My Last Try

So, this is going to be my last and final try for the residency matching. I have been a non-practicing, licensed physician since 2007 and I can't wait any longer. I'm not getting any younger, most of my batch mates had finished their residency and I'm still in a limbo whether I'll get my training in my own country or in the US.

I hope ERAS 2010 will be kinder to me compared to 2009.

So here is the run down of what I did:

1] Completed USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK and 2 CS in 2008.
~ spent 6 months for Step 1 (I cheated, because I started reviewing on the last quarter of 2007)
~ spent 3 months for Step 2 CK
~ spent 2 months for Step 2 CS

Since it is common to have ~~regrets~~ mistakes during the review, I'll list them all down here:
a] I didn't use Kaplan and/or usmleworld.com. Because of this, my grades are lower than what most programs would accept.
b] I should have spent more time reviewing for Step 1, as this is more important to the programs than Step 2 CS or CK.
c] I should have done my electives in the US instead of my home country.

Continuing the run down of what I did:

2] Completed USMLE Step 3 in 2009.
~ spent 5 months reviewing using only First Aid, Lange Q&A, and Kaplan QBook

3] Researched for residency programs for four months

4] Applied to exactly 70 IMG-friendly programs (it's only IMG-friendly because no Americans would apply to these programs)
~ Family Medicne
~ Internal Medicine
~ Pediatrics
~ Psychiatry

5] Did the most "unfavorable" of all the USCE - you know what that is and got an LOR.

I did whatever a foreign medical graduate with a very limited resources can. I am now crossing my fingers and hoping that some programs will realize in my PS that although I may not be the smartest and brightest among the applicants, I am very professional and diligent in what I do best - being a doctor.

And come March 2010 and I still did not get into any programs, I will start my residency in my home country and leave behind all my US residency training hopes and dreams. Wherever I go, a liver will still be a liver, and a doctor will always be a doctor.

Wish me luck, and I wish all the fellow IMGs good luck on ERAS 2010.

At least I can say that I've done everything that I can.

Take care and Peace out!

cabizerra_royale

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Comment by vinn on February 6, 2010 at 11:08am: Good luck , we all wish u luck

Comment by raj on February 1, 2010 at 2:59pm: Hi,
I just read your post,It is very touching,we are all doing what we can in USA, your post is like a Mirror of my life and what I am going through.I hope you will get this year and the same wish goes to me also.
Just wishing you very best .........

Comment by mysnologist on January 30, 2010 at 9:05am: the destiny hide a gift 4u to get it
be patient
good luck

Comment by t husain on January 11, 2010 at 1:03am: dear friend atleast wait for post match scramble 2010. seriously there can a chance waiting just for you . during post match scramble even a person with average score can get into a program
good luck

Comment by dr radheyshyam dhiman on October 30, 2009 at 1:39am: good luck frnd

Comment by Rah, M.D. on September 11, 2009 at 10:05am: "But I still would like to believe that there is still a chance. Believe that you can and you will."

I'm crossing my fingers and keeping the hope alive! ^_^V

Comment by jinx on September 10, 2009 at 10:10am: I can relate to your situation. I'm from the Philippines too and feel that my chances for the match are slim. But I still would like to believe that there is still a chance. Believe that you can and you will.