So what about a non-competitive residency?

[Mike77]

Well I understand that you might be at a bit of a disadvantage with being an IMG. However, I was told that for a relatively easy residency, this is not the case. I am seriusly considering psychiatry, pediatrics, neurology, and maybe even family. I know neurology is fairly tough, but assuming that I get a good-average USMLE score, will I still have problems?

I know this is a tough question to answer, but i'd love to hear some opinions. Thanks again.

[KingMo]

Depends on where you're applying.

[Mike77]

Depends on where you're applying.

My apologies, i'm completely fine with the US. The res that I am most likely going for is psychiatry, which I am told is fairly easy to score a spot even with a sub-par USMLE score.

[KingMo]

Ya, depends on where you're applying...

So now, to elaborate. I didn't mean the U.S. vs. Canada. I actually assumed U.S. But the institution has to be considered...

Mass General is waaaay harder than out-in-the-ole shed program in backtown Idaho. Even if it is FM or psych. So you gotta be wise about where you apply, not just what to apply into, and how realistic your chances are in matching to that institution's program.

[sxamei]

Just wondering, generally speaking, is getting into a Cali residency extremely difficult even if you have a pretty decent USMLE score?

[Mike77]

Ya, depends on where you're applying...

So now, to elaborate. I didn't mean the U.S. vs. Canada. I actually assumed U.S. But the institution has to be considered...

Mass General is waaaay harder than out-in-the-ole shed program in backtown Idaho. Even if it is FM or psych. So you gotta be wise about where you apply, not just what to apply into, and how realistic your chances are in matching to that institution's program.

I figured that the res program's were all somewhat similar in competitiveness, with some a bit harder then others. I really didn't know that there was a huge amount of variability in that. So assuming that i'm going to a relatively easy one, there wouldn't be any major problems?

[covarubious]

i am not looking forward to this visa thing but residency should be cool! anybody know good spots in Chicago?

I figured that the res program's were all somewhat similar in competitiveness, with some a bit harder then others. I really didn't know that there was a huge amount of variability in that. So assuming that i'm going to a relatively easy one, there wouldn't be any major problems?

[KingMo]

California... the fact is, no one from Saba (that I know of) has ever matched in Cali. I guess either we don't try or they don't want us...prob a combination of the two. Reason being is that there is a ton of paperwork and hoops of fire to jump through to match there. I hear that is changing soon, then again that's what they've always been saying.

Mike77... yes there is TREMENDOUS variability amongst the institutions. Take internal medicine for instance. It's primary care. Great. A community program would have relatively low competitiveness (combination of people not wanting to go to a no-name community program and the lack of a major-league reputation from these institutions yields lower competition).

But consider a big-name university program like the Mayo Clinic...for IM, you should be definitely over 90% USMLE, even 95% for a facility like that. Darkmansaad posted about the current hospital where he's rotating (one of the east coast ones). He said that most of the IM residents scored over 95% there...I would call that a very competitive program.

See what I mean...you have to research research research and choose wisely where to apply.

[Margie]

I grew up in chicago--and my uncle teaches at Stritch School of Medicine, and I toured the hospital there (Loyola) and they have quite a few residency programs---gorgeous hospital too...but Im assuming its pretty competitve (unless you are an MD FROM stritch) but ya can always try...Rush might have some good ones as well.

[KingMo]

I grew up in chicago--and my uncle teaches at Stritch School of Medicine, and I toured the hospital there (Loyola) and they have quite a few residency programs---gorgeous hospital too...but Im assuming its pretty competitve (unless you are an MD FROM stritch) but ya can always try...Rush might have some good ones as well.

There are 6 (yes, six) medical schools just in the city of Chicago. And then there's a whole bunch of hospitals that have their own residency programs. So there is a whole ton of residency programs to go around. Then again, there's also a million people trying to get those programs. And some are ultra-competitive (UChicago, Northwestern, Cook County Hospital come to mind).

You should probably focus on medical school first and worry about your residency placement later. http://www.valuemd.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[rokshana]

just take the MCAT already, Mike!!

[darkmansaad]

former chelsea coach jose mourinho said it best describing chelsea's loss on penalties in the champions league final = "the entire season is a failure. viewing it any other way is the attitude of a loser"

im not calling anyone a loser, but if ur dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on your education, murdering yourself by studying books day in and day out and possibly risking your life drinking the saba cistern water you should expect nothing out of yourself but to compete for competitive residencies. you may not get them but throwing yourself into undesired programs (which are undesired for very good reasons) because you dont expect to match is no way to go through life. sorry for preaching, but i would like all saba grads to rank well, thats how our school and us by proxy get better reputationss and will be taken seriously and not as generic IMG herbs.

dipset

[covarubious]

a good friend on mine is graduating med school friday and i am hoping to be there for it. my first time in the windy city. he has only possitive things to say, cept for the south side lol

I grew up in chicago--and my uncle teaches at Stritch School of Medicine, and I toured the hospital there (Loyola) and they have quite a few residency programs---gorgeous hospital too...but Im assuming its pretty competitve (unless you are an MD FROM stritch) but ya can always try...Rush might have some good ones as well.

[Mike77]

former chelsea coach jose mourinho said it best describing chelsea's loss on penalties in the champions league final = "the entire season is a failure. viewing it any other way is the attitude of a loser"

im not calling anyone a loser, but if ur dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on your education, murdering yourself by studying books day in and day out and possibly risking your life drinking the saba cistern water you should expect nothing out of yourself but to compete for competitive residencies. you may not get them but throwing yourself into undesired programs (which are undesired for very good reasons) because you dont expect to match is no way to go through life. sorry for preaching, but i would like all saba grads to rank well, thats how our school and us by proxy get better reputationss and will be taken seriously and not as generic IMG herbs.

dipset

Regarding the chelsea quote, maybe lines like that are why he got canned the day after the game. Also, is the captain, who's the main reason Chelsea made it so far, also a loser for missing his shot? I know where you're coming from, and am amazed anyone in North America watches premier footbal (i'm in scotland right now).

Now I should clarify one thing, I am a very competitive person at nature (this is good when you're applying to med school, bad when one of your friend says 'hey, i bet you can't jump over this!') and will work my absolute hardest to get the best score possible. I was asking because my career goals are not in the most competitive residencies, so I am weighing out wether it was worth defering entry to apply to other US/Canadian schools. Even after I got accepted to Saba, I still worked very hard in my last week of school because I didn't want to do bad even though it really didn't matter. I should have clarrifed that before. I am not trying to settle, but I am just wondering how much of a defecit it would be.

[rokshana]

I was asking because my career goals are not in the most competitive residencies, so I am weighing out wether it was worth defering entry to apply to other US/Canadian schools.

but really, you don't KNOW this for sure....I mean if you had spent say the last few years in one of the fields you mentioned or were a PA or a nurse, then maybe you have SOME idea (even then people change their minds- one of my classmates was a EM PA and thought he would become an EM doc, but lo and behold!! he is going into ob/gyn!), but you are 21 years old, with a 3 week old pysch degree....it is really hard for anyone to know going into med school what they are going to do coming out.

Sure you say NOW you wanna do pysch, or neuro, of FP...but what happens if you find out 3rd year that you LOOOOOVE radiology, or dermatology (ok so no body really LOVES derm, but...)or neursurg?? You will be knocking you head against the wall, going why, why, WHY!!!! did i not just take those stupid MCATs!!!!

[Mike77]

but really, you don't KNOW this for sure....I mean if you had spent say the last few years in one of the fields you mentioned or were a PA or a nurse, then maybe you have SOME idea (even then people change their minds- one of my classmates was a EM PA and thought he would become an EM doc, but lo and behold!! he is going into ob/gyn!), but you are 21 years old, with a 3 week old pysch degree....it is really hard for anyone to know going into med school what they are going to do coming out.

Sure you say NOW you wanna do pysch, or neuro, of FP...but what happens if you find out 3rd year that you LOOOOOVE radiology, or dermatology (ok so no body really LOVES derm, but...)or neursurg?? You will be knocking you head against the wall, going why, why, WHY!!!! did i not just take those stupid MCATs!!!!

Yea I know i've thought about that a lot. I've also heard that almost no one goes into what they were planning on originally. Good point.

[Mike77]

the only other thing is that I don't even think it would be possible for me to go to the US without a cosigner, so it's pretty much UBC or nothing. I'm told that getting into UBC is often a crapshoot, because they have like 6-700 poeple that should get in every year, yet they can only accept 256. I still don't know if it;s worth sacraficing working a summer, and delaying med school another year, just to do it. It's a real toughy!

[covarubious]

i am biased because then i would have one less friend at saba but ubc would be the better option, if you have any shot at all... better loans, easier time in school and no visa hassles ;) if you know its very unlikely then saba it is ;)

the only other thing is that I don't even think it would be possible for me to go to the US without a cosigner, so it's pretty much UBC or nothing. I'm told that getting into UBC is often a crapshoot, because they have like 6-700 poeple that should get in every year, yet they can only accept 256. I still don't know if it;s worth sacraficing working a summer, and delaying med school another year, just to do it. It's a real toughy!

[Mike77]

i am biased because then i would have one less friend at saba but ubc would be the better option, if you have any shot at all... better loans, easier time in school and no visa hassles ;) if you know its very unlikely then saba it is ;)

It really all depends on my MCAT score I guess. It's a lot to sacrafice to study for the MCAT because I have the philosophy of go big or go home. There will be no 2 weeks of cramming, there will be 3 months of cramming. Also, is it possible to write your mcat in January for the upcoming 2009 year? I know everyone writes it in August, but I won't have classes. If I got 30+ on my MCAT, I'm feeling that 80-90% likely that i'd get an interview. Of course my biochem background is weak compared to most.

[covarubious]

there is also a good prep course you can take for the mcat too. i have all the books and study material from a friend...

It really all depends on my MCAT score I guess. It's a lot to sacrafice to study for the MCAT because I have the philosophy of go big or go home. There will be no 2 weeks of cramming, there will be 3 months of cramming. Also, is it possible to write your mcat in January for the upcoming 2009 year? I know everyone writes it in August, but I won't have classes. If I got 30+ on my MCAT, I'm feeling that 80-90% likely that i'd get an interview. Of course my biochem background is weak compared to most.