WHat’s the lowest step 1 score seen out there to have matched? Lowest for IMG?

Lowest US grad Step I 235, lowest IMG 262.

I imagine that the lowest is below 235 since I think 233 or so was the average last year.

I know for a fact there was someone a few years back with a 214.  was not a IMG
I am not sure about an IMG… sorry....

Anonymous User - 30 October 2007 03:52 AM

Lowest US grad Step I 235, lowest IMG 262.

maybe you are trying to be funny, but it seems like you got some self-esteem/insecurity issues, posting false numbers to make others feel bad.

Step 1 - 198, zero pubs, been an SHO in neuro for nearly 3 years… and passionate about it. HOw much? Enough to leave a tiny Asian country, head out to the other side of the globe ( literally) for want of a better training program. Does it matter at all? It does to me. May not be the best out there, judging by the ridiculous kind of scores posted above ( 262 for IMGs- goodness!, it was tough enough juggling hospital work AND studying for a difficult exam like the MLEs, now this) but I believe I’m good at my job, and yet its not enough for me. Think that’s gonna get me somewhere??
From this thread, seriously seriously doubt it. So there goes.

to be honest, your chances are fairly poor through traditional routes.

if you try some of the “back door” type paths, you may be successful.  you need to be more than passionate and a hard worker to get into neurosurgery.

Back door? What do you mean? Any website on this that I can check out? Do you know which programs that are IMG-friendly out there that I can try at least?

no website that i know of; it’s all word of mouth.  you may want to try to secure a research position in some neurosurgical department.  once you’re around neurosurgeons, you’ll start to hear of places where you might have a chance.

Anonymous User - 30 October 2007 10:52 PM

Step 1 - 198, zero pubs, been an SHO in neuro for nearly 3 years… and passionate about it. HOw much? Enough to leave a tiny Asian country, head out to the other side of the globe ( literally) for want of a better training program. Does it matter at all? It does to me. May not be the best out there, judging by the ridiculous kind of scores posted above ( 262 for IMG- goodness!, it was tough enough juggling hospital work AND studying for a difficult exam like the MLEs, now this) but I believe I’m good at my job, and yet its not enough for me. Think that’s gonna get me somewhere??
From this thread, seriously seriously doubt it. So there goes.

Lets Be realistic 198+IMG+No pubs you have no chance of getting a single interview but you may make your self more desirable for the future by doing a pre-residency fellow ship at a respectable place like Harvard, JHH… Once you are there you work your butt-off and try to publish in the same time, meaning be the bitch of all the residents in that program ( write up their case reports and do their Scud work. Another obstacle is the fact that one year of pre-residency fellowship is not enough because you start on July and the match start in august so not enough time to impress anybody for good LOR nor for publication. Plan on spending two good years as a pre-resident fellow.
I am confident that if you put the time and effort you will match in the future. Good luck.

.. in terms of future prospects , how do 2 yrs gen surgery and 2 yrs of pre-residency fellowship compare? .. do these fellows get a decent pay at all? ... thnx

As an IMG (US citizen to Caribbean school) - I agree with the “backdoor” route.  I myself was a pre-residency fellow for a year and was hired outside the match.  However, there were five other guys working as pre-residency fellows at the institution I went to while I was there - I was the only one who got a job.  I agree that you end up being the b*tch of everyone for the year, but the pay-off can be there.  For the records keepers above - Step I - 218 - no publications, no research prior to starting.  If you want it, you can get it.

you didn’t tell us how old you are? 45? who gives a shit if you match as an FMG or IMG when you are 45? Does anyone care? NO. You take anyone out there with a step 1 score of 190—if they try for 15 years, I am sure by the 16th year someone will let them in. But answer this—when you graduate from your residency and you are 45, how many good years do you have ahead of you?

Anonymous User - 13 February 2008 06:33 PM

you didn’t tell us how old you are? 45? who gives a shit if you match as an FMG or IMG when you are 45? Does anyone care? NO. You take anyone out there with a step 1 score of 190—if they try for 15 years, I am sure by the 16th year someone will let them in. But answer this—when you graduate from your residency and you are 45, how many good years do you have ahead of you?

10 less than someone that starts at 35, genius. It’s better to start in your 40s doing something you like than starting 30s and realizing by the time you’re 40 that you’re bored with work…

Anonymous User - 13 February 2008 06:33 PM

you didn’t tell us how old you are? 45? who gives a shit if you match as an FMG or IMG when you are 45? Does anyone care? NO. You take anyone out there with a step 1 score of 190—if they try for 15 years, I am sure by the 16th year someone will let them in. But answer this—when you graduate from your residency and you are 45, how many good years do you have ahead of you?

I am 38 - I did not start med school until I was 28.  Prior to that I spent a few years in the US Army - to pay for college.  I also worked in Pharmaceutical Research and Development.  I spent one year in a pre-residency fellowship to get where I am , so I will end up with an 8 year residency instead of 7.  Big deal.  How many good years left?  I don’t honestly know.  I could ask Dr. Klein - he is 73 and still operating.  So, with your math - 30.  I think that is long enough doing something you like to do instead of slaving away at some shit job you hate.  I hope that answers a few of your questions.  However, you are right genius - who gives a shit?  I really don’t care if you do or not.  I was trying to be helpful to the person who asked the question.  Maybe you forgot what being a decent human being is like.  Either way, I am in a residency and close to graduation.  I got my job...how about you?

Anonymous User - 13 February 2008 07:51 PM

Anonymous User - 13 February 2008 06:33 PM

you didn’t tell us how old you are? 45? who gives a shit if you match as an FMG or IMG when you are 45? Does anyone care? NO. You take anyone out there with a step 1 score of 190—if they try for 15 years, I am sure by the 16th year someone will let them in. But answer this—when you graduate from your residency and you are 45, how many good years do you have ahead of you?

I am 38 - I did not start med school until I was 28.  Prior to that I spent a few years in the US Army - to pay for college.  I also worked in Pharmaceutical Research and Development.  I spent one year in a pre-residency fellowship to get where I am , so I will end up with an 8 year residency instead of 7.  Big deal.  How many good years left?  I don’t honestly know.  I could ask Dr. Klein - he is 73 and still operating.  So, with your math - 30.  I think that is long enough doing something you like to do instead of slaving away at some shit job you hate.  I hope that answers a few of your questions.  However, you are right genius - who gives a shit?  I really don’t care if you do or not.  I was trying to be helpful to the person who asked the question.  Maybe you forgot what being a decent human being is like.  Either way, I am in a residency and close to graduation.  I got my job...how about you?

And let me correct the over-zealous fingers before someone else does - Dr. Kline - my apologies for the typo