[Ne_pal]

I was just going thru a post by Dr. Amit regarding his USMLE journey and it sounds encouraging. But i would still like to point out few facts which new USMLE takers should be aware about.

Listening only to success stories lets you know about the brighter side of USMLE. Please have the patience to go thru the failure stories in USMLE too. Infact it can make u become stronger.

1. Decision about taking USMLEs is very crucial, so decide genuinely otherwise there is no point just lingering around
2. Medical school background really helps u lot (know about MSPE). So topping class/good clinical experience/publications are helpful
3. If u r hard working and intelligent and have all the resources I would say take USMLE right away. Don spend time doing house jobs. But this way u need to score really high. But having a good clinical experience in the speciality u r applying is always and added benefit.
4. USMLE preparation:
a. Timing, Timing and Timing
b. Step 1: Group discussions/Kaplan notes, DVDs, Goljans pathology, UW
c. Step 2: Take after Step 1. Don keep a lot of vacuum in between. Kaplan notes/DVDs/UW/MKSAP etc
d. CS: Now it has become really a tough exam. The failure rates have increased dramatically. This is no joke exam. If u flunk in this exam it can crumple ur USMLE dream.
e. Step 3: A real tough exam. Now due to fierce competition its always better to have ur Step 3 results prior to applying (Sept 1)
5. Try to be in US as early as possible (I would say by April/May/June)
6. Have all ur exams done in first attempt. Don look for an attempt. It will kill u.
7. Try to stay connected with frens in US.
8. Try to build connections in US by doing observership/externship or whatever ships u can arrange. Mind u this will count a lot. Get US LORs!!!!


The Real Scenario:


It’s far competitive than u can even imagine. May sound easy when u hear my senior got into this and that program but u won’t realize the truth unless u come here to US!!
1. Score, score and score: No score can gurantee u a spot but definitely high scores can grant u an interview. So what’s this high score. 3 figure now u definitely need above 240 (I have to admit this) to get a decent no of interviews when u don have anything else to support ur candidacy. The higher the better!!
2. If u have scores less than 235 without any thing else to support IM will be heck competitive for u. If u have scores slightly below but other things to support then u will still get decent no of interviews. It is just hypothesized that low scores r preferred in Peds and FM. No way, everyone wants the best candidate and no morons. I have a piece of advice what past experience shows, if u have scores in low 80s or below 80 maybe abandoning USMLE dream is the best alternative unless u have a contact with the PDs. But there are idiosyncratic success stories. I hope I make some sense here!!
3. So aim high scores in USMLE being an IMG. This is a proven fact!!
4. The bitter truth is that high scores will grant u a call but not a spot mind it.
5. But if u r smart enough to get high scores/all first attempt with Step 3/USCE with US LORs/fresh grad/publications/overall strong connections then u may even pave ur way to Emory/Harvard!! And also performance during the interviews is very crucial. Have a good command over English, good sense of humor, no heavy accent, be slow, clear and polite. And mind it have a pleasant personality (be smiley!!)
6. Strong connections can get u into ur desired program even if u just meet there requirements. So don have false hopes that I got triple 99 I can make my way to Harvard. This is bullshit!! Even the Americans know that these IMGs study like for about 7-9 months for Step 1 while AMGs study for about 2 weeks.
7. Yeah but when this triple 99 has many other things like: good English with communication skills, US LORs, research publications, USCE, rocks the interview process and strong connections then he/she is the best candidate
8. The match process is becoming a very risky game to play. Everyone is trying to play safe by securing an out of the match position. So this is all about a game. Finally what counts is no matter how well u can play or how good u r in it, it’s not worth unless u have won the match for IMGs like us!!
So take home message for USMLE and residency is:
“score as high as u can (high 90s) to score ample no of interviews but only high score can’t gurantee u a spot, u need many other things like good English, USCE, US LORs, strong connections and a pleasing personality!”
Good luck to everyone