tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196968392011-12-14T19:09:56.221-08:00<center>Yes USMLE scores are important - but not everything for a Medical Residency in USA! <br />To be Pre-Informed is to be In Form :-)<br />Sharing Wisdom learnt through application experience and mistakes - especially for IMGs / FMGs!<br /> *International Copyright &reg;* <b>Last Updated: 21st Sept 2007</b> </center>Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-3414753187851685572008-09-21T17:01:00.000-07:002007-09-21T17:04:09.204-07:00

After a recent hack-attack on my blogs, I have finally learnt my lesson and am shifting my blogs to my own server at USMLEtoMD.comSo..... Tips4Match.blogspot.com will now be redirected to :http://www.USMLEtoMD.com/tips4matchThanks for your patience and sorry for all the inconvenience !

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134075611467069132007-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:002007-08-20T20:07:44.661-07:00

Let's begin with a quote by Arie De Gues to give ourselves a good context why this post is important:“The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage.”Which is pretty reflective on what Aristotle had once said,''The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows''.Having said that, back to our topic :1. Apply on time: For God's

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-63276576246659908162007-09-07T14:22:00.001-07:002007-09-07T22:55:55.108-07:00

Ever wondered how do the ERAS screens and your applications look on the computer monitors of Program Directors and Program Coordinator side ?The AAMC website does host a Powerpoint presentation meant for the Program directors and coordinators that shows us a lot of useful screen shots of how the application looks on their end, how they can sort applications and more..The screen shots look cool

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-3706111000021746982007-09-02T11:38:00.000-07:002007-09-02T13:03:41.610-07:00

A Social Security number (commonly known by its acronym - SSN ), in the United States, is a very important number that serves as a tax identification number, is your national identification and later serves to give out various economic benefits (called social security) to you when you reach retirement age.Since the later part of 2006, the California Letter now needs the IMG applicant to have a

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-42242498080127151322007-08-27T00:56:00.000-07:002007-08-27T01:28:56.025-07:00

They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link....a relay team of runners is only as fast as its slowest runner...so, if you planned for months getting the things right for the Electronic Residency Application circus - like taking the USMLE Steps on time, getting those LORs on time and submitting documents on time, it will suck really bad to realize at the last moment, that after all

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-3223003240888318162007-08-22T01:21:00.000-07:002007-08-22T01:23:49.298-07:00

This question is of relevance for IMGs because on the profile section of the MyERAS Residency application system, where it asks candidates to check-mark the visa types that they expect to be on when their residency term begins - H1 and H1b visas are listed separately, confusing many IMGs.Since the topic is more relevant on the the FMGvisas blog - I have covered it there instead.Read : What is the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-50310768512382963372007-08-13T02:25:00.000-07:002007-08-27T10:17:30.338-07:00

Been thinking on that question lately ? Well, here's some help !My apologies for a small digression = One of the problems that the Medical informaticians face is trying to 'structure' all medical information so that it becomes computable - of course the objective is noble, but trying to fit something as fuzzy as medicine into binary predefined templates is a very long shot, in fact almost

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-25943166200485151392007-08-12T15:16:00.000-07:002007-08-17T19:46:48.488-07:00

The application year 2007 (i.e. 2008 Match) is a year of big change for ECFMG-ERAS: They've been making some changes to themselves and the residency application process. After they been livin' in the past as far as using technology is concerned and I am happy to welcome them into the present ;-)..well almost !1. Starting August 2007, score reporting will all be electronic for USMLE Steps,

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-24778361662010026972007-07-26T01:25:00.000-07:002007-07-26T01:27:05.370-07:00

A Cool Way to keep tabs on your residency things-to-do timetable :Check it out at:http://usmletomd.com/2008match.html:-) :-)

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-55645776301265363082007-07-22T11:57:00.000-07:002007-07-22T21:04:57.999-07:00

Sometimes good things in life come after the time you wanted them the most, which somehow takes the fizz out of them when they come to you, nevertheless they still might have some might remaining ;-)Likewise, it is always possible that you finally get a new Letter (or letters) of Recommendation (LOR) AFTER you already applied - for example, if your observership term got over or the recommender

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-8402989421661642572007-07-21T09:41:00.000-07:002007-07-21T09:52:38.503-07:00

Well...the more I tried to stay away from adding another drop to the plethora of forums we already have online for USMLE and Residencies, I still felt the need to add one for readers to discuss what they read on my plethora of blogs and more...;-)Access the forum on : http://www.USMLEtoMD.com/forum

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-10085633629337128532007-07-20T20:16:00.001-07:002007-07-21T10:27:04.276-07:00

It might just be too tempting to write tons and tons of self-praise on the Letters of Recommendation thinkQuoting an email warning from ECFMG:"In recent years, the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee has made a determination of irregular behavior in 12 cases based upon the submission of either altered or wholly fabricated letters of recommendation. In 11 of these cases, the applicant's

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-54533120195391959842007-07-02T16:51:00.000-07:002007-07-02T17:07:15.202-07:00

Step 1: Get a picture of yourself:a. The best way to have it is to have a Digital camera self-shoot your picture with a white / plain color wall / curtain behind you and a soft light falling on your face. Most digital cameras will have automatic photo option and I prefer that since there will be no problem of a hand-shake that way. Try both - with flash and without flash, coz' often you will

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-84777176361691350852007-07-02T16:46:00.001-07:002007-07-02T17:00:43.619-07:00

Yeah - ERAS gets more digital for the 2008 Match and thank god for that for 2 main reasons:1. Getting a passport sized photograph in the US is unusually expensive2. Pre-scanned will hopefully save time and probably even result in documents transmitted earlier for that candidate as opposed to those who send in paper shotsHere are the official requirements for a Digital passport-sized picture (as

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-13167577331804314652007-06-24T06:27:00.000-07:002007-08-30T12:37:49.327-07:00

This post is unique - in the sense that I did not type it, yet it was me who 'wrote' it ! Howzzat ? Well I spoke it and the built-in Speech Recognition tool that is included with Windows XP, did the typing :-) Yeah - I like my techie side ;-) Yet, it needs a good amount of training and patience - and I don't imagine switching to speaking for the rest of my bloggingBack to our topic - When July /

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-32524333277582054482007-06-14T12:53:00.000-07:002007-07-21T10:43:11.150-07:00

For various reasons, some candidates are unable to take their exams at the date they book and it may be either too close to the exam date to book a new date or there may not be anymore eligibility period left to extend.1. Even if a missed exam were to be reported on the USMLE transcript, it would not be a bad thing ..coz' you could always be absent coz' you were sick ;-) ..if you know what I

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-45839464868781973242007-06-07T06:23:00.001-07:002007-06-07T07:01:39.452-07:00

As I write this post, it is that magical American summer time again and I can hardly contain my excitement about my upcoming trip to the rich green forests of Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, with all those wooden forest cabins, rafting and chopper-rides. When you guys get your residencies and happen to take a break there, make sure you think of me ;-) Maybe I will post a few pictures of my

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-46671705697579657742007-05-26T13:06:00.000-07:002007-05-26T13:40:36.066-07:00

No ! They Don't :-)Since the June of 2004 - the TOEFL [Test Of English as a Foreign Language] is no longer needed for IMGs entering Residency Programs. This is because, June 2004 was the month when the old ' ECFMG CSA format' was replaced by the new 'USMLE Step 2 CS'. The Step 2 CS grading format includes the SEP [Spoken English Proficiency] component besides the CIS and the ICE Components. [If

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-42335870300182976092007-05-22T18:06:00.000-07:002007-05-23T23:38:27.155-07:00

US Clinical Experience is the New Step 3 !It's bewildering how times change - while I am blogging to help people pursue careers here in the US, the reverse is beginning to gain momentum too. Mr. Richard Larison, an American with a accounting bachelors and a Masters of Health Administration graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia is now the Managing Director (akin to the CEO) of the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-12415358825723165972007-05-19T11:04:00.000-07:002007-05-25T08:51:11.339-07:00

People with multiple attempts do get into residency programs, albeit with more difficulty than the first-time passers and may not always be the best programs. Here are some thoughts and pointers for candidates with more than one attempt on USMLE Steps1. Unfortunately, it does bring down the number of programs you are even eligible for applying - if you look up the individual programs

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-56112799145970154402007-05-17T18:27:00.000-07:002007-05-18T22:05:57.048-07:00

Earlier on "Does Clinical Research Improve Residency Chances", I had dealt with the factors that WILL help - This post is about the overall advantages that research can confer on the IMGs1. University programs and even University-Affiliated residency programs love research and publications on the resumes of incoming candidates- Of course you gotta also have the scores and other credentials in

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-75277240704198532942007-05-16T00:44:00.000-07:002007-05-16T12:22:09.669-07:00

It's been an awfully long time since my last post on Tips4Match Blog and it's time to rekindle the flame here.Well...like I probably have written elsewhere on one of my too-many blogs [seriously, am losing count! ] - having excessive choices make our life miserable, coz' each choice has it's own 'opportunity cost' - that is, the price you pay for missing out on the benefits of other choices when

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-78747299821805881682007-02-16T18:45:00.000-08:002007-03-29T20:22:18.974-07:00

How many of you wonder at the paradox of healthy versus yummy foods ? The yummy foods are almost never healthy - while the healthy foods are always either bland or simply boring - so are we going against our constitution trying to eat healthy foods? Human Body is engineered to perfection - why was the taste function not built to give preferences to 'healthy foods' ? LOL ...usually, the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-79655753010791235492007-02-15T12:41:00.000-08:002007-02-15T13:16:56.813-08:00

Accepting a prematch (out-of-match) offer is probably the biggest reason for withdrawing from the NRMP match. Guess we don't need to delve into other reasons.First of all, prematched candidates must note that it is imperative to withdraw from the Match before the Rank Order List Submission deadline - The deadline for 2007 Match is Wednesday 21, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. Otherwise you might end up

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1167978269201965862007-01-04T22:11:00.000-08:002007-01-17T12:18:39.883-08:00

By Mid-January, a major bulk of the residency interviews will be over. A few places may still trickle out a few interviews, but things are pretty much wrapping up for the final 'Rank-order-list' preparation meetings of the resident selection committees across the participating programs.This post applies more to the candidates who have had interviews and now start the waiting game. Would not

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1167788499100732692007-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:002007-01-14T00:46:08.240-08:00

What can make the answer to this question more transparent than looking up at the application eligibility criteria that some residency programs have put up on their websites ? :-)Let's look at some quick samples :1. Eastern Virginia Medical School Family practice Residency program:"To be competitive, an applicant should have a CV that shows real interest in family practice or primary care

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1167033217643705332006-12-24T23:52:00.000-08:002006-12-30T13:21:02.500-08:00

Curious to know how a Green card looks ? Click here :-)Well...This post is for IMGs who do not need visa sponsorship for their residencies, to see how much your green-card / citizenship status can help you to land a residency spot.1. In a pool of IMG applications with similar competency, Program Directors always have a preference for IMGs that DO NOT need a visa. Why ? Sponsoring a visa has its

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1166950949557930742006-12-24T00:55:00.000-08:002007-08-20T16:10:43.396-07:00

I have had plenty of emails from readers asking if observing a private practitioner in USA, who is most often a relative or a friend of a relative, is a good idea and whether it will help improve chances for getting those residency interview calls.I have a standard 5-point reply to that one :1. It's better that nothing !2. It certainly helps you to avoid clinical gaps on the resume3. Grants you a

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1166843884191127112006-12-22T19:15:00.000-08:002007-08-30T19:53:39.263-07:00

I have been so totally smitten by the latest show on Discovery channel called "Man vs Wild"! and the host, survival expert Bear Grylls, has joined the ranks of my inspiring heroes of entrepreneurship and innovation. In the latest show on surviving a hike across the stunning beautiful Alaskan Mountains, he says,:"One of the core tenets of survival is to be open to every single opportunity".And

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1166476678212422672006-12-18T13:06:00.000-08:002007-04-30T20:07:15.481-07:00

Not all roads in life are one ways ! A residency is not the only way for IMGs to get entry into the medical scene in US - an alternative 'short-cut' for IMGs to do fellowships without first doing a residency does exist- of course you need to have a Post Graduate MD in the field in your home country first.What ! Vacant Fellowship Positions in US with all this competition for residencies ? Yes,

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1166442878595186192006-12-18T03:30:00.000-08:002007-03-29T20:00:21.394-07:00

The previous post on the GRE Route to Residency dealt with how a visa-needing IMG could strategize and pre-plan for using the GRE option to leverage Residency Dreams, which brings the next natural question to the fore - is that option right for you ?This article is a start of a series of discussions and analysis about the pros and cons of this GRE to Residency Route to help give IMGs a

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1166126559970461622006-12-14T11:50:00.000-08:002007-03-29T20:17:04.880-07:00

The GRE route to a Residency is (I love calling it the Great Residency Excuse ..he he) is rapidly emerging as a hot route for visa-needing IMGs for several pressing reasons:a. Student visas are easier to getb. Gives you the geographic and visa advantage for US Clinical Experiences and Research (Probably the most important reason)c. These US Experience fetch you vital US LORsd. You don't have to

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1165601783183187442006-12-08T10:01:00.000-08:002007-01-15T13:13:55.860-08:00

Psychiatry has seen some exciting changes in the scope of its practice and the way american medical students look at it.As things appear as of now, it is kinda easier to get in as compared to Internal Medicine, but with time, things always get tougher. As the AAMC Site puts it : "The number of qualified U.S. Medical Graduates selecting psychiatry residencies is insufficient to fill all of the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1165291746331147902006-12-04T18:57:00.000-08:002006-12-06T10:57:03.160-08:00

Bottom line : Orthopedics is tough for IMGs ! Tough enough to prompt advising Orthopedics aspirants to be ready for long periods of waiting and trying before finally getting into a program.Orthopedics surgery remains extremely tough even for the best of American Medical graduates. The big reasons possibly being that number of residency positions are low and it remains one of the highest paid

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1163391100025720372006-11-12T20:03:00.000-08:002006-11-12T20:11:40.030-08:00

Here are some not-so-expensive books - I have provided the links to the respective books on Amazon.com - usually a good used book is fairly cheap enough to buy ...and then sell again on Amazon ;-)1. Internal Medicine Essentials 2007 for Clerkship Students: Recently Launched by the American College of Physicians (ACP)2. First Aid for the Medicine Clerkship3. First Aid for the Psychiatry Clerkship4

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1163185335698653142006-11-10T10:56:00.000-08:002007-03-29T20:02:38.216-07:00

Digitaldoc at your service again ;-) Trying to compile a set of rules , policies for IMGs undertaking an Observerhip from various sources over the Internet - remember these will apply only for observerships.Note: These will apply to most places with individual variations - but should give you a good ideaObservers must be directly supervised at all times by their sponsoring faculty

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1161212857417516952006-10-18T15:55:00.000-07:002006-10-23T06:56:47.883-07:00

When I was still in school, I was sooo into collecting stamps (philately, as the erudite might snicker at me with.. ) and stamps from Cuba were an exotic breed for me and my school peers. I have not met anyone personally from Cuba yet, but one generous and friendly lady from Cuba, Maria Isabel, MD, has been magnanimous to volunteer her experience about the vagaries of Medical Credentials

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1161147372728026572006-10-17T21:47:00.000-07:002006-10-18T01:40:51.270-07:00

Often, you may be asked to frame an LOR yourself by your attending or faculty and he or she will edit and endorse, if found appropriate. Here are some keywords that you could use to focus on various aspects that it must focus on - your personality, work habits and intellectual and clinical capability. Of course, I don't expect you to use ALL - just the one's that are appropriate to you :-)

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1161118370333711972006-10-17T13:44:00.000-07:002007-03-29T20:03:35.576-07:00

Here's a sample email format to use while writing to places to enquire about observerships and externships (Of course you can call too). This email format is specific to places with residency programs, but that does not mean hospitals or other health-care institutes like Long Term Care Facilities, Ambulatory care centers, satellite clinics, etc. are not to be considered, coz something is better

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1160903258627263282006-10-15T01:48:00.000-07:002006-12-01T13:24:27.606-08:00

Some say you need atleast 10 interviews to 'guarantee' yourself a residency match position - some say you need 20. Puzzling eh ?While intuition may say that the more interviews you have, the better the chances of matching, it is also true that there have been many cases of people not matching despite many interviews, while people matching to a good program with just one interview.The truth is

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1160607215258342492006-10-11T15:35:00.000-07:002007-07-21T10:10:38.813-07:00

Here's a Sample LOR I received from my friend over email - shall post more samples as they become available from contributorsSample 1:"Dear Program Director,I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Dr. ABC, who was first introduced to me when when he came to XYZ hospital as an Extern, which he started in July 2006.I found Dr. ABC to be a very hard working, warm, conscientious and

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1159819908284833012006-10-02T13:07:00.000-07:002007-02-15T22:45:11.020-08:00

Lately I have been power-cycling a lot on my 21 Speed Mongoose Bike into the dense Oak forest trails to take advantage of the lovely American fall season. The Fall happens so regularly, each year...just like the phases of moon keep repeating...or the way you keep coming back to same "Do Re Mi' notes octave after octave...Cyclical events, just like our residency applications, year after year. Yet,

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1158713464415161512006-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:002007-01-18T22:03:36.613-08:00

Each year, many IMGs are faced with the scenario of taking a shot at Residency Applications without having all USMLE scores in hand - like, maybe just Step 1 , or just Step 2 CS, or any two scores ...If we considered having Step 1 + Step 2 CK + Step 2 CS scores as 'complete', then the most 'incomplete scores' combination happens to be Step 1 + Step 2 CK - but this combination is still much better

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1158271478227912312006-06-05T14:57:00.000-07:002007-08-30T12:36:45.709-07:00

The NRMP match rules need participating programs to accept applications from candidates irrespective of national-origin. This is kinda tongue-in-cheek : Though some residency programs may say they accept applications from International Medical Students (IMGs), it does not automatically imply that they are indeed 'IMG-friendly'.Besides knowing through friends, residents and the IMG-friendly

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1157783955173398962006-06-03T23:35:00.000-07:002007-03-29T20:03:01.148-07:00

Clinical Electives / Clerkships / Visiting Student Programs for International Medical Students These rotations can be done by International / Foreign Medical Students who are currently enrolled in Medical Schools - mostly 4th Year students . If you are already out medical school and are looking for rotations, look up the links on the side-bar for a list of Observerships / Externships

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1157744283722667902006-06-02T12:26:00.000-07:002006-11-08T01:31:07.136-08:00

Call it the bad side of technology or simply call it the non-human side of a computer - unfortunately, at times, the Interview Offer email may land up in your "Junk Emails" Folder on your email. Many of us, including myself, blindly go ahead and click on that "Clear Junk" tab without even going through what is being deleted.Kindly refrain from that during the period from September 1st until the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1157678228794858092006-06-01T18:07:00.000-07:002007-01-23T12:12:01.100-08:00

A lot of you, I am sure, will be prompted to ask this question to yourself or anyone who sounds knowledgible. It's really tough and perhaps not even entirely logical to answer that. We can perhaps predict a little bit about if a candidate may get few or many interview calls based on his/her scores, visa status, experience, etc. But a 'Residency chance' is far more tougher to predict.I know both

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1156986184174503482006-05-31T17:54:00.000-07:002006-12-09T16:42:47.256-08:00

So many applications, so many good scorers, so many good credentials and yet the Program Director's gotta choose who makes it for the interviews. Choose not just the best of what they got - but also choose candidates with highest likelyhood of actually ranking their program - coz as I explained on another post, the interview quotas are limited by time and budget.It may pay to remain proactive

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1156810317548983622006-05-30T17:00:00.000-07:002006-10-11T04:29:04.953-07:00

I am sure a lot of you are really concerned about having those original documents (Dean's Letter, Transcript, etc. ) back from the ERAS guys - just in case you don't match [God forbid] and have to go through the process again. I wrote to ERAS support and this is what they had to say :"Thank you for contacting ERAS Support Services at ECFMG. A new service, known as the Return of Document Service

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1156054473566845002006-05-29T22:28:00.000-07:002007-08-18T01:59:50.857-07:00

One of the big differences between Physics and Medicine is that Physics have 'Laws', while Medicine, Biology and other life-sciences have 'Rules' - what's the big deal ? 'Laws' have no exceptions - while 'Rules' almost always have exceptions. Unfortunately , all that you learn about Tips and Tricks for getting into a medical or surgical residency program are Rules i.e. they are true most of the

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1154208875344093932006-05-28T14:26:00.000-07:002007-01-07T10:53:10.410-08:00

Why Stress so much on applying on Day 1 ? There are more Reasons that you think there were. Besides the logical reason that most programs look at applications on a first-come-first-serve basis, there is another often overlooked technical reason to do so: ERAS ! Yeah - ERAS too treats applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis. You will begin to understand what I am blabbering about after you

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1153854002630151732006-05-25T11:51:00.000-07:002007-02-19T02:59:13.665-08:00

Everyone and Everybody talks about how tough Radiology is for IMGs (even for AMGs). It sure is, but for those passionate about radiology, it would be wrong to give up the dream altogether.I only got to speak to one IMG Radiology faculty at a University hospital and he told me about his journey and what people these days do to get in. It surely takes more time, but is worth it if that's where

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1153819665806144172006-05-24T02:22:00.000-07:002007-01-25T02:11:22.943-08:00

Preliminary (Prelim), Transistional and Categorical programs are words that mean different types of residency training.The term "Categorical" is used to refer to actually getting into a residency program dedicated to the field you have chosen - while Preliminary and Transitional are "Pre-residency"Preliminary is like doing an medical school internship again and is of two types - internal medicine

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1153464877031045312006-05-23T23:34:00.000-07:002007-01-11T20:25:24.226-08:00

Earlier, for the 2006 Match, candidates had to either submit a Dean's Letter OR the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) - but for the 2007 Match, the rules are CHANGED !Let's have a look at the what the MSPE announcement on the MSPE Guide Reads(Download the ERAS MPSE Guide Here):"The name of the dean’s letter has been changed, effective immediately, to Medical Student Performance

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1153357798004778102006-05-22T17:34:00.000-07:002006-09-22T21:09:16.273-07:00

Indeed, BOTH parties play the "Match Game" : Candidates and & the Residency Programs ! BOTH take their chances in the game - For you, the residency-seeker, the game is about WHERE and HOW MANY programs to apply to, and for the resident-seekers, the game's about WHOM to Interview.And why is this a "gamble" ? Coz both sides have to play with fixed resources...and Neither party likes to "scramble"..

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1148244416496206872006-05-21T13:31:00.000-07:002007-04-06T16:25:36.459-07:00

First let's tackle a basic question. "How Does the ECFMG certificate actually look ?" Well guys, .simply check out mine : Click on the image below to enlarge.Second basic Question : Do you need to be ECFMG certified to apply for ERAS or Residency Match ?Technically speaking, No ! You don't need to be ECFMG certified to either apply to Residency Programs OR to register for the NRMP Residency Match

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1158127419565810922006-04-25T22:39:00.000-07:002006-11-02T13:53:02.846-08:00

Beauty is only skin deep and unfortunately, so are the chances for an IMG to get into a Dermatology residency program. But then again, like we spoke in Radiology, it may be possible to eventually land a residency in Dermatology after "getting into the system" through a residency in Internal Medicine , Family Practice, etc.Lotsa things contribute to making Dermatology very very tough :1. American

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152870660596033992006-04-20T02:20:00.000-07:002006-07-25T11:44:39.040-07:00

I always believed "Old is Gold" until I got to know that most residency programs prefer "Fresh-Out-of-Medical-School" graduates. But it was good to know that it DID NOT mean a full-stop to the oldies ;-) There is no absolute definition for an “Old IMG” in terms of age or time since clinical medicine was last practiced, rather is relative to the "cut-off" criteria of residency programs. But for

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152677156442659602006-04-18T20:59:00.000-07:002006-10-18T16:41:34.183-07:00

Here's a birds-eye-view of how your Match Year is gonna look - I have outlined an overall synopsis of the process..the Details will be covered in time in the "Step-By-Step" section.[In the following, note that you must endeavour to complete steps 1 to 6 by the last week of August !]= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =1. Apply for ERAS Token through OASIS (Usually Released July 1st each year): 75$2.

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152244002764332302006-04-18T20:30:00.000-07:002007-05-05T18:46:24.187-07:00

If your residency application were a Cheese-Sandwich, then there is no arguing over the fact that externships and observerships add more cheese to your sandwich ;-) ! At the same time, do not underestimate your potential at the very place where you do the clinical term . Though not always, but often, an observership or an externship is not only an investment that YOU make, it's also a

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152607149963071862006-04-16T01:20:00.000-07:002007-03-29T20:04:25.375-07:00

What exactly is Internal Medicine ? An Internist is a physician who completes a residency in Internal Medicine. A good way of describing an Internist is a doctor trained in managing hospital inpatients. It is akin to doing a Post-Graduate(PG) course in "General Medicine" in countries like India.According to the Association of American Medical Colleges an Internist is : "A personal physician who

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1151654013637314012006-04-15T00:43:00.000-07:002007-07-22T13:50:33.168-07:00

From the year 2010, ECFMG will be charging everyone 50$ to even THINK of taking the USMLE - Well, I was obviously kidding, trying to do a Jay Leno - but seriously, you got to pay even to START your ERAS residency application....Jeeez ! Then they make you pay for each program you apply. In the end of the year, by December, you have to pay AGAIN to NRMP, to participate in the Match.Lets go over

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1151791999306622762006-04-10T15:08:00.000-07:002007-08-31T13:07:16.661-07:00

We can categorize application strategies for the NRMP match into two - you can either do "wide" or go "deep" !"Wide" StrategyThis is very much like carpet bombing - a technique that the Air-force uses to take out possible targets in a single fly-over sweep over suspicious areas. This application strategy , (some also call it the Shot-Gun Method), implies applying to AS MANY PROGRAMS as your

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1151814558080743592006-04-01T21:11:00.000-08:002007-01-08T23:59:03.926-08:00

The inflow of IMG applications has seen an exponential rise since the last 2-3 years. Here are some reasons that we can attribute this to:1. Lot more IMGs risking the USMLE-Residency process due to laxity in visas for the Step 2 CS (also read at FMGvisas.blogspot.com) and a lot more test centers available throughout the globe (There was a time when IMGs had to travel all the way to Singapore!)2.

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152666352591886412006-03-16T17:50:00.000-08:002006-07-11T18:10:04.756-07:00

I don't how many of you will agree on this - but I feel the whole matching process does need more transparency and clarity - both on the programs side and from ERASMost Programs, on their part, do an extremely poor job of mentioning on their websites WHAT EXACTLY their screening / selection critiria are. Most program websites are outdated or give vague generalized criteria - as a result they end

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1150949659600432842006-03-10T20:58:00.000-08:002006-09-22T21:14:45.766-07:00

"Shhhhhhhhhhh !! ...don't talk aloud about that... ", Melissa told John as John asked her if it was true that Maria got in because she had 'friends' in the program ?Connections, Nepotism, Cronysim , Bias, Partiality , favouritism ....all leaves of the same tree, eh ? :-) Contacts and connections have always mattered to various degrees - do matter - and will matter in all walks of life - not just

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1150658687855873032006-02-18T12:22:00.000-08:002006-12-27T21:34:00.840-08:00

Definitely tough - but a residency in general surgery ain't impossible. A friend of mine recently got a residency position at the Methodist Hospital System in Houston on a J1 Visa and I shall be putting up advice from him pretty soon.G. surgery has become kinda easier for IMGs over the past 2-3 years due to a reduced interest by AMGs. who are rather drawn increasingly to Anesthesiology ,

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1150677899133594262006-01-18T17:43:00.000-08:002007-06-29T14:16:46.419-07:00

For many IMGs who come to the United States on a visitor's visa and unfortunately do not match - returning back to home countries does not do much to improve chances for the following years match. Indeed, after the March Match announcements, the IMG / FMG has about 5-6 months (until September ERAS application opening) to improve his resume (and hence matching chances) for the subsequent match.

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1150320206143268412006-01-14T14:21:00.000-08:002007-01-21T04:48:46.756-08:00

First, for the uninitiated : USCE = United States Clinical Experience !Externships, Observerships, Clerkships, Electives, Mini-Residency, Sub-internships are all types of USCE.1. Externship or a Sub-internships or a Mini-Residency is like doing a medical school internship in another hospital which gives a good hands-on experience, you are allowed to do physical exams, touch the patients besides

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134288194317218982006-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:002007-05-15T20:44:14.243-07:00

I would rather that you refer to my United States Clinical Experiences List Blog for the updated list of Externships , Observerships and Electives by StateContact these early in the game - coz' slots get filled pretty fast ! Often you will need to pay them - but then ..wut the heck - if you're anyways spending 6000-7000$ who cares for an extra grand ! Some places may insist that you arrange your

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1145506287047661592006-01-09T21:07:00.000-08:002007-01-16T05:34:27.163-08:00

Haven't most of us thought that a 'passing Step 3 score' was all that was needed - since we only want it for the coveted H1B Visa ?But do they really matter as much for getting into a residency? This question kept burning in my mind since a long time until I met a ex-Program Director of a community program. This is what he had to say : Step 3 scores do matter and in some candidates they could

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1144431469561393492006-01-08T10:36:00.000-08:002006-12-02T11:19:37.873-08:00

Often, due to a visa scare, IMGs think of GRE as a loophole to enter the USA. Ofcourse there are many who are genuinely interested in pursuing something different like Masters and PhDs in Genetics, Medical Informatics, Immunolgy, etc. There are some distinct advantages and disadvantages of this route towards a residency:Advantages:1. You get to be in the USA, free to do observerships /

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1137134091381616402006-01-05T22:28:00.000-08:002006-09-23T18:46:37.940-07:00

Plan your year ahead keeping in mind the deadlines that you will need to be disciplined about..So set and tune your circadian body clocks today ;-)Here's the Timeline for Match 2007 !August 15, 2006 Applicant registration begins at 12:00 noon eastern time.September 1, 2006Institution / program registration begins at 12:00 noon eastern time.December 1, 2006Applicant registration deadlineNote:

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1136847987302949782006-01-04T14:50:00.000-08:002007-03-17T12:58:06.531-07:00

Update: Dean's Letter is Now considered outdated for the NRMP Residency Match . ERAS now requires the MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation) instead. However ERAS will still accept the Dean's Letter in place of MSPE for those unable to secure an MSPE for the 2007 Match. Read more about that Here.I must have been lucky that my medical college provided a Dean's Letter without the hassle of

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1144053426993268342006-01-03T01:20:00.001-08:002007-04-19T16:04:48.623-07:00

Awrite ! This is for those fellas who will take nothing less than the state of Arnold Schwarzenegger & Beverly Hills for a Residency. To be a special place means you gotta have special credentials. It's funny how this country called USA is called United States and Yet each state seems to have it's own distinctive requirements all the time :-)For starters, the so-called California Letter is

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1143852635613532512006-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:002006-04-11T23:10:54.686-07:00

You may download the Detailed 2006 Match Statistics Data Table File (PDF) from NRMP HereOrRead up this summary that was sent out by the ECFMG:"For the fourth consecutive year, the number of first year (PGY-1) residency positions offered through the Match increased. A total of 21,659 first year positions were offered in the 2006 Match, held earlier this month. This represents an increase of 205

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134771746997752842006-01-01T14:17:00.000-08:002007-09-03T19:48:35.015-07:00

A very debatable topic since a long time - I won't make any commitments on this one coz, it works differently with different people, but I shall analyze the different perspectives of a prematch offer and leave decision making to you guys :-) The purpose of this blog is to keep you pre-informed and prepared !What is a Prematch ? For those who do not know, a 'Pre-match' or an 'Out of Match Position

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1149104870970313792005-12-31T12:47:00.000-08:002006-12-29T23:53:32.063-08:00

Make no mistake, it's not all that easy as other branches for IMGs.- It's often labelled as a "lifestyle" field, with good academic feel, free weekends, excellent pays and with minimum job stress with almost no emergencies (the only calls are frozen section diagnoses and some autopsies and most program allow residents to be "on call" from their home ! - which, well, makes it competitive- Add to

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1142903489944162222005-12-20T17:02:00.000-08:002006-11-26T08:36:59.156-08:00

If everyone does an observership and everyone gets the 'letter' - how are you gonna give yourself the edge ? Which means the 'letter' should make the difference :-) And which means, you got to keep your doc enthusiastic enough about you to write some good stuff at the end of your term.Let's hang on to some simple rules and tips:1. Be professionally dressed at all times with a doctor's coat ,

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134862752812969062005-12-17T23:59:00.000-08:002006-04-08T12:45:25.166-07:00

University Programs: The cream ! Research Opportunities, Academic orientation, Teaching Faculty and better fellowship placements. University - Affiliated Community Programs: Research & Academic Opportunities - well atleast better than community programs !Community Programs: These by definition are meant to serve the community. The faculty is not really obliged to teach residents but many senior

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1142569531752388942005-12-16T20:24:00.000-08:002007-07-22T12:21:02.352-07:00

Some Recommendations about being Recommended !Why US LORs Rock ?First of all, why do Program Directors need LORs at all? Because they carry a big responsiblity in choosing the right people to look after their patients safely for the next three years and are seeking assurance about the guys they are interested in! It's like - while choosing a good car dealer for buying a used car, we naturally ask

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134076274824884702005-12-16T13:10:00.000-08:002006-12-13T06:12:43.893-08:00

Be informed that while interviewing, programs typically choose about 10 times their intake capacity and little more as per their budget, on a set date from the pool of applications that have been received through ERAS by then. So if there are 12 positions expect about 140-150 interviewees. This 'set date' is unofficial and is highly variable. Interview invites are then sent out to selected

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134799801682466122005-12-11T22:09:00.000-08:002006-11-10T13:49:04.223-08:00

Here's the prominent distinct IMG 'groups' or 'cohorts' that can said to be competing for Residencies via USMLE each year:1. 'Fresh-out-of-medschool' graduates from Foreign Countries - this breed is steadily growing due to increased awareness, faster finishing of USMLE steps and easier visas for the Step 2 CS exam ! Read about the Step2CS visa lawsuit at FMGvisas.blogspot.com. The competitive

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134067702079220972005-12-09T10:41:00.000-08:002006-02-08T07:37:11.856-08:00

Howz ur USMLE prep going ? Feeling cool ? Here you are all starry eyed for your American Dream, imagining yourself in a white coat and doing the doctor thing in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurology, Obs-Gyn or other favourites - you give your USMLE steps and as you approach the application time, you realize that there are many things that you should have done ...but NO ONE TOLD YOU ! Damn !

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134077243696943552005-12-08T13:17:00.000-08:002006-12-08T05:54:27.116-08:00

Yeah - that could be a problem and that's why we are slowly sensing a new train of thought amongst IMGs - Here Goes : If you do not get into a residency of your choice - get into Family Practice - thus apply for FP as a backup when you apply for the match - in case you match into FP , work for a year and also participate in the next year's match. This way , the year-long residency experience

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1152927544538524392005-12-04T18:34:00.000-08:002007-08-22T15:26:26.698-07:00

Again, as for all my blogs, a post to amuse myself by recording the google , yahoo, msn and other search engine keywords that land people on this blog :-)"A blog to help with the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) - MyERAS""2006 USMLE "step 1 results""out of match residencies""pathology residency interview tips""FMG usmle score neurosurgery""2007 match nrmp""SAMPLE letter of

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1134867254151466032005-12-04T16:47:00.000-08:002006-11-14T21:31:05.586-08:00

These are just to give you guys some food for thought....Here goes:"Doctor's dollars shrinking, too"Anne Krishnan, July 2nd, 2006"Another warning to doctors with eye on US"- Peter Ang, Nov 30, 2005"Stealing From the Poor to Care for the Rich" - Title modified as 'The doctor crunch'- Dr. Norman M. Wall, December 14, 2005Strengths and Weaknesses of International Medical Graduates in US Programs: A

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1135036820521673462005-12-03T15:55:00.000-08:002007-06-01T07:14:44.226-07:00

The general principle is that International Medical Graduates get what the American Medical Graduates don't want.The following Residencies are generally considered very tough for IMGs and would need extremely high qualifications and good contacts to get in:- Dermatology - Just Toooooooooooo tough for IMGs :-(- Radiology - Though Direct Fellowships without Residency seem to working- Orthopedics

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1135405583624458072005-12-01T22:25:00.000-08:002005-12-23T22:28:18.926-08:00

This is a yahoo group I have started for periodic updates about USMLE, match and applying tips, visa-sponsoring programs, etc for IMGsClick to join Residency2007

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19696839.post-1137627831728483162005-11-30T15:43:00.000-08:002006-08-31T18:00:34.426-07:00

Whats PMR ? Stands for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ! And what are you called after you finish this residency ? A Physiatrist ...So What's a Physiatrist ? A physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries.Whoaaa ! Am I trying to confuse you here ? No -

Digitaldoc, MDnoreply@blogger.com2