 sincere months before I appear for it.
3. Getting observerships in pathology can now become a bit easier as I am already a pathologist. I can offer much more help to a PD than a simple graduate student IMG/AMG. I can work more efficiently to deserve the LORs I desire.
4. PDs are mostly interested in your "interest" toward the subject. I have a "passion" for pathology. So much so that I am ready to pursue the same residency twice. I am sure PDs will make this distinction between interest and passion
5. By 2017 my YOG would be past by 6 years but out of these 6 years, the last 5 were spent in pathology(I think while you are in pathology IV, 5 years of pathology even if itz in India would sound better than some clinical externship in US), so I will enter the interview with a 5 year experience in pathology (AP/CP). I don't think YOG would be a big hindrance.
6. Another thing I came to know of was that the PDs ask you which books have you read for pathology. The site mentioned we should always say Robbins. Well I also checked out the books that a pathology resident in US reads. I have already read all of those books and by the end of 2015, I would have read all of them twice, may be 3-4 times by the time I am called for an interview in 2017. I think this will leave a strong impression on the PDs. I am ready to face pathology related questions too in my interviews
My shortcomings could be -
1. Step-2 CS, not becoz of English but because I am out of touch. But I am determined to make it up. My father is a physician. I'll train under him for few days.
2. Visa - Nobody can do anything about it.
3. If I don't get US LORs despite working days and nights(I have heard these things happen)
4. YOG could be a problem but I think I'll get it covered
5. I do not have any contacts in US, no first degree relatives, no US doctors.
I gave a detailed description of my USMLE plan here coz I want some genuine suggestions, some genuine criticisms and may be some US slang words (those that I can learn). You guys are far too experienced than me and may be some of your suggestions would surely increase my chances of matching! Thanks in advance! Have a good day!
P.S. I'll proceed for CS only if I get a 90+ scores in both steps, so having low scores is out of question.