Scramble Only?

[peacefuljourney]

Hi all,

A friend and colleague has failed Step 2 CK - by 1 point. Nice. Anyhow, Step 1 scores were decent - 88 - and passed Step 2 CS.

I think he can pass Step 2 Cby the time of the match but it will be too late for interviews etc.

Can he try to scramble? You can scramble if you apply to just 1 program?

There is still time to do observerships etc.

What do you think? All advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, S-

[citizenimg]

I think a lot will depend on the specialty he/she is applying to. A lot of (less competitive) programs will grant interviews without a passing ck score (look at my stats on my other posts).
They may rank an applicant depending on whether or not they believe he/she will pass ck on their first/second attempt. Obviously depending on their suitability for the program, research experience, how much they are liked by the interviewee's, LOR's, etc etc.

As for scrambling with only one application, I'm not sure, but think the first 10 programs are $60? So apply for 10 and that would definitely work.
Also, do they have their LOR's and other ERAS stuff done? If not, that makes everything a bit more complicated, it's getting late to get all of that stuff sorted.
Hopefully he/she can take the test asap to get scores in before the ROL's are submitted, matching is a gamble, but rather spread the odds with a few applications as well as trying to scramble if matching doesn't work.

Just my thoughts on this, i'm sure others will have their thoughts too...

[rokshana]

They may rank an applicant depending on whether or not they believe he/she will pass ck on their first/second attempt....

actually they won't...as an IMG, you have to be ECFMG verified which means that one has passed I, CK, and CS by the time the ROL is due...if not you are automatically dropped from the match...

[peacefuljourney]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. He is hoping for internal medicine and has (older) research experience. Also is older person AND with visa issues - we are Canadian.

Actually - that is what I mean. He will be ECFMG certified by like January. Then what? How can we at least throw our hat into the ring without paying a ton of cash?

My thoughts are that interview season is mostly over. Programs will have made their decisions by the time the certification arrives. So, if he just applies to a few programs - that will give him access to the scramble right?

To apply to 150 programs or so is too much money for such a slim chance of securing something. I'm thinking just do a few applications which would keep open the remote possibility of a successful scramble.

So, in other words, pay $100 or so for a few programs with a slim chance of scramble vs. pay a few thousand with the slim chance of a match.

And if he doesn't match through the scramble then he can do observerships etc. for the year and be really ready for next year.

I'd love to hear your - and others' thoughts. Thanks. S-

[kananaskis_girl]

oh gosh, and you're Canadians too....this is a tough call. I take it you're looking then only for J-1 based programs? I know quite a number of Canadians who didn't match last year just b/c of their visa issues. As a Canadian, you need even more than the number of interviews that American FMGs need just to find that spot that will spend the money and effort for the visa. I know a Canadian who scrambled last year but they were married to an American (i.e. Green Card) and had >90 both Steps, and this is after they interviewed at over 15 places. I'm actually sitting out the match this year in the hopes of getting the H1B for the following year (from Alberta), having Step 3 scores in and that extra shot at a different visa makes sense to me. So, you're hearing from someone who is voluntarily taking a year "off", so to speak, to make sure that I am really competitive for those positions. Tough call.....

[citizenimg]

actually they won't...as an IMG, you have to be ECFMG verified which means that one has passed I, CK, and CS by the time the ROL is due...if not you are automatically dropped from the match...

True, true. Sorry, I actually meant consider, not rank. Thanks Rokshana