Been a long time forum reader but I was never the type to post things. I’m the kind of person that really relied on the “misery likes company” cliche. Whenever I had any problems regarding medical school or this whole application process, I would surf these forums to look for people in the same situation. Granted 9/10 times it would lead to discouragement and more stress (secondary to the negative trolls out there), but once in awhile I’d come across an inspiring story that would give me just enough motivation to keep pushing forward. I have had such a rough journey in pursuit of a residency that I promised myself that the day I do match, if I ever do, I would write my story. It is by no means inspiring or motivational but I hope it helps someone out there who is in my same situation….…
First as always let's start with stats….? I know you all want to know
- I am an IMG, graduated from Carib med school. US Citizen.
- First Choice: Pediatrics, in time was willing to do anything
- I graduated med school with a 3.5 GPA, never really had trouble with my courses and matriculated in good standing. Postponed graduation year by 6 months (from June 2014 to Jan 2015) due to my first Step Failure
- USMLE Transcript (USMLE Step freaking 7)
- USMLE Step 1:
- 1st attempt: 183 (fail)
- 2nd attempt: 212 (pass)
- Usmle Step 2 CS
- USMLE Step 2 CK
- 1st attempt: 198 (fail)
- 2nd attempt: 195 (fail) did worse too
- 3rd attempt: 224 (pass)
- USMLE Step 3
- 1st attempt: 198 (barely pass)
ERAS History Timeline and What I did.
- 2013-2014 Application Year:
- Failed Step 1, not going into detail, I changed my study habits, studied full time, retook it asap, took practice tests - barely passed lol, 212!
- Spent ~$6k in applications, applied to 240+ programs due to my Step 1 Failure (Peds, IM, FM, Prelim Surgery, Prelim IM)
- Received 2 Interviews: both pediatrics and both a courtesy interview from programs I rotated in. Interviews went well as the administration/attendings knew me
- My Significant other matched in one of these programs in the meantime (more on this later)
- Received first failing Step 2 CK score report - and was forced to withdraw from the match (6k flushed down the drain)
- I continued to finish off my rotations and made an emphasis to suck up extra hard in my program (program is known to take IMGs)
- I studied for Step 2CK and retook it - results came back - again Failed! Danggit
- Super devastated, went under depression, took a couple of weeks to go through DABDA but after talking with family and friends, I ultimately decided to keep freaking trying.
- Took time off and postponed rotations to really focus on studying full time.
- Changed my study habits, made and stuck to my schedule, take a crapton of practice tests, went through UWorld 3x- re-took the test after 3 months- passed with 224 (not great but at least average)
- Finished off the rest of my rotations, which actually was beneficial because for the next application year my year of graduation was 2015 instead of 2014 so it looked like I was a fresh grad
- 2014-2015 Application Year:
- Spent ~5k on applications, still applied to 200+ programs, I removed some that were straight rejections from the previous year but I still wanted to maximize due to 3 failures in Step. Like the previous year I applied broadly and included Pathology and PMR.
- Received 4 interviews: 2 from the previous programs I interviewed with (peds), 1 Internal Medicine
- One program offered me an IV because I targeted it during my 4th year and my significant other did well during intern year
- PD told me that my USMLE’s pretty much suck, take Step 3 and that we can re-evaluate next year
- Other IV’s were standard, blah, blah
- Match Day: no match
- SOAP: No SOAP
- Depression Cycle all over again, take time to yourself, re-evaluate life, went into hiding from the world due to embarrassment, shame, and self pity.
- Came out of it, decided to stop being a little B*t*h: decided that no matter what this is what I want and I'll keep trying
- One specific change I made was to try and get a realistic “Plan B” Career in the meantime while I applied year after year after year, because unfortunately just because I didn't match I still had to pay rent
- During the interim year I continued to keep contact with the residents I worked with during my 3rd and 4th year rotations, tackled as many research projects as I could with hopes to get something published (because honestly so many research projects get started but almost none finish)- I did not get any publications but I was able to work with attendings (who I asked for recommendations in the future)
- I needed a paying job, because honestly I was broke. The best scenario is to find a “clinically” oriented job, but unfortunately there's nothing much you can do with an MD. I worked as a part time (3 days/week) Science Tutor for a City College for minimum wage (Bio, Chem, Orgo, Anatomy and Physiology), not medical but at least I could say it mention it as a “basic sciences” foundation builder during my interviews.
- I did well in this job and moved up to tutoring Nursing students, specifically the NCLEX (well this got more medical)
- Made an acquaintance who also worked at a PA school and asked for a recommendation. Got another tutoring position, tutoring the same subjects but on a higher level (PA students)- again more medical is good! (paid a little better $20/hr but only for 2 days a week
- Holding these 2 jobs, I worked 6 days a week which allowed me to make somewhat of a paycheck. SO was paying rent and I was helping here iand there for food and utilities (thank God for her)
- During this time, I studied for Step 3 whenever I had free time. When I had no students to tutor, I studied. When I got home, I studied. Driving to work, I listened to kaplan videos, basically I studied. I knew I needed to kill it to have any chance.
- Time goes by, I take the Step 3: I passed but did I kill it? Heck No!!!! Got 196 which was 6 points over the pass rate. (I think they may have changed the pass rate to 200 now lol). Anyways, at least I'll have the score prior to next season
- I kept up with my contacts during my clinical years (attendings and residents), my school counselor (who was not helpful at all with advice). SGU’s OCG department who is actually good at sending alternate jobs/ paid research.
- I applied to almost every medical job available in neighboring hospitals, specifically targeting hospitals with residency programs
- Landed a research coordinator job for a hospital that was 2.5 hours away. Took this right away (paid 50k/ year) plus had the opportunity for more connections. Worked here for 3 months under a boss who was really bad, like bad (dont want to go into detail). He agreed to pay me 50k/year but then changed it to paying me $15/hour 2 days out of my 5 day work week, anyways I sucked it up and stayed positive being that there wasn't a lot of options
- 2015-2016 Application Year:
- While hating my life because I was driving 24 hours/week to and from work at the same time being ripped off of a paycheck. I slept at night saying thank you for the family and support I have, the opportunity I was given (paid clinical job), and the strength to keep trying. Staying positive is really key guys, can't stress that enough!
- Decided to take the online MBA, because I considered going the medical administration route as a back up (still currently finishing this)
- Got a random email one day from my med school's OCG department about a paid Administration Position at the hospital I rotated in during my 4th year, this was also the same hospital my SO was a resident in, and was 2 blocks away from our apt.
- Called every contact I have (which is why it's important not to burn old bridges) and asked for their recommendations- ultimately I got the position after 6 weeks of waiting and following up!
- Gladly quit my previous residency coordinator position! Giving my boss my 2 weeks notice felt awesome.
- This position is what ultimately led to my increased exposure to the program at the hospital. I specifically asked for all the projects involving the department and I really worked hard.
- Attended all the meetings
- Generally show my interest and worked hard to stand out
Worked with the residents and attendings
- Improved the department's numbers
- When application season came around I received 3 Interviews (all through contacts I made in the past): 1 peds (in the hospital I was working for), 2 Internal Medicine (one prematch)
- Another $5k in the hole
- IM prematch did not offer me the spot
- Ranked 2 hospitals in my NRMP ROL (bleh)
- Not very confident about my odds
Ultimately, Match Day came last week and I matched in Pediatrics! My first choice all along. Just goes to show that hard work will always pay off. I was trying to keep this short but it got super long. In any case, I didn't include a lot of the details and I don't want to mention any hospital names (so to the trolls out there you can bag on that) or any names for that matter for privacy purposes. In any case, I don't feel like proofreading all that haha but this is my story and my advice, take it for what it's worth. I’m going to bust my ass in residency to prove at least to this program that giving people like “us” a chance could be the best investment after all. If it helps you feel better for even one second, it was worth it. Stay positive, stay strong, if its what you want, go get it!
Ill try to jump back into this post here and there prior to starting residency in July, in case you guys have any specific questions, but no promises! I wish you all the best of luck, and know that you are not alone in this.
Blessings,
PositiveMD (lamest name ever but I couldn't think of anything else)
