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hello people,
I am an img.. n we all make mistakes.. i have a gap of a year and a half on my CV..
well.. i was preparing hard of steps coz i did not want to compromise on scores..
got a 99 on both steps.. have done 2 months electives and currently working as a research fellow in a clinical trial in a great hospital.
do u think my creds will cover up for the gap.. or i need to make up a solid good reason..
plzzz help..!! it's my 2nd attempt (applied very late last year) at match and definitely the last 1
i dont want to leave any stone unturned..!!
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Don't worry about it. I don't really care about gaps. If someone asks you can honestly state that you took time off to study as the exams are very important.
I care about if you are a "low risk" candidate, someone who is smart and will work well with my other residents. You have good scores. I assume you did not make it last year because your application was not complete. Look at programs to see where you now fit. Aim for community programs in IM and lower tier university programs. Make sure that you fit the programs criteria and you will get interviews.
You will need to practice for interviews, remember only 40-50% of IMGs who interview will match in any specialty. The higher the step 1 and 2 scores combined with a high number of interviews increases the probability of matching.
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to xtopher and any other kind soul
Am confused about how to apply depending on the program criteria.if you meet some of the criteria but no all,is it appropriate to apply?
Pls do you know the order of importance of the criteria to the PDs?such as YOG,SCORES,USCE,PS.
I also want to know if the order varies from specialties?
thanks.
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no don't bother to apply because you would most likely to be screened out and hence waste your money. programs are to maintain themselves with whatever criteria they have set to avoid complaints and such post residency, say that some residents are found out not to have the criteria and such
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such that they may say score of about 85 and you apply with a score of 79. you would be screened out in the first place. if however you would be taken in, and the other residents happen to find out that you did not score above 85, that would question the program and their criterias
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i am sure there are many programs with no criteria other then passing usmle around to apply for
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@folake
Scores (Step 1 then 2), attempts on CS, USCE, YOG, distant last PS.
Ideally scores over 230 on step 1 and 2, pass CS first attempt, USCE - rotations as a student, YOG within 5 years, PS written in English.
Very few have perfect credentials.
Criteria are there to decrease the number of apps from 5000 to a program to a few hundred for interviews. Criteria are not set in stone. Only about 40-50% of those who interview match. Not everyone gets an interview. Only around 30% of people who apply match. The match is very competitive even for candidates with good scores.
If you have low scores and attempts on the CS it will be hard to match in any field no matter what else you have done. Unless you have perfect credentials, you have to be realistic and have a good backup plan.
Someone else on the forum said that if you have opportunities at home and your scores are not good, stay home. Sage advice.
