It's Possible

It's Possible

• Non-US IMG
• Step 1: 190
• Step 2: 216
• Step 3: 191
• All first attempt
• Didn't match last year (One interview)
• Didn't match THIS year (One interview)

Can a non-US IMG with low scores get a Surgery position in California?..... Yes she can!!

Dr Barone,

Today is one of the happiest days in my life! I started this journey on 2011 taking the steps, didn't get the best scores, actually I barely passed Step 1 (190). Then after graduating and taking step 2 (216), I applied to Match in 2014 for General Surgery. I just got one interview and I didn't match... was very difficult given the fact that I'm an IMG, not great scores, and no publications then.

After not matching it felt like it was almost impossible with my scores. I knew I needed to do something to improve my CV so I decided to contact a surgeon that I met while doing a clerkship at a University of California program. I went to his lab and I volunteered for a year doing research and starting to make contacts at the program. Everyone told me it was almost impossible with my scores but I keep fighting and working hard. The surgeon I was working for... even he told me it would be hard to Match with my scores but it's worth it to try it.

I applied for the match this year, just applying to very few programs. I just received one interview at the program I was working. Then came match day and I got the NRMP email... I didn't match. 

I decided to keep trying it for one more year... get more papers and apply again in 2017.

Then I got an email from the program director at the university that I was working at asking me if I need help to Match because they have 1 spot left to fill and told me to apply thru SOAP!   I went into the SOAP and then I got the offer for a preliminary Surgery spot on Wednesday that, off course, I accepted!! 

I'll say contacts are really important. It is a must to have someone to put a word for you. My PI saw me working hard in the lab, saw the quality of my work and that was what maybe made the program director to contact me again. One big mistake is my scores and not having papers published the first time that I applied.

CONCLUSION: It's possible, tell students never give up, it's possible for an IMG with not great scores to match to surgery!! Thanks for your advice Dr Barone!

P.P. March 22, 2016

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12

#18 Jeremy 2018-01-25 20:27

I hope you get the cat spot after your pre-lim year but I just wanted to plug for programs outside california. I bet you’d be a fine addition to a lot of programs!

Qualifier, I’m merely a medicine resident in Hawaii, but I think there’s an occasional SOAP spot here and it’s a wonderful place to live. Keep your eyes open :)

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#17 Dipam SHah 2017-01-26 11:37

Quoting T C:

How did she got to do a clerkship rotation in california?

YOU SET IT UP

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#16 Dipam SHah 2017-01-26 11:37

Quoting slate:

Unfortunately a prelim surgery position does not guarantee that you will move on to complete a surgery residency or any residency to become board certified. In fact according to this study you only have a 14% chance of making it into a categorical surgical residency after complete of a PGY-1 prelim surgery year. I would highly suggest you consider alternate pathways to a prelim surg spot.

STOP BEING A HATER. ITS BETTER THAN SITTING AT HOME DOING NOTHING. 14 percent chance is better than zero.

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#15 Dipam SHah 2017-01-26 11:35

Dr. John Barone is an inspiration. They key to any success in life is having a positive outlook. I want every potential residency canidate to wake up tomorrow and look themselve in the mirror and say I can do it. If this person did it, why can't I. I mean if Donald Trump won the presidency and everybody said he would never win. All these celebrites including John Travolta ( Yes I know hes your homie) said he wouldnt win. Well came election day he won. Come Match day you will match. Than when you walk the words and become the greatest doctor ever. The world will know. Lets not forget Michael Jordan was the 3rd pick. two teams looked past him. In high school he was cut by the coach. I love Dr. Barone. He was the greatest teacher in my medical career. He is the Sidney Crosby of Pathology.

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#14 Ejlal A 2017-01-25 23:18

Thank u Dr John Barone. so encouraging

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#13 Dalal H 2017-01-25 20:21

You can't imagine how these stories motivate us. god bless you.

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#12 Alaa Hanna 2016-07-14 22:32

It`s very inspiring

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#11 slate 2016-06-02 19:16

Only 14% of PGY1 prelim surgery interns go on to match into categorical positions.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25207827

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#10 slate 2016-06-02 19:14

Unfortunately a prelim surgery position does not guarantee that you will move on to complete a surgery residency or any residency to become board certified. In fact according to this study you only have a 14% chance of making it into a categorical surgical residency after complete of a PGY-1 prelim surgery year. I would highly suggest you consider alternate pathways to a prelim surg spot.

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#9 AE 2016-04-26 03:11

Very inspiring story!! Please humor me with this question: if you're calling unfilled programs in NRMP do you have to have your personal statements ready? I am interested in Gen Surg but will contact other programs.

Anyone can respond, please.

Thanks.

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