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Do you think you are ready to take Step 1 again? How are you scoring on the NBMEs and UWorld? One PD of an IM program told me that it is not all the scores. But of course failing twice would not be good. You have to get your foot in and then do a lot of networking. I have found that networking is 50% of the battle. People tend to get ivs at places they are known for good work. I have met a lot of residents who switched after one year. From FM to OB or from IM to ER etc. I would say get your foot in asap. Then you can be picky after a year or so.
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@alokin: If I do get into this program, I wont be able to switch cuz the PD would freak out (according to my husband) I failed Step 1 a few yrs back (not prepared enough), then took CS & then CK...so it's been a few years. I'm not completely done with UW yet...but UW scores: 67% & percentile is 73%...no NBME yet.
Even for this program, it's not all about scores. One girl got in last year with multiple attempts in each step but her husband was also in that program (just like my situation except I have better credentials than her)
Thank u for responding. I'm in such a dilemna. It's been such a long road & so many struggles along the way. My husband is saying one thing & at heart I'm not sure what to do.
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Your UWorld seems pretty good. Have you tried the UWorld practice exams? I found them to be pretty much in the ballpark. As far as the "feak out" goes ....Nobody is irreplacable. I think if I got into a program I would feel an obligation to complete it as well, but you do have to be true to yourself. Plus there is residentswap where you find someone who wants your spot and you can move onto another. i know of a person who switched from ER to family(from a more competitive to a less competitive). Just get your foot in.
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At this point then take the NBME's and see where do you stand...If you fail then you dont have a choice but If you pass and you have such examples at your program then go for it...
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@alokin: I haven't tried the UWSA's cuz I heard they overpredict ur scores by atleast 20 points. According to my husband, the PD would make ur life hell if you wanted to leave in the middle of the program or something like that so I dont know how much that's possible. My husband's seen resident swap, he wanted to go into ER but doesn't dare do anything like trying to switch now cuz he knows it will get ugly.
He just wants me to buckle down, study really hard & take the test next month. I want to do an NBME but UW is taking me a long time to get through. I have to do one soon. I know I'm not a good test taker. I get nervous & cant think properly on test day. I think I deserved a higher score on CK than what I got cuz I knew much more than my score reflects.
I think what you are saying after assessing my credentials & my situation is: I should apply for this program in the next 1-2 days & try to take this exam next month. Give it my all.
@matchh2012: I have to apply in the next 1-2 days or not apply at all this year. As I said, iv's are starting at the program. I'm not ready for an NBME just yet. But applying in the next 1-2 days is saying to the PD "I'm applying this year, please consider me" So I'll have to take this exam in November cuz my observership is in December.
My husband is basically saying with your scores & 1 attempt, what are the chances that you will get into Peds even with a good step 1 score? Infact, what are my chances? I dont even know. Probably low considering all the high scores I see on this forum. He says there's no guarantee. He says lets try for this program 1st & then think about other programs later. If I say FP isn't what I really wanna do, he says that he wanted to go into ER or IM/then Gastro but look at him now. And then that I will have to be away for the observerships/research. He doesn't want me to do all that so there is alot of pressure.
Thank you both very very much for your responses. Greatly appreciated.
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I have spent time on this forum asking for advice when I should be studying. But I think it's important to get other people's perspectives on this. People who are outside of the situation can think more clearly & objectively than me (who's being pressured)
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Just a food for thought....why would you want to go to a malignant program? If the PD is really that bad...run from it. You want 3 years of hell? Peds is doable with low scores. You will not get into very competitive programs, but even within Peds you have the programs that will take only 99s and programs that will take people who failed a step or two.
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@alokin: my husband doesn't think I can get in anywhere else with my credentials I guess & we dont have contacts. I dont know if he's being realistic or pessimistic. he thinks since he's going through it, I should get in & go through the three years & be done with it.
do you really think I can still get into peds without contacts? my husband will be very upset if I dont apply this year, I know this for sure.
he did tell me he regularly under reports hours in his program (to avoid getting a talk from the PD & having to explain himself), he is infact over worked & there is some racism & favoritism that goes on as well....some of my friends in other residencies are going through the favoritism too though...so I dont think it's particular to this program
but I think there are alot of people out there who want to get into any residency even if they have to suffer three years. it's becoming more & more competitive every year so those of us with low scores, should we just take whatever we can get?
I also heard that there will be more AMG's graduating next year so that's bad news for us.
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Just a 76 on CK. I dont think I'm a good test taker.
