My USMLE Journey

[RauniyarAmit]

My USMLE Journey
Hi guys,
This is Amit K. Rauniyar, from KMC 2nd batch. I just wanted to share some of my experiences of the "USMLE journey." I still remember the days when I and two of my friends--Suresh and Nimesh--finally decided to study for USMLE. I was a medical officer in Internal Medicine at KMC then. I talked to my parents regarding my wish to take USMLE.
I remember my discussion with my dad. He asked me about the prospects, the preparations and finally the expenses. I told him, "Dad, it might incur the expenses to somewhere around 10-12 thousand dollars." Then he said, "Well then after that you'll get into a residency and have a better future, yeah?" I said, "Dad, but even after that I might not get a position and might have to return empty handed." Naturally, it stunned for a while; nevertheless, he finally encouraged me to go ahead and thus commenced my journey.
Initially, I did my preparations along with my job at KMC. It was very hectic, though. I collected the materials: the Kaplan books and Q&A books and the DVDs.
However, the real preparation was not as easy as thought of before. It took me almost a week to plan my way ahead trying to figure out where to start from. I used to study on an average for 8-10 hours every day. Most of the time, I studied alone at my bijou home. Sometimes we had group discussions at library and Angel's apartment. Besides, we had some "online study" with Nimesh. We were real IT kids. Nimesh often pestered me with his questions over phone…but to be true it was indeed fruitful. After 7-8 months of preparation the test day for Step 1 was approaching near but there was no sign of our "scheduling permit." Incidentally, it was "missent" to Iran.
Every day was getting tense and all of a sudden there was news that the Prometric Testing Center at Gyaneshwor was closing. We had a great hassle arranging for the testing center. Ultimately, we had to decide to take our test in Bangladesh. It cost us extra 50,000 Nepali bucks. Not all was good at Bangladesh test center, too. On the test day, we were already very excited and jittery. We entered the exam hall and registered for the day's test only to find that there was some "technical problem" in the computers. That appreciated our anxiety beyond limit. After an arduous attempt, we managed to take the test some 2-3 hours later than scheduled and finally the day was over. So far as the test concerned, I was quite satisfied as I felt I had done quite well. After that there was nothing much to do than wait for the results. In the meanwhile, we started preparations for Step 2 and CS. The anticipated date for results was approaching near but again due to the poor postal services, it took far longer than usual to get our results. Nonetheless, when I got the results all my excitement and confidence flagged down to level zero when as the scores were below 90.
Still undaunted, and bolstered by my ever encouraging father and family, I recomposed myself and tried to prepare well for Step 2 along with CS. I was scheduled to take the test in June 2006. Once again the Prometric Center in Nepal was closed during our stipulated time of the test and we had to schedule our testing in New Delhi, India. To add to my misery, due to some personal and family problems, I was not in a state of mind to take the test. Yet I focused myself on the test like Arjun of the Mahabharat on the eye of the revolving fish. I suffered as though I was undergoing travail. And I bore it hoping to bear something more fruitful that I will cherish for ever. With God Ganesha always by my side, I took the test. I was not quite satisfied with the test and just wished I did not perform poorer than Step 1.
With the results pending, we processed for the travel to the US and I along with Nimesh, Suresh and a senior colleague, Mahendra, flew for the dream land. It was there that I received my Step 2 results and to my astonishment I had scored above 90. It boosted my morale, and I started preparing for CS with new zeal and vigor. I must thank my seniors, especially Keshav and Ragess, for their support and guidance for CS. All of us got through the CS in the very first attempt.
Unfortunately, life in the US was not easy to start with. I was feeling quite lonely and homesick. Had it not been for the company and support of the friends and seniors, it would have really been hellish. They made us feel a home far away from home with them. Still the cost of living was so high that we all had to find some job. I remember the day after CS when I and Suresh went to Devon Street, an Indian market in Chicago, entering every shop and asking the owners, "Do you guys need help?"
It was really tough. Some Nepalese were working at gas stations. I and some of my friends got to serve at Indian/Pakistani restaurants. The future doctors attending customers rather than patients on the couch! Sounds bizarre, doesn't it? Soon we got inured to it as it was a matter of survival and was going to help us achieve our coveted goal.
At the apartment, it was more fun with friends. We were five to six at a time, sharing expenses and dining Nepali food every day. Of course, those working in the restaurants occasionally brought some food from their places. But the dainty, home-cooked food beat everything, bringing the smell of the soil and home. We missed our mums and tried to relish their memories in these yummy foods.
On September 1st we applied for the residency. I applied mostly to the internal medicine programs and some family medicine programs as back up. The journey was never easy. Even after receiving ECFMG certification, we were worried about interview calls. It was more frustrating for me when my colleagues used to get calls but I had to keep waiting and waiting indefinitely. They say: "Every cloud has a silver lining." I saw the streak of hope coming eventually. I managed to get 7 calls. I started preparing for the interviews along with Step 3, one of the toughest examinations I have ever faced.
Traveling during the interviews was the only time when I got a chance to see some of the beautiful places of the US although most of my destinations were close to New York. As for interviews, I finished 5 of them and yet no pre-match positions were offered. I was confident that I had performed well and should be getting good responses from the programs concerned. The fate had taken another turn by then. I had to retake Step 3 and at that point I thought my journey for USMLE was over.
Most of my friends had already reached their destinations by securing a position in the US medical field and I was one of the few ones in the group who were left behind. Sad at heart, I made up my mind to try next. I faced the remaining interviews though, and retook Step 3. At the same time, I managed to get an opportunity to do an externship in Oklahoma and strengthen my credentials for next year. I scheduled to go there in April 2007 for 3 months. With still some time at hand, I resumed my restaurant work and kept fending myself.
The lady luck, however, showed her magnanimity. I had passed the acid test she had put me in. Quite surprisingly, in mid-March my results for the second attempt at Step 3 came pat for the residency. I was on top of the world. Yet some fear gripped me. The match day--March 13--was approaching but I had no excitement as I was sure I would not get a position. As a result, even on the match day, I got ready to go to my job. I had no pep to look at the match results but for my friends' sake. "Expect the best and get ready for the worst," my dad always exhorts me with this proverbial line. Therefore, uncertain and hesitatingly, and yet with some hope, I glanced at the results and guess what guys!!!....to my utter surprise I had matched. I could not believe my eyes. Most surprisingly, I later found out that I had matched to the program I had placed on top of my list that is Cook County Hospital in Chicago. My dream came true and I have been working here since August 2007.
Well I have a lot more to share and believe me this was not the end of the journey. Rather, it was just the beginning, a beginning of a new journey into the US health system. I would share more of the remaining journey in my next posts if you guys are interested.
Meanwhile if you have any queries or concerns about USMLE please feel free to mail me. I will be more than happy to share my views with you all.
That's all for now and my good wishes to all of you who are already on this voyage or planning to begin one.
Take care

----------------------------
Amit K. Rauniyar
Internal Medicine Resident
Cook County Hospital
Chicago, IL, USA

[jotsna]

hi,

congratulations!!!!......nice to know you finally achieved what you wanted. I'm jotsna from india and i've just completed my mbbs.......preparing for my step one scheduled in november.
keep us updated with everything and off course your experiences.....it would be of great help for beginners like us.
I have an F1 visa and will be leaving to usa in july next year......is there any possibility that i will be given a cs visa if i quit my f1....any idea do let me know.

regards
jotsna

[RauniyarAmit]

Hi Jotsna,
I am sorry I have no idea about the F1 visas, those are student visas if I am not wrong. We usually come to US in visitor visas (B1/B2) and I dont think its that difficult for we medical professionals to get the visas for CS, esp from Nepal. I hope its the same from India. And if you already have some sort of US visas, i think it should be easier to get the visa.
Best of luck for ur USMLE. Time management is the most crucial part of USMLE. So plan well ahead. Wish you all the best.
I'll try to post something about my residency in my next post when i get some free time. Take care.

[nepalidoctor]

Hi Amit Dai/Sir,
It's great to learn that you have achieved what you desired...I believe 'all's well that ends well'...no wonder your hardship and struggle paid in the end.You might not be remembring me but you had taken a few of our bedside classes while I was in 5th semester...currently I have just begun my internship..Hopefully I too will be following you in U.S so let's hope to get lessons from you there as well!!..
Anyway congrats once again and cheers to you,
Mr.nepalidoctor

[Khushboo]

Hello Amit Dai

Finally, you have achieved your goal & congratulation for the great success. I am in the third year right now & after a month will be in the final year. Even I want to do USMLE & after looking the success of our seniors, it really motivates the people like we to do USMLE.

I'll try to do my best to achieve my goal & hope to get success too. We are really glad to have seniors like you & hope to learn a lot from you in the future & definitely under the guidance of you people, we can achieve our target.

Best of luck for your bright future.....

[arjun limbu]

Hi Amit Dai
congrats

ARJUN
KMC 11 BATCH

[Nature]

[quote=RauniyarAmit;115180]My USMLE Journey
I would share more of the remaining journey in my next posts if you guys are interested.
I will be more than happy to share my views with you all.
That's all for now and my good wishes to all of you who are already on this voyage or planning to begin one.
Take care

----------------------------
Amit K. Rauniyar
Internal Medicine Resident
Cook County Hospital
Chicago, IL, USA[/QUOTE

Yes, Dr. Amit we are really interested. Your USMLE journey was really inspiring,and it was full of twist and turn... downs and finally up. So ,please post soon your remainig part of journey, we would also be more than happy to read you....

[bobbydeepu]

hi amit bhaiya,
congratulations and we wud like to know ur present situation there.do keep posting ur present experiences as ur post is very inspiring and we'd love to know more from u.and also i need a suggestion.i'm planning to get started for my step 1.so can u give me some help by telling exactly how i can start for a better journey?


bobby

[anmol]

First Congratulations Then Here Is My Question....??
Were You A Very Talented Student?did You Study Mbbs In Scholarship ? I Want To Know If A Medium Level Student Can Pass Or Not This Usmle. I Never Scored More Than 80% In Slc,+2 And Now In Mbbs Study Too But My Score Was Always Between 70%-80%.

[RauniyarAmit]

hello nepalidoctor
best of luck for ur usmle......i'll be glad to help u all with any suggestions i can.........i'm sorry i have not been quite active on xenomed but from now on i'll try to be online at least once a day and answer any of ur queries.....i'll be mor than glad to help u all.................feel free to put forward ur queries.........take care

Originally Posted by nepalidoctor

Hi Amit Dai/Sir,
It's great to learn that you have achieved what you desired...I believe 'all's well that ends well'...no wonder your hardship and struggle paid in the end.You might not be remembring me but you had taken a few of our bedside classes while I was in 5th semester...currently I have just begun my internship..Hopefully I too will be following you in U.S so let's hope to get lessons from you there as well!!..
Anyway congrats once again and cheers to you,
Mr.nepalidoctor