Soo I matched in IM!
With 2 interviews and 1 program to rank.
With 2 interviews and 1 program to rank.
I am going to share few things here that I experienced myself or got to know in the process from other people.
2 things I request everyone :
1. If you have talked to me personally and know where all I interviewed, please don't share it here or with anyone since this is my PSEUDO profile and not real!
1. If you have talked to me personally and know where all I interviewed, please don't share it here or with anyone since this is my PSEUDO profile and not real!
2. Please post your questions and doubts here so that everyone can benefit. If there is something that you feel is really personal, you can PM me but try to do it here.
My creds :
220/231/233. 2016 yog. Need visa. I applied to bout 160 programs this year
2.5 months obsie in private clinics
2 months obsie Univeristy hospital
5 months Externship + Research University Hospital. 3 publications
This was my second year of applying, I didn't get any interviews last year.
220/231/233. 2016 yog. Need visa. I applied to bout 160 programs this year
2.5 months obsie in private clinics
2 months obsie Univeristy hospital
5 months Externship + Research University Hospital. 3 publications
This was my second year of applying, I didn't get any interviews last year.
Here are the thing I wish I had done/done differently/ or helped me. Please take all of these with a pinch of salt. Don't take my word for it. Ask you seniors, ask people and then make decisions!
1. Step 3 :
It won't help you much to get interviews. However, if you have a long gap between CK and your application time, not having step 3 will reflect poorly on you. Same if you have any red flags in your application.
I also think a good Step 3 score helped me in getting a better rank after the interview.
It won't help you much to get interviews. However, if you have a long gap between CK and your application time, not having step 3 will reflect poorly on you. Same if you have any red flags in your application.
I also think a good Step 3 score helped me in getting a better rank after the interview.
Also, if you don't complete your step 3 before applying, then the only impact it will make is on your visa. Because however much you email programs, 95% emails go unread during match season so you emailing programs updating them for your step 3 won't matter too much for getting IVs atleast.
2. Rotations :
Make sure you do rotations in North east states if you are an IMG! Most of the interviews come from here and making contacts here will be much more helpful than doing in far off places.
I did most of my rotations in Houston and at one point someone told me that I should do the remaining in NY or NJ but i thought i was working in the largest medical center, that in itself should count and I didn't pay heed.
Make sure you do rotations in North east states if you are an IMG! Most of the interviews come from here and making contacts here will be much more helpful than doing in far off places.
I did most of my rotations in Houston and at one point someone told me that I should do the remaining in NY or NJ but i thought i was working in the largest medical center, that in itself should count and I didn't pay heed.
In both of my interviews, I was told that it looks like I want to settle in Houston or go for programs there. I think that definitely accounted for less interviews.
3. Research :
Evaluate and see before you join anywhere as to how many papers have been published in last 6 months. Don't commit yourself to research where you will not get papers. Because the papers matter the most.
Ofcourse something is better than nothing but use your something as a stepping stone to go to a better place.
Evaluate and see before you join anywhere as to how many papers have been published in last 6 months. Don't commit yourself to research where you will not get papers. Because the papers matter the most.
Ofcourse something is better than nothing but use your something as a stepping stone to go to a better place.
I think Clinical Research >>>>>>>>>> Basic Science Research. You give 6 months and get only 1-2 papers published in Basic Science Research. Plus no clinical work. If you do clinical research, you can do simultaneous obsies, make contacts with doctors as well as get publications.
4. Contacts :
So I heard contacts mattered a lot in this cycle. So contact everyone and anyone you know. Your seniors who you have never talked to , anyone and everyone you can think of. Even if 10 people ignore you, that 1 person may make or break it with getting you a great interview.
So I heard contacts mattered a lot in this cycle. So contact everyone and anyone you know. Your seniors who you have never talked to , anyone and everyone you can think of. Even if 10 people ignore you, that 1 person may make or break it with getting you a great interview.
there is another way contacts help. This is. to get you better rotations and help you build better CV even if they can't recommend you for interviews. Work really really hard on your rotations and that is the only one you get contacts.
5. Email Programs :
Email each and every program you want to apply to, starting from June itself
Your emails may be read at this time and if they are impressed with your CV, you have a chance of. passing the red flags filters.
Email each and every program you want to apply to, starting from June itself
Your emails may be read at this time and if they are impressed with your CV, you have a chance of. passing the red flags filters.
6. Interviews :
Practice with AS MANY strangers as you can! Do not keep practicing with your friends or similar peer circle because you won't be able to find many mistakes with each other. The more varied people you practice with, the more confidence you get plus the added benefit of getting different viewpoints on your answer so that you can make it the perfect answer.
Practice with AS MANY strangers as you can! Do not keep practicing with your friends or similar peer circle because you won't be able to find many mistakes with each other. The more varied people you practice with, the more confidence you get plus the added benefit of getting different viewpoints on your answer so that you can make it the perfect answer.
7. Honesty on your CV :
i was asked to elaborate so so much on my volunteerships in INDIA! And the questions seemed like they were trying to find out if i was lying.
So do not exaggerate, do not lie on your CV. Only write things that you can justify and have a great amount of knowledge about.
i was asked to elaborate so so much on my volunteerships in INDIA! And the questions seemed like they were trying to find out if i was lying.
So do not exaggerate, do not lie on your CV. Only write things that you can justify and have a great amount of knowledge about.
8. Which branch to apply :
Neuro, path and Peds are decent alternates to IM and are more easier to achieve.
Neuro, path and Peds are decent alternates to IM and are more easier to achieve.
The final thing : IF YOU SHOULD CONTINUE THE JOURNEY OR NOT :
I think nobody will tell you not to continue. Everyone will give the same answer, that do more USCE, contacts, research and step 3 .
If you have time, money and family support, by all means continue. But continue very very smartly. Do your homework, research well about any possible options and only then go ahead.
I think nobody will tell you not to continue. Everyone will give the same answer, that do more USCE, contacts, research and step 3 .
If you have time, money and family support, by all means continue. But continue very very smartly. Do your homework, research well about any possible options and only then go ahead.
I didn't think it was possible to match with only 1 program to rank but it happened. If I can, you can too.
Congratulations to everyone who matched and good luck to all those who will be applying next year!
Congratulations to everyone who matched and good luck to all those who will be applying next year!
I'll put one more post to write some miscellaneous stuff
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