HELP! Trying to transfer BACK to Ross...:(

[gfunkmagic]

Hey I was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight or advise on what to do. I was Ross student and passed all my basic science courses without any repeats down on the island. I failed Step 1 twice and Ross then denied my a third attempt because of I exceeded the max time allowed to take the exam. I was fortunate enough to find another school to give me a window to take the Step 1 and I finally passed with a pretty high score (90 percentile). I've tried to reapply to Ross but they denied my application for some reason even though I have not repeated to done any courses (basic science or clinicals) at any other school. They won't even tell me why the application was denied and I was wondering if anyone here could offer me some advise or instructions on how I could get readmission into Ross? I really don't want to continue anywhere else and don't want to worry about liscensure problems in the future if I go to some other school...

any advise would be appreciated... thanks...

[Gator98MD]

Unless there are admissions committee members that loiter on this forum, I am not sure what help any of us would be. Keep calling the school would be my advice.

[jabee_usm]

Gfunkmagic, this is a tough one! G'luck!

[hopelessMD]

I was fortunate enough to find another school to give me a window to take the Step 1
What school are we talking about here if I may ask..

[cavalletti]

What school are we talking about here if I may ask..

I would think that you would have a more positive clinical experience at AUC or Saba, for these reasons http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/159057-rotation-situation-improving.html (SGU doesn't take transfers)

Have you applied to AUC or Saba?

[Yazzie]

Hey I was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight or advise on what to do. I was Ross student and passed all my basic science courses without any repeats down on the island. I failed Step 1 twice and Ross then denied my a third attempt because of I exceeded the max time allowed to take the exam. I was fortunate enough to find another school to give me a window to take the Step 1 and I finally passed with a pretty high score (90 percentile). I've tried to reapply to Ross but they denied my application for some reason even though I have not repeated to done any courses (basic science or clinicals) at any other school. They won't even tell me why the application was denied and I was wondering if anyone here could offer me some advise or instructions on how I could get readmission into Ross? I really don't want to continue anywhere else and don't want to worry about liscensure problems in the future if I go to some other school...

any advise would be appreciated... thanks...

The two-digit score is NOT a percentile, i.e. passing is a 75 (this does not mean that 75% fail!) . . . a Step 1 around 230+/96 is about 85th percentile, a "Two-Digit Score" of 90 is actually around 60th percentile I would guess as average is around 85 so you were actually close to average, actually a little better.

Sorry to burst your bubble but a lot of students think that the two digit score is a percentile, it is not. Just to correct you so you don't look silly telling people you got a 90th percentile on USMLE. (They actually don't release percentile anymore but it is easy to extrapolate the likely percentile.)

Ross isn't that big of an advantage over other Caribbean schools, where are you at now? MUA? All these other schools can get you clinical rotations in the U.S. AND a residency if you try hard.

There are licenure issues if you have failed a step in some states (can't practice there) and other states don't let you practice if you failed Step 1 twice too. Maybe those states are the ones you would get an advantage in if you were at Ross.

[gfunkmagic]

What school are we talking about here if I may ask..


It was one of the other "newer" schools on the forums here but I would prefer not to mention them specifically since I'm pretty sure the regularly monitor these forums and I haven't informed them yet of my score or that I'm trying to transfer out...

[gfunkmagic]

I would think that you would have a more positive clinical experience at AUC or Saba, for these reasons (SGU doesn't take transfers)

Have you applied to AUC or Saba?


Yeah I applying to AUC but they want all this info in their application including letters etc from basic science professors etc. Heck I was on the island like a year and half ago...I never asked for those things. I dunno if they will consider my application as is with out that...

SABA and MUA told me that they have no space for transfers in clinical until Jan 2009 at the earliest. I really don't to wait that long but I will apply there as well...

[gfunkmagic]

The two-digit score is NOT a percentile, i.e. passing is a 75 (this does not mean that 75% fail!) . . . a Step 1 around 230+/96 is about 85th percentile, a "Two-Digit Score" of 90 is actually around 60th percentile I would guess as average is around 85 so you were actually close to average, actually a little better.

Sorry to burst your bubble but a lot of students think that the two digit score is a percentile, it is not. Just to correct you so you don't look silly telling people you got a 90th percentile on USMLE. (They actually don't release percentile anymore but it is easy to extrapolate the likely percentile.)

Ross isn't that big of an advantage over other Caribbean schools, where are you at now? MUA? All these other schools can get you clinical rotations in the U.S. AND a residency if you try hard.

There are licenure issues if you have failed a step in some states (can't practice there) and other states don't let you practice if you failed Step 1 twice too. Maybe those states are the ones you would get an advantage in if you were at Ross.

Oh ok...my misunderstanding. I didn't realize the two digit score wasn't a percentile. However, as I understand it my score was slightly above the national mean. But suffice to say, I'm just relieved I passed period.

My overall concern and reasoning for trying to get back to Ross is mainly because of licensure. As far as I understand, only SGU, ROSS, AUC, SABA have 50 state licensure amongst the caribbean schools. That is why I went to Ross in the first place. Transferring to SGU seems unlikly and as I mentioned above Saba is not willing to accept transfers into clinicals until 2009 at the earliest. I'm currently going to try AUC, AUA and St Eustatius...but I really would like to contiue at Ross. I requested a meeting with Dr Perri...we'll see how that goes...

[jabee_usm]

You may want to look at UAG too!:) Graduates are able to practice in all 50 states!:)

[Yazzie]

Oh ok...my misunderstanding. I didn't realize the two digit score wasn't a percentile. However, as I understand it my score was slightly above the national mean. But suffice to say, I'm just relieved I passed period.

My overall concern and reasoning for trying to get back to Ross is mainly because of licensure. As far as I understand, only SGU, ROSS, AUC, SABA have 50 state licensure amongst the caribbean schools. That is why I went to Ross in the first place. Transferring to SGU seems unlikly and as I mentioned above Saba is not willing to accept transfers into clinicals until 2009 at the earliest. I'm currently going to try AUC, AUA and St Eustatius...but I really would like to contiue at Ross. I requested a meeting with Dr Perri...we'll see how that goes...

Even if you transferred back to Ross there are probably more than a dozen states that won't allow you to practice there as you failed Step 1 at least once. Other states won't let you practice if you failed Step 1 twice, which apparently you did unfornately. So, you won't be able to practice in all 50 states regardless of what medical school you graduate from. (I am guessing there are anywhere from 10 to 25 states that won't allow you to practice there just because of the USMLE i.e. licensing examination failures times two.)

I would figure out what state you can get a license in with two failures on Step 1 as an FMG/IMG and then quite possibly stick with your school if they are accepted in that state. I don't think going back to Ross would your help case as other schools like SMU or UAG have the exact same clinical rotations as Ross and your residency application would be viewed as FMG/IMG with two Step 1 failures regardless of where you went for medical school.

Or in other words, the grass is not always greener on the other side!

If you really want Ross for some reason then go for talking with Dr. Perri and trying to get back in, . . . I guess it all depends if they can get some more open clinical spots for you. . .

I have rotated at numerous sites with SGU, SABA, US DO students and even a couple US med students, point is that you can schedule great rotations or poor rotations at ANY medical school such as Ross or SMU or AUC . . .

[jabee_usm]

Gfunkmagic, I feel ya pain :(

[gfunkmagic]

Even if you transferred back to Ross there are probably more than a dozen states that won't allow you to practice there as you failed Step 1 at least once. Other states won't let you practice if you failed Step 1 twice, which apparently you did unfornately. So, you won't be able to practice in all 50 states regardless of what medical school you graduate from. (I am guessing there are anywhere from 10 to 25 states that won't allow you to practice there just because of the USMLE i.e. licensing examination failures times two.)

I would figure out what state you can get a license in with two failures on Step 1 as an FMG/IMG and then quite possibly stick with your school if they are accepted in that state. I don't think going back to Ross would your help case as other schools like SMU or UAG have the exact same clinical rotations as Ross and your residency application would be viewed as FMG/IMG with two Step 1 failures regardless of where you went for medical school.

Or in other words, the grass is not always greener on the other side!

If you really want Ross for some reason then go for talking with Dr. Perri and trying to get back in, . . . I guess it all depends if they can get some more open clinical spots for you. . .

I have rotated at numerous sites with SGU, SABA, US DO students and even a couple US med students, point is that you can schedule great rotations or poor rotations at ANY medical school such as Ross or SMU or AUC . . .


Can you please recommend a site that listed the states that have minimum attempts on the USMLE for licensure? I know so many people at Ross and other medical schools (American and Carribean) that have had multiple attempts on the USMLE and still have been able to get decent residencies in various states...

thanks...

[cavalletti]

Can you please recommend a site that listed the states that have minimum attempts on the USMLE for licensure? I know so many people at Ross and other medical schools (American and Carribean) that have had multiple attempts on the USMLE and still have been able to get decent residencies in various states...


You would need to check site for each state specifically.

Yes, it is possible to get a residency with 1 or 2 failing Step attempts.

All the best to the OP.

[Dru]

A good resource for individual state licensure requirements is a chart found at:
State Medical Licensing Board Requirements, International Medical Schools (http://www.valuemd.com/medicalboards.php)

Even if states say they won't accept graduating physicians who have failed step(s), it is possible to petition the individual state's licensing board for a review of your case.

Hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

Dru

[sadbunny]

Who is Dr. Perri?

[Aggiemd2b]

A good resource for individual state licensure requirements is a chart found at:
State Medical Licensing Board Requirements, International Medical Schools (http://www.valuemd.com/medicalboards.php)

Even if states say they won't accept graduating physicians who have failed step(s), it is possible to petition the individual state's licensing board for a review of your case.

Hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

Dru


Thanks for the link Dru!

[endymion]

You might find this link more helpful re: STEP attempts and licensure:

FSMB (http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_eliinitial.html)