Is RESEARCH counted as USCE?? - bacmark

[ArchivalUser]

Research experience is not useful for getting LORs....however, research will improve ur resume. For ex, if a PD is considering 2 candidates for residency & both of them have similar scores, USCE, etc.....but if only one of them has research experience, preference will be given to him. Also, generally not all research experience is given importance during interviews. Only those ppl, who are able to publish at least 1 paper in a journal are considered.

LORs should be earned through either externship or observership, i.e something that shows that u have had experience in US hospital settings (something that Research experience cannot offer). While the former has much greater value, it is very difficult or almost impossible to get into it. So, most of the IMGs go for observership.

Research experience is optional, intended to strengthen ur resume, while externships or observerships are mandatory. However, research experience might be really useful if ur planning to apply for highly competitive specialities like Pathology, Surgery, Orthopedics, etc

[ArchivalUser]

I hope this will help you out.
Much of the discussion on this forum is about how difficult the process is for everyone. People join the forum to find support, suggestions, and encouragement for their own path to residency. When someone posts a success story, it is especially motivating because finding that success was an incredible challenge.

As far as USCE, there is no formal application process you can use to find such experiences. If you haven't already, search online for likely spots, like larger hospitals, medical school affiliated hospitals, etc. to find contact information. Prepare a cover letter briefly explaining what you are seeking and your medical credentials, when you would like to do it, and for how long you want it, and attach a CV to this. Email or send to as many sites as you can, and then follow up in a week or two by phone or email to ask if they can offer such an experience. Expect lots to say they don't offer it, but persistence pays off, and if you keep at it, you will find an opportunity. Finding USCE does take time. Students have reported that they sent 100s of emails.

It is worth the effort as so many programs now expect you to have done this, and you are usually also able to get a letter of recommendation from it as well, and both doing the experience and having a US written LOR are very, very helpful in increasing your chances to match.

Other ideas for finding USCE are:

¢ Use hospital + med school websites to watch for opportunities in your area (research grants, surgical assistant jobs).
¢ Explore indigent clinics, public health offices for jobs, volunteer opportunities.
¢ Check out non-profit groups that serve the disabled, the elderly.
¢ Look for any CME courses offered locally. These are often free and a great way to get to know US doctors, who might let you shadow them.
¢ Network also at a few selected places close to where you live.

[ArchivalUser]

one more question....if u dont get into any USCE and if you are just studying at home for USMLE...how do u account for this gap on your application? Wont it look bad if they see that we didnt do anything except sit at home and study for that period??

[ArchivalUser]

one more question....if u dont get into any USCE and if you are just studying at home for USMLE...how do u account for this gap on your application? Wont it look bad if they see that we didnt do anything except sit at home and study for that period??

[ArchivalUser]

one more question....if u dont get into any USCE and if you are just studying at home for USMLE...how do u account for this gap on your application? Wont it look bad if they see that we didnt do anything except sit at home and study for that period??

[ArchivalUser]

sorry for the double typing....it just happened ...i dunno how...