Hi, I need some advice...

I failed Step 1 and am facing being withdrawn from my school (a caribean med school). I only failed once, and I got very close to passing - 183 (I should have taken more time to study, but thought I was ready). I also took an extended leave of absence (to deal with some personal family issues) prior to taking step 1, which probably contributed to the withdrawal.

I know if I can just take it again, I can pass (I am continuing to study). But the withdrawal is the problem. I need a school to sponsor me in order for me to retake it. I really really just want to retake step 1 and get on with my medical career.

Has anyone else been through this kind of situation? Are there other schools (with decent clinicals) which will take me at this point? I do not want to repeat my basic sciences, I want to be able to just take the step. Does anyone know of a way to register for step 1 *without* being a currently enrolled medical student? I really hope this is not the end of my medical career... I do not want it to be.

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place, but I only noticed one thread about this exact same problem and it looked like it hadn't had a new post in over a year.

Freaking out at the moment, I am feeling very disappointed and ashamed about this (I was an excellent student until this) ... any advice would be appreciated.

you can't take the usmle without being a registered students and all the decent carib schools usually require you to do 5th semester (board review) on the island or at their stateside program for them to certify you to take the usmle. the only way around this is to have already passed the usmle.

you can contact some of the smaller and or newer carib schools since they are desperate or more open for students they may take a different view and certify you, however these tend to be schools with less approvals, less ability to work in all the US etc.

AUA
SMU
Spartan
Windsor

thats about it, then there are the really new ones that are questionable

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OBGYN PGY II
I see light at the end of the tunnel!!!...wait a minute its just another freakin tunnel!

AUCMD, do you think I would have a chance to be accepted as a transfer to a "decent carib school" as you say? Do you know of anyone with similar experience as this? (Thank you for replying though - I appreciate any input). I guess doing just 5th over again is better than nothing. What about any legal options? Does anyone know if I would have any legal options to persuade my school not to dismiss me (and just let me take step 1 again)? I mean would US law even apply to a carib school? If anyone has gone through a similar ordeal, please reply and advise.

Why would they be thinking about kicking you out for failing only once? Were you on a leave of absense for a year or something?

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i think it all boils down to this..... what school do you go to and what is the official reason that they are kicking you out? if you go to one of the big 4 and they are kicking you out "just" because of the one failure on step 1.... then a horizontal move to another big 4 seems like a possibility. i think saba requires a 200 on step 1 (so shoot high next time you take it ) and im pretty sure auc/ross accept transfers.

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Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
PGY-1

AUC Forum Moderator

" Does anyone know of a way to register for step 1 *without* being a currently enrolled medical student? "


No, ECFMG requires you to be enrolled in a school and sponsor you.

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...."Beyond jealosy and betrayal; beyond hate and desire; beyond pain and death; lies the ultimate revelation; the final choice; the end; because the fate of destruction is also the joy of rebirth" Neon Genesis Evangelion

start out simple

-is there student govt association at your school?
if there is talkt o them since they have their faces near admins cauda equina and see if there is an appeals process. most schools have them, my school had an honor council that reviewed these things with admin and put in their 2cents into dismissals

-the school you are being withdrawn from will matter. if it is one of the cali approved schools then you have more options into a lateral transfer into onw of the other big 4 schools. if it is not then you gotta contact the schools because they may or may not taker a transfer

-contact the other schools i put up there and see what they say.

-lastly if there is no way your school will re-admit you you have to try and abosolutely find any way possible for you to withdraw from school. try all you can and not be forced out of school or kicked out because in all future licensure applications, for residency, afterwards, and even hospital privilidge paperwork i have seen it asks if you have ever been disciplined by your school or been kicked out

__________________
OBGYN PGY II
I see light at the end of the tunnel!!!...wait a minute its just another freakin tunnel!

Thank you for the responses.

Stateofeqilibrium: I am being withdrawn because of the combo of Leave of absence and failing Step 1. They say its "taking me too long to pass." ...Basically. I'm trying to explain the extenuating personal circumstances surrounding my extended LoA, but not sure if that will work.

AUCMD: thanks for the info. So there is a difference on the transcript if I withdraw myself, as oppose to the school doing it? Also, I don't think my student govt can help in this situation, but I am trying to contact school officials (like the dean)... Maybe they will be reasonable - I mean I got so close to passing after all.

I will try contacting those schools people mentioned. Thanks

did you go to SMU? because if you did you are not the only one they will withdraw this coming month. From what I hear there are a lot of people they are withdrawing for either not taking step 1 or not passing in time. The number one reason for their new policy is a lack of clinical spots and that is one way to shorten the list. With 183 you will most likely pass next time around so don't give up.

what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger...
can't give you much advice about the technicalities, so here's one for the soul.

be blessed.