Having a score of 78 in step 1 didn’t put me off the ground but made me realize that the next shot is the only shot I have. Nevertheless, I applied for residency through ERAS in October, with results of only one exam. I consecutively smashed step 2 in September 1999 with a score of 86, and took CSA within ten days. With only three interviews in hand I prepared with full efforts for them. Now, I am walking home with an Internal Medicine residency contract in hand. So friends, just doing poorly on one exam should not let you down, you will always have a chance.

Getting into residency is the dream for all IMGs coming to the US. My key to success in a foreign land has been the enthusiastic approach at every step that I took, from giving exams to getting into residency. USMLE scores matter a lot but I realized that you still have a chance by joining a US hospital and proving your worth. I impressed everybody with the hard work and intellectual strength and received strong letters of recommendation. Finally, I am going to a program of my choice. All the best to all of you, have a positive approach and attitude and things will work out the right way….

With one bullet in my gun even though with a score of 80/85 I knew I will make it up to there but how was the question to be resolved. I joined a research program at Stanford and outperform all my colleagues. Then was the day of the battle and as they say everyone, has their day and I knew this is my day. I knocked their socks off and with a strong follow up letter supporting my credentials did it…it left a big impact on the program director and with only 7 positions in the program I was matched into a internal medicine University Program.

The scores are important only till the invitation of interview, than it’s your performance during the interview counts. Overall, good communication skills and full information about the program expresses your commitment and compatibility to the program. Medical knowledge is usually not of utmost importance but the interviewer wants to see how you react under stress and adverse situations. Research experience helps as you have something to talk about and this might be the portion where you would know more then the interviewer.

I knew that this was going to be my best and my final try to get into a residency. I tried to make most of what ever I had in hand. I avoided university programs since AMG favor those and I always liked smaller community based programs since they are smaller in size and so the teaching there would be more 1:1. I sent in my application EARLY by end of August and started with a volunteer research job. I scheduled my interview as early as feasible. During interviews, I made sure that I spoke up and I presented my latest letters of recommendation everywhere. I constantly brushed up with the facts in "getting into a residency" by Kenneth Iserson. Make that your Bible. Close to the time to make rank lists, I again sent thank you notes to the prominent people in the program to make sure they know of my continuing interest in their program. (Matched into Internal Medicine)