Start in Jan... Match w/ Sept.?

[Jones Johnson]

Hey Guys!

I've previously read in these forums about students who started in January and worked hard to match along side the previous Sept. class. My quetions are a) is one given the opportunity to do this at SMU (i.e availability of clinical rotation to avoid down time in-between rotations) and b) are there students from SMU who have done this recently?

My reason, like most, for want to pursue what is to be an extremely stressful task is do to age (I'll be 30 soon) and would rather not have to wait the additional time for the following years match.

Thanks in advance for any information/resources as I'm new to the SMU forum. :)

[shawnm3]

Hi, being in a similar situation, I have to say i doubt it would be possible since there are usually delays with clinicals....

[Nimmuk]

I think that it can be done….do the math, 20 months of basic sciences and 76 weeks of rotations (3rd and 4th year). However, you would have no time to study for the USMLE. In other words, you will need to take step 1 right after 5th semester. Also, you probably have to go straight through rotations with no breaks……..I think if you are willing to move location to accommodate your rotations, SMU will hook you up with out rotations with no gaps in between.

You are taking a big chance though. You would want to score high on step 1...Dont rush it, enjoy the ride

[Jones Johnson]

I think that it can be done….do the math, 20 months of basic sciences and 76 weeks of rotations (3rd and 4th year). However, you would have no time to study for the USMLE. In other words, you will need to take step 1 right after 5th semester. Also, you probably have to go straight through rotations with no breaks……..I think if you are willing to move location to accommodate your rotations, SMU will hook you up with out rotations with no gaps in between.

You are taking a big chance though. You would want to score high on step 1...Dont rush it, enjoy the ride

I have read several posts on the subject and there's plenty of time as several student do it every year (AUC and Saba). It really comes down to whether the school can have the clinical spots for you in a smooth transition avoiding down-time. (this is what I'm unsure about as I only began to consider SMU)

p.s I'll take 4 weeks to prepare for the 1st step.

[Nimmuk]

4 weeks is plenty of time to study for the USMLE....especially here in SMU, as you have the entire 5th semester to do so, inconjuction with the entire basic science. Good luck

[Junito]

4 weeks is plenty of time to study for the USMLE....especially here in SMU, as you have the entire 5th semester to do so, inconjuction with the entire basic science. Good luck


I don't know about that one. I am studying for ICM, and it is a lot of material. Lots of pathophysio stuff. Good for the boards & clinicals, but hard to fit in stuff learned in previous semesters. I am using the High Yields for now, cause I can't read the Kaplan books, too lengthy. Doing both Qbanks, plus Webpath, Pretest (the basic sciences one). I spend 8 hours a day studying. Out of those 8 hours, 4-5 is spent on ICM. The schedule is great though. Just want you guys to get a real feel for how it is. I thought there would be plenty of time, yet there isn't. If it weren't for my wife returning to NYC this semester, I would not have time to study everything. Case in point, for those of you with families, ICM & Studying for the boards will eat up your time. Prepare for the boards before you make it to Maine. I started in third semester, had to pause for 4th because it was too much material, resumed on 5th. Will I be ready for the boards come January? I hope so. With 8 hours of studying a day (not including class time) Sun-Sat, man, I need a life, maybe after step 1.

[Nimmuk]

Thank you for the heads up Juni-Our last neighbors (6 of them) who were 5th last semester woke at 6am every day and studied for the boards. They said, that in their time off, that was all they did. Thank you for posting and giving us a reality check.