Thread: Where should I apply? Failed both steps once

When you say not so good, could you please give some numbers so we can give better advice?

There are IMGs who match even after failing step 1 once. But those IMGs are most probably non american IMGs (i.e., those who studied in India or other countries) where they have a solid medical degrees and have completed residency in their respective countries. The dilemma with caribbean grads are that unless you have had stellar clinical clerkship experiences, research, references and clerkship grades, the caribbean school where you did your MD will hinder your chances of matching unless you can score well on step 1. failing step 1 once and having a caribbean degree will most likely place you at a huge disadvantage. Know that there are "island" hoppers or students who fail one school, transfer to another. So most likely you will be placed in the same category as them. You CAN over come your step 1 failures as a caribb grad by getting high on your clinicals and getting stellar references. Taken that your repeat step 1 score is high (>220).

It's difficult to go through the Match with failing scores because most programs would filter out your application and you won't be considered for an interview. It's better to contact Program Directors directly and express interest or consider an observership plus or minus research. Everyone I know in your circumstances who successfully found residency spots worked as observers or research assistants until they found a spot in the same institution.

Sometimes an unpaid research position turns into a prelim PGY-1 position or a research fellowship position, and that may or may not lead to a categorical residency spot.

I just finished a 4 week observership and I am working as a volunteer research assistant. I have expressed interest in obtaining a residency position as soon as possible. They don't know any program director directly so that makes things difficult. I can inquire about a research fellowship position and if I may be eligible.

try applying to burger king

xgiav - AUA is trying out this new enhancements program between breaks to help students who fail step 1 or get a low score get a better shot at residency by doing research. So far apparently it hasn't worked out since the new batch of the new curriculum did so horribly on comp shelf and none of them got credible research done. rather fooled around between semesters and really wasted their 'enhancements' instead of studying (reflected by their comp shelf scores in the low 40s).

xgiav - try a different line.

Originally Posted by rahulb

try applying to burger king

I find it very strange that this rahul person went to this college, apparently has now graduated but likes to linger on this forum and be a troll. I've posted on here only once before and I actually logged in just to say that. I don't say "troll" lightly because it's an annoyingly cliched word. However, it's quite apt in this case because I've been waiting to see responses to the top three posts and was disappointed to find all new comments are non-constructive insults hurled towards the OPs by rahul. Residency life not fulfilling enough for you? God I hope I have better things to do once I graduate - if I end up malingering on forums just to be spiteful, please just shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Thanks for your stupid reply.

Thank you for your stupid response!