I have a question regarding the timeline to the 2008 Match. If a student starts clinicals in Sept 06 and completes all 46 weeks of core rotations and the required 30 weeks of electives, how is it possible to make the 2008 Match? Because isnt the ECFMG certificate required to be eligible to participate in the 08 Match? Yet the certificate will not have been granted without proof of medical school diploma, which would not be granted until May 2008. So based on this, wouldnt the student have missed the ROL deadline which is going to be in Feb 08, because the student is not ECFMG certified?

I would appreciate responses from senior forum members who have already went through this process as well as current SMU students in residency.

Thanks.

i doubt u will get much answers from SMU residents i have rarely if ever seen them post here. the match occurs PRIOR to graduation in all schools in the US. if you do the math you would see that 46+30 weeks = 76 weeks, which is a year and 24 weeks (or 6 months). this would have the person completing all requirements by Feb of 08, giving them plenty of time for match (even if some time was taken off to prep for step2 ck/cs).

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But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that.

I was informed by another student that you had to have your step 1 score in by July so that you may start rotations in August in order to make the Match. Don't know how true that statement is...

Concerning needing a diploma in order being able to match...That I believe is not true. You have to have passed Step 1, Step 2 (both CK and CS) in order to be able to participate in the match. In order for you to graduate I believe you have to have all your cores completed by mid April (if I remember correctly). There are post matches (what I was counting on for the 2007 year...that is another story) that some people can do also.

So to be on the safe side, have all your cores completed before April. Register for Step 2 CS as soon as you can (October 2007 so you may be able to retake it if you fail). Take the Step 2 CK before the match deadline. Hope this helps. There is more info on this on the Residency forum.

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Juni

Juni, they arent letting students start in Aug anymore (so they say), but rather in sept. dont know if u are aware of this.

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But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that.

Yes, I can confirm this directly from what the Clinical Dept told me when I was setting up rotations. Not sure if it is because of overscheduling or what, but August is not available to those who passed the Step recently.

My question was actually this, if the diploma was needed to become ECFMG certified, which is a necessary requirement to participate in the Match, which is at least according to what I read on the ECFMG website? I wanted to know if anyone who had already gone through the process recently and become ECFMG certified, be it SMU alum or otherwise, could confirm if they had to submit their medical school diploma before they actually got the certification.

Thanks.

Okay,

But isnt the final deadline for the rank order list due in Feb 08? So if you are just completing the paperwork in Feb 08, wouldnt you have to go through the channels of submitting those completed requirements to ECFMG, have them verified and certified, before you could actually participate? Which would actually mean you would miss the deadline and be forced to scramble?

Just trying to get the clarity of timelines because I have read so many different posts and the whole process for me seems very confusing. Then I go to the two websites, ECFMG and NMRP to read the requirements according to both but it would still help if I could just ask someone who recently went through the process and successfully matched.

Another thing is I was wondering how does starting clinicals in Oct or Nov impact the entire timeline?

Thanks.

there is no starting in oct/nov. according to the clinical counselor you have to start clinical rotations at the beginning of the semester, then there is no break. your best bet is to talk to a counselor.

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But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that.

I was told last week by my clinical coordinator that you can have start dates in oct/nov depending on which site you want to go to.

You don't need a medical diploma yet to participate in the match. You just have to have passed Step 1 and Step 2 (both CK & CS). That is all you need. Now to start residency you need that diploma.

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Juni