Thread: January term or Sept. term? Pros Cons please regarding match

January term or Sept. term? Pros Cons please regarding match Please. Thanks

Many believe that Sept is better due to the fact that you can even match the same time with the US students. January, I don't have a clue than some saying that as you go down, matching may be a little prolonged. I think we have to find out from students that entered in any of those terms to get better info.

Edoki

I started in September, which leaves me actually a bit in the middle as far as USMLE and clinicals goes if I want to match on time. If you start in the May semester you can have a little bit more freedom. The January semester I believe is on a tighter schedule - I think someone told me they would technically graduate the same year we do, making them eligible for the same match.

This is all assuming, however, that you make it through Saba in the 5 semesters. If you end up taking an extra semester (some do this intentionally, others unintentionally) this will of course change things. It also depends on if you want to bang out all of your clinical rotations at once or if you want to have a bit of leeway with them.

In the end the best semester to start depends on you.

I've also been told September is the most competitive term to get into. This has a bit to do with people graduating undergrad in June so they're coming straight to med school.

Back to pathology!

Best of luck,
~S 8)

I think to answer this question you should really look to the schedules of US medical students. They start typically in August or September for the match 4 years later.

Now, with that being said, if you start in September, you will be done with your basic sciences in April. You then basically have plenty of time to finish the required rotations. If you start in January, you will be done with your basic sciences in August. You can still get your clinicals in, but it will be very tight and can't take time off if wanted to study or relax, or just chill out. Also, you will basicall be going from rotations to resdiency. Also, and this is perhaps the most imortant thing, you really need to get things to fall into place so you can get your USMLE and CSA done in time. Many residency programs require you to have completed and have results back from everything by Feb. when they submit their rank order list. THey want to ensure that they will have no problems with you starting on time.

Now, if you start in April, you will finish in January and yuou will have plenty of time to make the match....but maybe too much extra time on your hands. However, it allows you the opportunity in the event anything unforseen occurs...failing a semester, family emergency, etc.

That's great info in additional to what I posted. Thanks to you all.

Edoki