Prematched

[scoobz1981]

Just wanted to let everyone who attended Saba with me know that I just signed all my prematch paperwork today!!! Woo-hoo!!! I will be starting a Family Medicine residency in South Carolina towards November as an off cycle resident. Hope you all do great in the match next year and those in previous semesters good luck in this years match...

Val

[miasma]

congrats. awesome on the pre-match. enjoy your time before the real work begins!

[butters]

Congratulations! That's awesome news!

[rdecastro]

Congrats. Which program, if you don't mind sharing?

Also, how did you go about getting into a program off-cycle?

[krust3]

val,

first of all congrats!

when did you graduate? i thought you're an MS4 right?. so you aren't going to compete in the match then?

what's an off cycle resident, and why do you start in november versus the typical July start?

[sabaspouse2006]

Just wanted to let everyone who attended Saba with me know that I just signed all my prematch paperwork today!!! Woo-hoo!!! I will be starting a Family Medicine residency in South Carolina towards November as an off cycle resident. Hope you all do great in the match next year and those in previous semesters good luck in this years match...

Val

That must feel fantastic. Congratulations and best wishes for a great learning experience!

R/

[TO*MD]

Congratulations! That is great news. Best of luck.

[scoobz1981]

Ok... So I am an MS4... I wont graduate till August 27th... so basically I am what you call "OFF CYCLE" cause I cant start July 1st like the usual residents. So what I had to do was call the programs that I was interested in, and ask if they take off cycle residents... about 15 said yes they did... Then since I am canadian I had to ask if they took Visas... so that took me down to 10 that I was interested in and they were interested in me... if you need the programs telephone number, look it up on the aamc (eras) website or on freida. HERE IS A BIG TIP... the friendlier you are with the secretary and the more she remembers your name, the better your odds of getting an interview... I even sent out thank you cards to the secretaries and I got 1 additional interview cause of it at Emory.... the program where I pre-matched (Anderson Family Medicine) called me for an interview cause the secretary thought I sounded very friendly and genuine... So... BE NICE TO THE SECRETARY!!! Also, If you goto the residency fair (check the AMA students website for details) you will meet the program directors and the residents so that will help you get your foot in the door.

As for the prematch... basically, I went and interviewed and they asked me to do a 4 week rotation with them... after 3 days they handed me a contract and said we would love to have you.... and since they were my first choice, I signed....

So, even though I was told by several people not even to waste my time and try for the 2006 match, I did it and it payed off... just think outside the box...

The other recomendation for the match that I have is HAVE YOUR STEP2CK and STEP2CS scores in for September... because I got 3 rejections because I didnt have a step2CK score, and then one program changed their mind once I got my step2 scores in... so HAVE YOUR Step2 scores in when you send in your applications!!!!

Any other questions???

Val

[miasma]

once again, congrats on the prematch, and thanks for sharing.

[krust3]

were you off cycle because you started in january or what?
were you getting interviewing love from schools familiar with saba grads or were you trailblazing new programs?

[stephew]

congrats!!

[BTH]

Salutations:

Congratulations on the great accomplishment. Give yourself a pat on the back and make us proud. Ciao.

[scoobz1981]

I was off cycle because I started in May 2003... so I actually shouldnt have even been in the match this year... (my match year is 2007) but because I am doing all my rotations back to back I will finish early in August. So.... thats why I am off cycle...

As for the Saba love comment, I am not gonna reply to that - interview stories were funny though when Saba was mentioned - all I will say is that if another program director asks me "Do you know the dragon lady" I will have to break out in histerical laughter... but I actually only did basic sciences with Saba and then transferred to Statia to do my clinicals in Atlanta (back to back). I did get a lot of positive comments from programs who took Statia grads... and the program I prematched at had a Statia grad and the program director and faculty thought that he was the greatest thing since sliced bread!!! They talked about him throughout the interview... it was funny cause everytime someone got to the part that I went to statia, they always asked, do you know such and such, he was soo good and blah blah blah.... I was impressed that they were impressed with a caribbean grad!

Val

[stephew]

nevermind. thanks

[Scott1981]

way to go.......... congrats!!!!!

[ResearchingGuy]

Congratulations Val!

You're the first person from our original class who I have heard has a spot.

Thanks for the information and suggestions. Please keep us all posted about the MCCEE thing for J1 visas.

Best of Luck!

[Gavanshir]

WOW SCRUBS!!! Just what I was looking for. Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

[wolfvgang22]

Thanks Val, your posts are always helpful. You are still highly thought of here on Saba. Congrats!

[Conway]

Congrats, Val!

[mdme]

Hey Val! Congrats to you, what a great accomplishment. I would love to talk to you sometime. I'm back in Hotlanta, call me. Deb

[btapere]

congrats...so u basically finished in 3.5 yrs exact and u didnt have to wait for 2007....thats awesome...i hope u werent burnt out doing ur rotations back to back...

good job

[Rob White]

but I actually only did basic sciences with Saba and then transferred to Statia to do my clinicals in Atlanta (back to back). Val

Val,
Can I ask a question and get a real specific answer? Why did you do your clinicals at Saba, and then transfer? BTW, congrats!!!

[scoobz1981]

I did my basic sciences at Saba, and then transferred... LOL... I didnt trust the clinical department to do their jobs. Before I transferred I knew people in semesters ahead of me, and they told me of their experiences and I wanted to do my rotations back to back, and unfortunately, Saba wasnt capable of that at that time... where do they stand now??? ask people who are doing clinicals. From what I hear, since I keep in touch with some people from my Saba class, is that there is still some delay and you wont get your rotations back to back, but if you are willing and able, you can schedule your own electives in that empty time, and not be too bad off... so, yeah... I transferred. Best decision I made!

Val

[Spm97]

Congrats to Val! I wish that I had 1/2 the energy and drive that it took for you to accomplish what you have. Amazing! Thanks for the secretarial advice. Any thoughts on step 2, as I'm approaching my window with trepidation?

Steve-O

[scoobz1981]

Steve... I hope things are going well with you, its been some time since I have talked to you!!! Send me a PM to catch me up... last I heard you went to Hong Kong??? Anyways, as for step2CK, dont rely only on USMLEWORLD. It seems as though there are 2 main types of Step2CK exams going around. The one exam is very similar to USMLEWORLD questions so if you get that one, then you are set!!! If you dont, then you are in a world of hurt, and you will need to study the Kaplan books/QBANK questions also. So, my suggestion is that you need to do all the USMLEWORLD questions, and also the QBANK questions, and study a lot from either Kaplan or Crush. Good luck Steve, and I hope you are doing great!!!

Val