Off-Cycle students and the match

[wacky]

Hey guys,

I have been desperatly searching for a concrete answer for this question.
I called gardener and they where unsure about these questions:

If one attends Saba in Jan. are considered an off-cycle student when it comes to getting into a resdency; I know as a may studnet you are off-cycle?
Couple of my good friends will be attending Saba in Sept, however I can't attend until Jan.; would I be able to match on the same date as them considering I graduate 4 months after them?
Would I have to do back-to-back clinical rotations in order to match with them(sept. grad.) ?

And on a side note, I have heard from a friend who is in his third semster at Saba, that from Sept onwards saba will be one semster shorter, is this a true?

Any help would be much appriecated

[bhs2a]

From what I have read on here before it is possible for you match the same year as them if you get clinicals back to back but it can be difficult to get all your clinicals done back to back.

What semester did you hear they were going to drop? The USMLE review one - that is the fifth semster right?

[wacky]

From what I have read on here before it is possible for you match the same year as them if you get clinicals back to back but it can be difficult to get all your clinicals done back to back.

What semester did you hear they were going to drop? The USMLE review one - that is the fifth semster right?

I believe so, however not sure, since Gardner still maintains that there will be 5 semsters come sept.

[amyames]

I believe so, however not sure, since Gardner still maintains that there will be 5 semsters come sept.


I sure hope they don't eliminate the Kaplan prep for that would really suck. One of the reasons I picked Saba was for the prep in 5th semester.

Perhaps they are just revamping their semesters come Sept, and not eliminating them?

[bhs2a]

Yeah I wanted the kaplan prep too. So I hope this gets answered before I make my final decisions. Although I don't think that would ultimately change my mind.

[wacky]

I sure hope they don't eliminate the Kaplan prep for that would really suck. One of the reasons I picked Saba was for the prep in 5th semester.

Perhaps they are just revamping their semesters come Sept, and not eliminating them?


Sorry, thats what I meant, the person told me they where going to compress the semsters.
My bad.

[wacky]

From what I have read on here before it is possible for you match the same year as them if you get clinicals back to back but it can be difficult to get all your clinicals done back to back.

What semester did you hear they were going to drop? The USMLE review one - that is the fifth semster right?

I have read the same thing as well, however, is there anyone who knows for sure what one has to do in order to for a Jan. student to match with a Sept. one?

[bhs2a]

So if they are going to compress the semesters, what exactly does that mean? less time on island? more classes at one time? longer semesters? more time while on breaks?

I know I have a million questions.
Thanks for the replies

[rdecastro]

Hey guys,

I have been desperatly searching for a concrete answer for this question.
I called gardener and they where unsure about these questions:

If one attends Saba in Jan. are considered an off-cycle student when it comes to getting into a resdency; I know as a may studnet you are off-cycle?
Couple of my good friends will be attending Saba in Sept, however I can't attend until Jan.; would I be able to match on the same date as them considering I graduate 4 months after them?
Would I have to do back-to-back clinical rotations in order to match with them(sept. grad.) ?

And on a side note, I have heard from a friend who is in his third semster at Saba, that from Sept onwards saba will be one semster shorter, is this a true?

Any help would be much appriecated

No, Saba will NOT be one semester shorter. They (admin) are thinking of MOVING 5th semester to a location in the states, to teach intro to clinical medicine, and the kaplan review. There are several problems that have to be addresed before this happens, including re-arranging the curicculum, finding a location in the states, getting instructors, etc.

While going to the states appeals to me, as an engineer I have to stop and ask myself why are we trying to fix something thats not broken. The results Saba is getting now are pretty good, and change should be approached carefully if it might make things worse.

As far as being 'off cycle', it's not a matter of being off cycle, its more a matter of what year you match. You can match in the 4th year after you start if you hurry, or the 5th.

[sabaspouse2006]

That is our understanding too. That 5th semester would simply be held in the US instead of on Saba. It would mean only 16 months on the island, 4 months in the US for 5th and then into clinicals. I think it is supposed to address some of the campus space issues and some island housing issues. That's all.

They are still working on the logistics. It doesn't change the curriculum. Apply with confidence.

R/

[wacky]

No, Saba will NOT be one semester shorter. They (admin) are thinking of MOVING 5th semester to a location in the states, to teach intro to clinical medicine, and the kaplan review. There are several problems that have to be addresed before this happens, including re-arranging the curicculum, finding a location in the states, getting instructors, etc.

While going to the states appeals to me, as an engineer I have to stop and ask myself why are we trying to fix something thats not broken. The results Saba is getting now are pretty good, and change should be approached carefully if it might make things worse.

As far as being 'off cycle', it's not a matter of being off cycle, its more a matter of what year you match. You can match in the 4th year after you start if you hurry, or the 5th.

Could you pls elaborate on the part where you can match in 4th year if you hurry.

I aplogize its just i want to get a clear picture in this respect.

[rdecastro]

OK, most of this is based on what Sandy, from the Gardner office, told us a week or two ago. I may have some of the points wrong but this tracks pretty well with other information I've seen but any errors are mine.

After you have finished the 20 months of basic sciences (5 semesters), you need to take the USMLE step 1 test. You also need to complete 72 weeks (minimum) of clinical rotations, in a variety of specialties - core and elective.

Graduation is in May, and rotations start on 1 July every year. You need to get ECFMG certification between the two.

So, you calculate the date you finish basic sciences, figure out how much time you need to study to take step 1 (most people take 2 months or so) then you start your clinical core rotations.

Note: If you fail your USMLE you will be allowed to finish the rotation you're in, but will NOT be allowed to start any others until you take the exam again and pass it - this is at least a 6 week process between scheduling the exam and getting the results. For some reason USMLE cannot just tell you the score when you finish the test, they have to mail it to you.

So, with your calculated basic sciences date, and graduation around (say) 25 May, you need to find 72 weeks for your clinicals . If you don't take any time off (for vacations, etc) and don't take too much time for interviews for your residency (which happens in Nov, Jan and Feb usually) you can get your 72 weeks in. (I'm working on a Gantt chart for this, using Microsoft Project).

There are some other issues that factor into this: Can you get your rotations at the same facility or nearby? If you have to travel a lot you may not be able to (say) end one rotation on Friday at one location and start on Monday at another. If you need to (say) take a week off, thats a week you're NOT in, and it affects your ability to graduate in May and be qualified with an ECFMG letter, etc. to start a residency on 1 July.

The main issue is NOT failing USMLE step 1, and NOT taking too long to study for it. It would be good to get a copy of the Kaplan review books (a full set) and Q-bank questions and do questions EVERY day - 10-20 a day the first year, working up to 50 a day (even if you do them over and over) by 5th semester. Read and understand WHY a particular answer is the right one, not just what the answer is. This, combined with the Kaplan
review course should be good prep for the USMLE but the key is to start early.

[Sumitel3]

The main issue is NOT failing USMLE step 1, and NOT taking too long to study for it. It would be good to get a copy of the Kaplan review books (a full set) and Q-bank questions and do questions EVERY day - 10-20 a day the first year, working up to 50 a day (even if you do them over and over) by 5th semester. Read and understand WHY a particular answer is the right one, not just what the answer is. This, combined with the Kaplan
review course should be good prep for the USMLE but the key is to start early.

Are 5th year students on the island campus usually willing to "pass on" their Kaplan USMLE Step 1 review books and Q-bank questions?


Best regards,
S

[sheikh1]

I worry about residency......when I get there. Because they are so many mountains to climb before I get there.

[rdecastro]

Are 5th year students on the island campus usually willing to "pass on" their Kaplan USMLE Step 1 review books and Q-bank questions?


Best regards,
S

Yes. I purchased a complete new set from a 5th (Semester) who got them in Kaplan.

[jameslynton]

Are 5th - students on the island campus usually willing to "pass on" their Kaplan USMLE Step 1 review books and Q-bank questions?
S
Check out the step forums and links and downloads there. Once you are pass the step 1, you don't care - it is on to the next test/exams .... People even sell their hard drives and notes once they pass. The higher the score the more you pay!!!! This goes for main land students also. Friend of mine paid $2,000 for notes at Medical College of Ga for notes from senior student who passed with very high score in 1978. She turned around and sold them for $3,000 after she passed with a very high score. However would advise you ready Harry Potter #5 - there are people out there selling doxey dropping as a brain/memory fixes for the step one test. Stay with the tried and true, Dr Goljan notes (free download), Tommy HY (free download), taking the NBxx exams before step one and Meg's notes (free download), Kaplin book and First Aid books and Dr G's audios. By the way do you know how to get to Carnegie Hall??? Practice, practice, practice....old joke from my music teacher. Still true after all these years...

[wacky]

:) OK, most of this is based on what Sandy, from the Gardner office, told us a week or two ago. I may have some of the points wrong but this tracks pretty well with other information I've seen but any errors are mine.

After you have finished the 20 months of basic sciences (5 semesters), you need to take the USMLE step 1 test. You also need to complete 72 weeks (minimum) of clinical rotations, in a variety of specialties - core and elective.

Graduation is in May, and rotations start on 1 July every year. You need to get ECFMG certification between the two.

So, you calculate the date you finish basic sciences, figure out how much time you need to study to take step 1 (most people take 2 months or so) then you start your clinical core rotations.

Note: If you fail your USMLE you will be allowed to finish the rotation you're in, but will NOT be allowed to start any others until you take the exam again and pass it - this is at least a 6 week process between scheduling the exam and getting the results. For some reason USMLE cannot just tell you the score when you finish the test, they have to mail it to you.

So, with your calculated basic sciences date, and graduation around (say) 25 May, you need to find 72 weeks for your clinicals. If you don't take any time off (for vacations, etc) and don't take too much time for interviews for your residency (which happens in Nov, Jan and Feb usually) you can get your 72 weeks in. (I'm working on a Gantt chart for this, using Microsoft Project).

There are some other issues that factor into this: Can you get your rotations at the same facility or nearby? If you have to travel a lot you may not be able to (say) end one rotation on Friday at one location and start on Monday at another. If you need to (say) take a week off, thats a week you're NOT in, and it affects your ability to graduate in May and be qualified with an ECFMG letter, etc. to start a residency on 1 July.

The main issue is NOT failing USMLE step 1, and NOT taking too long to study for it. It would be good to get a copy of the Kaplan review books (a full set) and Q-bank questions and do questions EVERY day - 10-20 a day the first year, working up to 50 a day (even if you do them over and over) by 5th semester. Read and understand WHY a particular answer is the right one, not just what the answer is. This, combined with the Kaplan
review course should be good prep for the USMLE but the key is to start early.

Thx for the info...helped out alot