- Joined
- Dec 11, 2017
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
I am an IMG from a Caribbean Medical School (Ross University). I need guidance related to a topic that is giving me anxiety and is interrupting my mental ability to study for step I.
I took 1 semester off (Jan-May 2017) before finishing my last semester of basic sciences on 2017 to solve a very urgent situation in my family (life or death - suicidal brother) I did not have any other option. Then I solved the situation and finish my second year strong in the summer semester ( May-Aug - an option given at Ross University).
My plan was to pass COMP and study for 3 months and given my COMP result of 205 and my residency choice: psychiatry, it was more than enough time to achieve a competitive score... but then life threw me a huge curve ball...
My country Puerto Rico was hit by 2 hurricanes and Puerto Rico was declared a disaster zone on October 7, 2017. This completely interrupted my study period and put me behind for almost 4 months. Although I studied with the FA it was ineffective; I decreased my score by 11 points because w/o electricity, internet, water services it was very, very hard to "effectively" study for Step I.
Another semester from Sept. to Jan. has passed and I re-started my USMLE Prep at the beginning of February, now with electricity, internet and the benefit of UWorld MCQ's. Now, here is the problem in order to pay for this services (UWorld and the Kaplan course) I've been working part-time because the financial situation was complicated by these unexpected events. It is taking me time to improve my score and based on my preparation plan I will finish UWorld by the end of June. I will take the Step I in July and continue to my Clerkships in September. If this does not work my last chance is to start clerkships in November, but I'm working for this to not happen...
If you summed up everything we are talking about a Gap of aprox. 1 and 1/2 year before starting Clerkships. For those who understand the process of residency and have gone through it... How can this affect me (Residency-Psychiatry) given the circumstances because to be realistic this is not the typical gap planned for USMLE Study and Research?
Thanks in advance.
Note: Given the nature of RUSM curriculum I had to do a Withdrawal (W) after 6 months of the hurricane because it is the maximum time RUSM give to us to take the exam. Right now, I reapplied and they accept me back with 6 more months to study for the exam.
All these gaps will make me finish my M.D. in a time period close to 6 years. The thing is that this pisses me off a lot; it was not my plan, I am a very humble and competitive person and this is like the most unexpected thing in the world for me. Your help will be appreciated.
I took 1 semester off (Jan-May 2017) before finishing my last semester of basic sciences on 2017 to solve a very urgent situation in my family (life or death - suicidal brother) I did not have any other option. Then I solved the situation and finish my second year strong in the summer semester ( May-Aug - an option given at Ross University).
My plan was to pass COMP and study for 3 months and given my COMP result of 205 and my residency choice: psychiatry, it was more than enough time to achieve a competitive score... but then life threw me a huge curve ball...
My country Puerto Rico was hit by 2 hurricanes and Puerto Rico was declared a disaster zone on October 7, 2017. This completely interrupted my study period and put me behind for almost 4 months. Although I studied with the FA it was ineffective; I decreased my score by 11 points because w/o electricity, internet, water services it was very, very hard to "effectively" study for Step I.
Another semester from Sept. to Jan. has passed and I re-started my USMLE Prep at the beginning of February, now with electricity, internet and the benefit of UWorld MCQ's. Now, here is the problem in order to pay for this services (UWorld and the Kaplan course) I've been working part-time because the financial situation was complicated by these unexpected events. It is taking me time to improve my score and based on my preparation plan I will finish UWorld by the end of June. I will take the Step I in July and continue to my Clerkships in September. If this does not work my last chance is to start clerkships in November, but I'm working for this to not happen...
If you summed up everything we are talking about a Gap of aprox. 1 and 1/2 year before starting Clerkships. For those who understand the process of residency and have gone through it... How can this affect me (Residency-Psychiatry) given the circumstances because to be realistic this is not the typical gap planned for USMLE Study and Research?
Thanks in advance.
Note: Given the nature of RUSM curriculum I had to do a Withdrawal (W) after 6 months of the hurricane because it is the maximum time RUSM give to us to take the exam. Right now, I reapplied and they accept me back with 6 more months to study for the exam.
All these gaps will make me finish my M.D. in a time period close to 6 years. The thing is that this pisses me off a lot; it was not my plan, I am a very humble and competitive person and this is like the most unexpected thing in the world for me. Your help will be appreciated.