gak! suka suka suka.
argh!
I can't put off the inevitable. I had vacation time and i was thinking of whether i should drive 2.5 hours in the freeway and go home to my aunt. Note that i never ever drove in the freeway except for a short mile when i took my driver's license test.
And we are talking about 2.5 hours here.
So i woke up and told myself - it's now or never.
I woke up at 9 am and prepared breakfast - omelette with mozarella and parmesan cheese. PErfect. Got some decaffeinated coffee and presto. I was having the perfect meal. Then i talked quite lengthily with Big J and he taught me some stuff i should be dealing with.
Then i mustered enough courage to go and pack my bags and prepare to take on another fear - driving in the freeway.
HEck if i could jump off a plane, i could do anything.
I drove downtown to get me some caffeinated coffee. The coffee joint is known for having the best coffee in town, and i have to say it is better than starbucks.
So from there i took the long drive towards detroit. When i turned my car to enter the freeway and saw those big trucks coming, i thought, nakupo ito na. And i went and man those cars are fast, and even though the maximum speed limit was 70 mph, i found myself doing 80 and 90 mph (144 kph) because if i didn't i would fall behind their concept of "70 mph". IT was scary. Oh man, i couldn't relax initially - i don't mind the straight drives, it's the looking for exits that was so terrible.
GOsh.
Gosh. Grabe.
Grabe. My head still hurts
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
What to write in a cover letter for requesting LOR
Here's what i wrote to the different doctors... Of course, add your own flavor to this. Don't forget to add the name of the doctor, his position, etc, date and of course your name
Dear Doctor;
Thank you for being willing to write me a letter of recommendation in support of my residency application in the United States. I am applying for residency training in the United States and would consider it as a great honor to have a recommendation from a doctor who had a large influence on my medical education and training, as well as on my decision to pursue internal medicine.
May I ask you to comment on the following aspects which program directors look for in a prospective applicant:
· Positive points in medical school, honors received
· Hospital work ethic
· Clinical skills and performance during medical rotations
· Fund of medical knowledge
· Dependability
· Level of responsibility
· Efficiency and time management
· Communication and interpersonal skills
I appreciate you taking the time out to write this letter of recommendation. Your support really means a lot to me.
Dear Doctor;
Thank you for being willing to write me a letter of recommendation in support of my residency application in the United States. I am applying for residency training in the United States and would consider it as a great honor to have a recommendation from a doctor who had a large influence on my medical education and training, as well as on my decision to pursue internal medicine.
May I ask you to comment on the following aspects which program directors look for in a prospective applicant:
· Positive points in medical school, honors received
· Hospital work ethic
· Clinical skills and performance during medical rotations
· Fund of medical knowledge
· Dependability
· Level of responsibility
· Efficiency and time management
· Communication and interpersonal skills
I appreciate you taking the time out to write this letter of recommendation. Your support really means a lot to me.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
1. If you are applying for Internal Medicine, get three LORs from IM doctors, plus one LOR from the chair of the department of IM. ANd if you are from UST, that means, yes, Dr. Go is the chair.
2. When you submit your request to the consultant of your choice, be sure to attach the following:
a. letter for request (ECFMG provides a form for this called cover letter for LOR)
b. tell the letter writer the following-
- it must be in an official letterhead
- must be signed in blue ink
c. include your resume (with picture para matandaan ka)
d. class ranking (request this at dean's office - warning UST peeps - red tape! red tape!)
e. transcript of record
3. The best time to do this would be after your step 1 exam. Kasi it took me about 1 month na pabalik balik sa UST just to complete this.
Some people ask me whether they should write their own LOR and have the consultant sign it for you. Well uhmmmm sticky question. If the consultant is comfortable with that, then go ahead, they usually edit it and you usually end up with a different LOR from what you wrote.
Here's a good website for guidelines onLORs:
http://residency101.com/content/view/24/48/
Sample PErsonal Statement
Here's something I saw over the net...
Here's a physician's sample personal statement
Tips on writing a good PS (this of course presupposes that I wrote a good PS)
1. Find time to write it. My mind works best at 2 am so i prepared my PS over a couple of days at around 2 am. It's not a good idea to rush your personal statement.
2. Think of 5 to 6 things you want to emphasize on.. Are you hard working? ARe you ambitious. Don't go off writing "I am hardworking... I am ambitious" Rather think of situations in your life when these qualities were demonstrated.
3. Be honest but not melodramatic.
4. Do not plagiarize.
5. Write with your heart, edit with your head.
6. Keep it short and simple. About a short bond paper worth is enough. No novels please.
7. Again, do not plagiarize. You've gone through all those years of schooling... hey if you knew that fumarate and succinyl Co A could be found in the Kreb's cycle, personal statements should be a breeze...
8. Spell Check. Grammar check. There's this button in microsoft word that does that...
Link: http://home.att.net/~ppmd/cv-ps/ps/IM01.HTM
Again, this is not my personal statement but i saw this one good example of a personal statement over the internet.
Like most of my friends growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, I had dreams of someday fighting towering infernos or frantically pursuing bank robbers. Everything changed, however, when at age ten I realized that my grandfather was seriously ill. For the next nine months I observed his courageous but unsuccessful battle against myelofibrosis. I also noticed his new doctor. Dr. Brown quickly became my most important role model. In retrospect, I realize that it was his bedside acumen, his many-comforting telephone calls, and his unrelenting, scientific approach to his patients' problems which influenced me so greatly.
In an effort to emulate Dr. Brown, I strove to develop varied abilities at school. Serving as captain of the swimming team and cross-country team, student body president, and class Valedictorian, I incorporated a balance of academics, athletics, and leadership into my high school experience. During this time, my interest in medicine was further bolstered by my encounters as a volunteer in the stroke unit of the Casa Colina Rehabilitation Hospital. Although I could not treat the patients medically, I was able to provide companionship and emotional support, which aided them in their recovery and afforded me a great sense of fulfillment.
At Princeton University, my interest in science and research prompted me to major in chemistry. In the course of my studies, I completed a senior thesis, spent a summer of research at the National Institutes of Health, was named Outstanding Chemistry Student by the New Jersey Institute of Chemists, and graduated magna cum laude. Firmly committed to a career in medicine, I entered the UCLA School of Medicine the following Fall.
My first two years at UCLA were highly successful. I excelled in the basic science courses, and in 1990, was awarded a NIH summer research fellowship. My work focused on the genetic etiology of the syndrome of generalized thyroid hormone resistance, and in 1991, I coauthored a paper based in its results.
I have found my clinical training at UCLA to be even more enjoyable than the basic science years. In particular, my favorite experiences has been the core internal medicine rotation. During this clerkship, I discovered many of the challenging tasks of internal medicine: the establishment of a possibly extended relationship with a patient, a skillful history and physical examination, a carefully formulated differential diagnosis and logical course of action, the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and the pursuit to understand the underlying pathophysiologic processes of diseases. My strong performance and enthusiasm on the wards, coupled with my background in research, demonstrates my exceptional ability to face these tasks.
I believe that I am well qualified to enter an outstanding training program in internal medicine. I am interested in an academically oriented residency which will allow me to develop as both clinician and scientist. My ultimate goal is to become a complete physician: someone, like Dr. Brown, who practices medicine with a blend of compassion, wisdom, and scholarship in order to optimally treat each patient
Here's a physician's sample personal statement
Tips on writing a good PS (this of course presupposes that I wrote a good PS)
1. Find time to write it. My mind works best at 2 am so i prepared my PS over a couple of days at around 2 am. It's not a good idea to rush your personal statement.
2. Think of 5 to 6 things you want to emphasize on.. Are you hard working? ARe you ambitious. Don't go off writing "I am hardworking... I am ambitious" Rather think of situations in your life when these qualities were demonstrated.
3. Be honest but not melodramatic.
4. Do not plagiarize.
5. Write with your heart, edit with your head.
6. Keep it short and simple. About a short bond paper worth is enough. No novels please.
7. Again, do not plagiarize. You've gone through all those years of schooling... hey if you knew that fumarate and succinyl Co A could be found in the Kreb's cycle, personal statements should be a breeze...
8. Spell Check. Grammar check. There's this button in microsoft word that does that...
Link: http://home.att.net/~ppmd/cv-ps/ps/IM01.HTM
Again, this is not my personal statement but i saw this one good example of a personal statement over the internet.
Personal Statement for Internal Medicine
Like most of my friends growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, I had dreams of someday fighting towering infernos or frantically pursuing bank robbers. Everything changed, however, when at age ten I realized that my grandfather was seriously ill. For the next nine months I observed his courageous but unsuccessful battle against myelofibrosis. I also noticed his new doctor. Dr. Brown quickly became my most important role model. In retrospect, I realize that it was his bedside acumen, his many-comforting telephone calls, and his unrelenting, scientific approach to his patients' problems which influenced me so greatly.
In an effort to emulate Dr. Brown, I strove to develop varied abilities at school. Serving as captain of the swimming team and cross-country team, student body president, and class Valedictorian, I incorporated a balance of academics, athletics, and leadership into my high school experience. During this time, my interest in medicine was further bolstered by my encounters as a volunteer in the stroke unit of the Casa Colina Rehabilitation Hospital. Although I could not treat the patients medically, I was able to provide companionship and emotional support, which aided them in their recovery and afforded me a great sense of fulfillment.
At Princeton University, my interest in science and research prompted me to major in chemistry. In the course of my studies, I completed a senior thesis, spent a summer of research at the National Institutes of Health, was named Outstanding Chemistry Student by the New Jersey Institute of Chemists, and graduated magna cum laude. Firmly committed to a career in medicine, I entered the UCLA School of Medicine the following Fall.
My first two years at UCLA were highly successful. I excelled in the basic science courses, and in 1990, was awarded a NIH summer research fellowship. My work focused on the genetic etiology of the syndrome of generalized thyroid hormone resistance, and in 1991, I coauthored a paper based in its results.
I have found my clinical training at UCLA to be even more enjoyable than the basic science years. In particular, my favorite experiences has been the core internal medicine rotation. During this clerkship, I discovered many of the challenging tasks of internal medicine: the establishment of a possibly extended relationship with a patient, a skillful history and physical examination, a carefully formulated differential diagnosis and logical course of action, the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and the pursuit to understand the underlying pathophysiologic processes of diseases. My strong performance and enthusiasm on the wards, coupled with my background in research, demonstrates my exceptional ability to face these tasks.
I believe that I am well qualified to enter an outstanding training program in internal medicine. I am interested in an academically oriented residency which will allow me to develop as both clinician and scientist. My ultimate goal is to become a complete physician: someone, like Dr. Brown, who practices medicine with a blend of compassion, wisdom, and scholarship in order to optimally treat each patient
Sunday, January 28, 2007
study schedule
Could you share what schedule you made for step1? How many days did you allot per subject, how many times you read the notes (1st pass, 2nd pass?) and if you also watched the videos? Did you also use Goljan's patho notes? Hope you could help. I'm just starting to organize my study sched. thank you
*
Hey for step 1, i watched the videos initially. I watched the videos first and i watched it only once. I believe this video thing took me about 2 - 3 months to finish. But if you are serious on studying, I think you could cut this time frame by half.
After each video subject (example: after anatomy or biochemistry), I would then read the notes respectively.
After the videos, I then proceeded to answering the qbank.
Qbanks could be one of two kinds - mixed or by subject. What i did was I answered 2 qbanks a day - 1 mixed and 1 subject. Example for week 1 , I would answer 7 blocks of anatomy and 7 blocks of mixed questions. Then for week 2, 7 blocks of biochem and 7 blocks of mixed. I did not just answer them, i concentrated on why they gave those choices, what was the best choice and why the other choices were wrong. It's not about getting the correct answers, it's finding where you are weak and improving on those areas.
I also supplemented my readings with goljan pathology notes and first aid.
About a month before my test date, I reread the qbanks again and referred back to my notes for those weak areas of mine.
All in all i did about 4-5 months of study time. With breaks of course, but i did pretty well.
:)
*
Hey for step 1, i watched the videos initially. I watched the videos first and i watched it only once. I believe this video thing took me about 2 - 3 months to finish. But if you are serious on studying, I think you could cut this time frame by half.
After each video subject (example: after anatomy or biochemistry), I would then read the notes respectively.
After the videos, I then proceeded to answering the qbank.
Qbanks could be one of two kinds - mixed or by subject. What i did was I answered 2 qbanks a day - 1 mixed and 1 subject. Example for week 1 , I would answer 7 blocks of anatomy and 7 blocks of mixed questions. Then for week 2, 7 blocks of biochem and 7 blocks of mixed. I did not just answer them, i concentrated on why they gave those choices, what was the best choice and why the other choices were wrong. It's not about getting the correct answers, it's finding where you are weak and improving on those areas.
I also supplemented my readings with goljan pathology notes and first aid.
About a month before my test date, I reread the qbanks again and referred back to my notes for those weak areas of mine.
All in all i did about 4-5 months of study time. With breaks of course, but i did pretty well.
:)
Friday, January 19, 2007
How many programs to apply for?
How many programs should one apply for when ERAS opens on september?
Depends on the following:
1. USMLE scores
2. Visa status - J1 or H1 or greencard status
3. US clinical experience - note externship is way better than observership. Self explanatory. Observers observe. Externship gives hands on.
4. Letter of recommendation from US doctors
5. Good letters of recommendation from local doctors
6. Connections inside the program
Higher USMLE scores preferred. Note that there are a lot of people who are getting way off the charts board scores.
Most prefer greencard holders. But there are lists of j1 visa friendly or h1 friendly hospitals.
Numbers 3 to 6, are self explanatory. If you look up the program's website and see International medical graduates there as residents, it's a good bet they take in IMGS.
This blog is mainly for giving a summary, if you want the nitty gritty, i suggest you go to this blog, this digidoc person (owner of the blog) helped me a lot during my period of usmle thingie.
http://tips4match.blogspot.com/2006/06/img-friendly-really.html
- this link brings you all the so called IMG friendly lists compiled by digidoc, the patron saint of IMGs.
TAKING EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION,
If you are not confident with your scores, no US clinical experience, no nothing, apply to as many IMG friendly programs as you can afford. I know of someone who applied to 80 programs and got only 2 interviews. On another note, i know someone who applied to 29 programs and got 4 interviews. Remember, the competition right now is very stiff. Most doctors who want to train in the UK are now going to the US because of this new policy by Euro people. At least that is what I heard. Make yourself competitive. Get strong letters. If possible get externships.
Good luck on everything.
Depends on the following:
1. USMLE scores
2. Visa status - J1 or H1 or greencard status
3. US clinical experience - note externship is way better than observership. Self explanatory. Observers observe. Externship gives hands on.
4. Letter of recommendation from US doctors
5. Good letters of recommendation from local doctors
6. Connections inside the program
Higher USMLE scores preferred. Note that there are a lot of people who are getting way off the charts board scores.
Most prefer greencard holders. But there are lists of j1 visa friendly or h1 friendly hospitals.
Numbers 3 to 6, are self explanatory. If you look up the program's website and see International medical graduates there as residents, it's a good bet they take in IMGS.
This blog is mainly for giving a summary, if you want the nitty gritty, i suggest you go to this blog, this digidoc person (owner of the blog) helped me a lot during my period of usmle thingie.
http://tips4match.blogspot.com/2006/06/img-friendly-really.html
- this link brings you all the so called IMG friendly lists compiled by digidoc, the patron saint of IMGs.
TAKING EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION,
If you are not confident with your scores, no US clinical experience, no nothing, apply to as many IMG friendly programs as you can afford. I know of someone who applied to 80 programs and got only 2 interviews. On another note, i know someone who applied to 29 programs and got 4 interviews. Remember, the competition right now is very stiff. Most doctors who want to train in the UK are now going to the US because of this new policy by Euro people. At least that is what I heard. Make yourself competitive. Get strong letters. If possible get externships.
Good luck on everything.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
stressed out on study schedule for usmle?
Are you stressed out on your rigid study schedule for USMLE? Here's a letter from one of the more driven and focused junior doctors I've handled. I'm sure he will succeed because he has a great attitude and is a hard worker.
LETTER:
> hi doc louise!
>
> nope! i came back home. i took d kaplan here instead so i could save up more money instead of taking it there. besides, the student visa requires me a lot of things so i just decided to come back home.
>
> ive been doing my kaplan since jan 2 & so far so good. just stressed out with my schedule though. i myt change it the next few days.
>
> how's ur interview so far? ive been telling my batchmates who are currently with me at kaplan to read ur blog. coz dey've been asking me wer i get advices im giving them, so i told them its from ur blogs. coz for me it helps me a lot. ur journey through life is amazing. i hope we could meet paths someday there.
>
> God bless!>
REPLY
schedule... what i did when i made my schedule, i alloted time for katamaran. Like for example, if i could finish one topic for five days, i'd chalk it up for six days, knowing well that i would be feeling blah and not want to study for at least a day. This way, wala masyadong stress.
You made a good move of taking kaplan here, for one, you are home and you don't have to deal with issues like missing your friends or NOT having someone close by to whack your head and encourage you to study.
I bet you are going for the 2008 match... Hmmmm basta make sure that your cs results get out early. PAra ecfmg certified ka (ie passed step 1, 2 and cs) when interview season comes. I got my certificate nung december 12, though i did get invites na kahit wala pang certificate. I guess the certificate kasi would go well if you want a prematch.
As for visas, i'm going for a j1 visa, kasi sabi nila better chances of going into fellowship but if you are placing more importance in having a green card then go for h1 visa (but this requires you find an institution willing to sponsor your h1, and you must have completed your step 3). I'm taking step 3 before residency starts (in your case march 2008), no rush for me kasi i am going for j1. Everyone needs to take the step 3, yung time factor lang when you should take it depends on the type of visa you want.
usmle tests your test taking ability , step 1 is very heavy on concepts so study well. A month prior to my scheduled test, i did two blocks of questions everyday from kaplan. One block (50 questions) was a mixed block, one block was subject specific (i.e. anatomy block., pharma block), this would help me focus what area i was weak in, at the same time, i wouldn't forget about the other subjects.
For step 1, qbank is good enough.
For step 2 cs, usmle world is best.
I know that you can make it I'm really happy i could help you out with my blogs. Please feel free to bug me with questions any time. You will have a lot of them as you go on. :)
God bless. I'm praying for your success!
Louise
LETTER:
> hi doc louise!
>
> nope! i came back home. i took d kaplan here instead so i could save up more money instead of taking it there. besides, the student visa requires me a lot of things so i just decided to come back home.
>
> ive been doing my kaplan since jan 2 & so far so good. just stressed out with my schedule though. i myt change it the next few days.
>
> how's ur interview so far? ive been telling my batchmates who are currently with me at kaplan to read ur blog. coz dey've been asking me wer i get advices im giving them, so i told them its from ur blogs. coz for me it helps me a lot. ur journey through life is amazing. i hope we could meet paths someday there.
>
> God bless!>
REPLY
schedule... what i did when i made my schedule, i alloted time for katamaran. Like for example, if i could finish one topic for five days, i'd chalk it up for six days, knowing well that i would be feeling blah and not want to study for at least a day. This way, wala masyadong stress.
You made a good move of taking kaplan here, for one, you are home and you don't have to deal with issues like missing your friends or NOT having someone close by to whack your head and encourage you to study.
I bet you are going for the 2008 match... Hmmmm basta make sure that your cs results get out early. PAra ecfmg certified ka (ie passed step 1, 2 and cs) when interview season comes. I got my certificate nung december 12, though i did get invites na kahit wala pang certificate. I guess the certificate kasi would go well if you want a prematch.
As for visas, i'm going for a j1 visa, kasi sabi nila better chances of going into fellowship but if you are placing more importance in having a green card then go for h1 visa (but this requires you find an institution willing to sponsor your h1, and you must have completed your step 3). I'm taking step 3 before residency starts (in your case march 2008), no rush for me kasi i am going for j1. Everyone needs to take the step 3, yung time factor lang when you should take it depends on the type of visa you want.
usmle tests your test taking ability , step 1 is very heavy on concepts so study well. A month prior to my scheduled test, i did two blocks of questions everyday from kaplan. One block (50 questions) was a mixed block, one block was subject specific (i.e. anatomy block., pharma block), this would help me focus what area i was weak in, at the same time, i wouldn't forget about the other subjects.
For step 1, qbank is good enough.
For step 2 cs, usmle world is best.
I know that you can make it I'm really happy i could help you out with my blogs. Please feel free to bug me with questions any time. You will have a lot of them as you go on. :)
God bless. I'm praying for your success!
Louise
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Comparing night and day
In the title of this blog i mentioned philippine boards.
Ay lupang hinirang. WHat is the difference between boards and USMLE? Night and day. Kape at gatas. Langit at lupa. Mantika at tubig.
As i wrote last year, I was better off reading Abante and finding the answers to the board questions in the Philippines than in Harrisons. It did not test my knowledge. It tested my luck.
Mayroon ba namang question, read this and weep:
Who was the first patient who had small pox? And the choices included MOSES, RAMSES, KING GEORGE
Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam how that question would assess my doctor skills. Smallpox has been entirely eradicated in the world. May isang lab lang ata or dalawa who has it. Okay fine they could ask smallpox, but sana man lang they made it a point to connect it to maybe, i dunno something relevant like bioterrorism. Pero hindi, ten commandments ang dating.
USMLE tests you and prepares you for a life as a GP. As someone who thinks. Like the exams we have in philippine medical schools. Philippine boards prepares you to be a contestant in jeopardy or trivial pursuit. Pick your battle.
Sorry, but i really think we should radically change the way our exams are in the philippines. I don't know, maybe it should start with considering the fact, that well, maybe we are to be tested as, and this is just off the top of my head, be tested as doctors?
Ay lupang hinirang. WHat is the difference between boards and USMLE? Night and day. Kape at gatas. Langit at lupa. Mantika at tubig.
As i wrote last year, I was better off reading Abante and finding the answers to the board questions in the Philippines than in Harrisons. It did not test my knowledge. It tested my luck.
Mayroon ba namang question, read this and weep:
Who was the first patient who had small pox? And the choices included MOSES, RAMSES, KING GEORGE
Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam how that question would assess my doctor skills. Smallpox has been entirely eradicated in the world. May isang lab lang ata or dalawa who has it. Okay fine they could ask smallpox, but sana man lang they made it a point to connect it to maybe, i dunno something relevant like bioterrorism. Pero hindi, ten commandments ang dating.
USMLE tests you and prepares you for a life as a GP. As someone who thinks. Like the exams we have in philippine medical schools. Philippine boards prepares you to be a contestant in jeopardy or trivial pursuit. Pick your battle.
Sorry, but i really think we should radically change the way our exams are in the philippines. I don't know, maybe it should start with considering the fact, that well, maybe we are to be tested as, and this is just off the top of my head, be tested as doctors?
Audio and Video Clips for USMLE : New thing
Thanks richard for that confirmation! I did look it up, looks like they are going to include audio stuff or video stuff for 2007. Exciting news. Not! Anyways, visit www.usmle.org for more info about it.
The 2007 USMLE Orientation Materials are now available on the USMLE website.
A small number of multiple-choice items in the 2007 USMLE Orientation Materials contain exhibits involving audio and/or video clips. Instructions for practicing with items with associated media clips on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 are provided in the Tutorials for each Step examination in the orientation materials.
Multiple-choice items with associated media clips will be introduced in USMLE examinations no earlier than Summer 2007. An announcement will be posted to the USMLE website approximately 2 months before any items with associated media clips appear on an actual USMLE examination. Additional information will be posted to the USMLE website as it becomes available.
The 2007 USMLE Orientation Materials are now available on the USMLE website.
A small number of multiple-choice items in the 2007 USMLE Orientation Materials contain exhibits involving audio and/or video clips. Instructions for practicing with items with associated media clips on Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 are provided in the Tutorials for each Step examination in the orientation materials.
Multiple-choice items with associated media clips will be introduced in USMLE examinations no earlier than Summer 2007. An announcement will be posted to the USMLE website approximately 2 months before any items with associated media clips appear on an actual USMLE examination. Additional information will be posted to the USMLE website as it becomes available.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
CS by august?
Question:
happy new year Dr. Louise!
kamusta po? kamusta po ang mga interview ninyo? God be with you always.
friend ko na din po pala si Dr. Randi.
na-kwento ko na po ba? nag-resign na po ako sa St. Luke's before pa mag-start ang residency ko. nag-apply na din po ako ng ECFMG number, pero holiday pa kaya siguro wala pa yun reply nila sa email ko. kaya wala pa din po ako nalalakad sa UST. balak ko po mag-apply sa Kaplan para pressured and guided din ako, para wala din hassle, next week para maka-avail ng discount after ng orientation. nag-start lang ako magbasa ng bulletin of information at booklet ng ECFMG, at first aid ng step 1.
concern ko talaga ay sana makahabol ako sa review and exams for the 2008 match at sana mabigyan ng visa...
may tanong po ulit ako, pag nag step 1 po ako ng april, step 2 CK sana ng july, at CS ng august kasi sabi sa announcement dapat matapos ang CS by august, makakahabol po ba ako at lalabas yun grade for ERAS sa sept, or kahit to follow na yun grade ko? at kung di po ako makahabol, (i'm praying hard na makahabol at maging ok lahat) valid pa po ba yun mga grades ko sa 2009 matching?
thanks po ulit.
God bless you!
Answer:
1. I'm doing fine. Interview wise - hahaha deserves new entry for this. It's a fun experience.
2. I think what the announcement is saying is that you should have scheduled or at least enrolled in CS by august 2007 to assure that you get to schedule your CS for 2007. Most hospitals would prefer that they have your step 1 grade, step 2 ck grade and cs grade, but would interview you even with just any step grade. The key word here is prefer. It's like, imagine if you are entering a contest for miss universe, the judges would interview the contestants in long gowns but would look favorably on contestants who not only have long gowns prepared, but the talent portion and the bathing suit portion... Usually for hospitals, they decide who they want to have as residents by january or february so if you don't have your cs result by jan or feb 2007... good luck na lang. :)
3. Visa - try to follow the schedule i gave you via friendster. The visa support letter from the ECFMG is very important for your visa application. It's a B1/B2 visa you are applying for aka tourist/business. More on visas na lang later. You don't need to concern yourself with this for the moment. Worry about this after you take step 1. I'll try to answer any visa questions you might have if i know the answer.
God bless. You are in my prayers!
happy new year Dr. Louise!
kamusta po? kamusta po ang mga interview ninyo? God be with you always.
friend ko na din po pala si Dr. Randi.
na-kwento ko na po ba? nag-resign na po ako sa St. Luke's before pa mag-start ang residency ko. nag-apply na din po ako ng ECFMG number, pero holiday pa kaya siguro wala pa yun reply nila sa email ko. kaya wala pa din po ako nalalakad sa UST. balak ko po mag-apply sa Kaplan para pressured and guided din ako, para wala din hassle, next week para maka-avail ng discount after ng orientation. nag-start lang ako magbasa ng bulletin of information at booklet ng ECFMG, at first aid ng step 1.
concern ko talaga ay sana makahabol ako sa review and exams for the 2008 match at sana mabigyan ng visa...
may tanong po ulit ako, pag nag step 1 po ako ng april, step 2 CK sana ng july, at CS ng august kasi sabi sa announcement dapat matapos ang CS by august, makakahabol po ba ako at lalabas yun grade for ERAS sa sept, or kahit to follow na yun grade ko? at kung di po ako makahabol, (i'm praying hard na makahabol at maging ok lahat) valid pa po ba yun mga grades ko sa 2009 matching?
thanks po ulit.
God bless you!
Answer:
1. I'm doing fine. Interview wise - hahaha deserves new entry for this. It's a fun experience.
2. I think what the announcement is saying is that you should have scheduled or at least enrolled in CS by august 2007 to assure that you get to schedule your CS for 2007. Most hospitals would prefer that they have your step 1 grade, step 2 ck grade and cs grade, but would interview you even with just any step grade. The key word here is prefer. It's like, imagine if you are entering a contest for miss universe, the judges would interview the contestants in long gowns but would look favorably on contestants who not only have long gowns prepared, but the talent portion and the bathing suit portion... Usually for hospitals, they decide who they want to have as residents by january or february so if you don't have your cs result by jan or feb 2007... good luck na lang. :)
3. Visa - try to follow the schedule i gave you via friendster. The visa support letter from the ECFMG is very important for your visa application. It's a B1/B2 visa you are applying for aka tourist/business. More on visas na lang later. You don't need to concern yourself with this for the moment. Worry about this after you take step 1. I'll try to answer any visa questions you might have if i know the answer.
God bless. You are in my prayers!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Other Advices
So the short answer for I am's other unanswered questions:
1. Don't take up medical residency while you are studying for the USMLE. It's too hard to do that. I do advise na mag moonlight ka prn (as needed) not to raise money for the USMLe, but to gain confidence na kaya mo na pala maging GP
2. Kung mag moonlight ka, i advise do it once a week lang. Ako nga mga once every 2 weeks lang. Pag nag moonlight ka kasi, nakaka addict, iisipin mo, wag na mag usmle. Know what you want. In this case, you want the USMLE. Get rid of other doubts and distractions.
3. Visit the websites na helpful:
www.prep4usmle.com
www.ecfmg.org
anyways, i'll try to guide you through it. May balita, i'm not sure how true, this according to erwin kho, ka batchmate niyo, na baka mag include daw ang USMLE ng heart sounds. I'm not sure how true... but if you have any problems with your murmurs, i could help.
1. Don't take up medical residency while you are studying for the USMLE. It's too hard to do that. I do advise na mag moonlight ka prn (as needed) not to raise money for the USMLe, but to gain confidence na kaya mo na pala maging GP
2. Kung mag moonlight ka, i advise do it once a week lang. Ako nga mga once every 2 weeks lang. Pag nag moonlight ka kasi, nakaka addict, iisipin mo, wag na mag usmle. Know what you want. In this case, you want the USMLE. Get rid of other doubts and distractions.
3. Visit the websites na helpful:
www.prep4usmle.com
www.ecfmg.org
anyways, i'll try to guide you through it. May balita, i'm not sure how true, this according to erwin kho, ka batchmate niyo, na baka mag include daw ang USMLE ng heart sounds. I'm not sure how true... but if you have any problems with your murmurs, i could help.
USMLE summary
For some strange reason, my juniors (doctors I’ve handled when I was an intern) kept asking me for tips for the USMLE. Strange because, only a handful were concerned with the local boards. Alarming because, most of the people who came up to me, were the great ones, the ones in my mind, had the intelligence, and spirit to make fabulous doctors. And where are they going?
United States
. Okay if you are reading this, you are prolly one of those great intelligent doctors I know. So here’s the thing, I know the pay we get here is below minimum wage and really, unless you have a practice of patients to inherit, you might as well eat dirt. So promise me, that when we make it big in the US, we will pay it forward to the people who needs our help. You know, those patients we see at charity wards who often die because they have no money to buy the antibiotic that will cure them. I know that we all have a purpose, it’s no secret we will be making oodles of money four to five years from now. I tell you, bawi lahat ng tuition fee natin in just one month. Keep your eyes on the target. Be blessed to become a blessing.
So here’s the deal with the USMLE. A fellow USMLE’er gave me the following time table. I’ll just add some more tips:
TIPS
1. Don’t rush if you can’t. If others can do it in three months and you are more comfortable with four or five months, then take five.
2. Kaplan. Kaplan. Kaplan. You know what I mean. There’s the pro edu manzano version, original and then there’s the not so pro edu.
3. First Aid for step 1 rocks. Yan na talaga.
4. I found the Kaplan books for step 1 to be lacking. BRS and high yield were much better. HY immunology. BRS patho, HY anatomy. BRS physio. KAtzung pharma ang okay. HY cell biology (pang genetics ito). Micro – hmmm parang bahala ka dito. Sabi nila, made ridiculously simple. Ako I stuck with NMS which I found too OA and lengthy. Sabi nila, Kaplan biochem is good. Basically yun ang alam kong books na maganda talaga.
5. Get hold of a book called “Goljan Pathology”. IT’s a lot like first aid but tailored to foreigners like us. Limewire might be able to help you track it down.
6. Answer the Qbank. IT really helps. Wag kang madishearten if you answer a question tapos puro mali mali ka. Your purpose in answering the Qbank is not to get a high score, but to identify where you are weak. MAtuwa ka kung madami kang mali at alamin mo kung bakit ka nagkamali.
7. Pray.
8. Pray. His purpose is much bigger than what you have in mind.
9. Add ko lang… Ting asked me if moonlighting was a good idea during usmle prep. From experience, moonlighting gave me the confidence I needed to handle emergency cases (plug ko ang Ospital ng Muntinlupa). BUT, if napapagod ka sa pag moomoonlight (kagaya ko), then stop and focus on usmle. Your goal is to get a good mle grade, not to be a great moonlighter. Besides, the UShospitals there would primarily look at your usmle grades and not on the fact that you moonlighted… unless of course you worked in WHO.
If push comes to shove, pick mle. Mag moonlight ka na lang after.
10. Breakdown of expenses: Tumaya na sa lotto ngayon pa lang. Roughly half a million pesos? Tips: Pwede rin sweepstakes or kausapin ang nakababatang kapatid na mag OSY muna.
EXPENSES
Step 1 – 825 dollars
Step 2 CK – 825 dollars
Step 2 CS (sa States) – 1200 dollars
Plane ticket – 1000 dollars
ERAS and NRMP – around 800 dollars if you are applying to 40 hospitals… not all offers you interviews. I know someone who applied to 60 hospitals yet got 8 interviews.
Per interview mo you spend around 400 dollars for travel and hotels. Ay sus. So ayan.
Para kang nag UST med uli in one year.
Add na natin if gusto mo talagang mag burn ng money:
Kaplan Review: 42000 pesos per step.
So prepare to sell all your belongings.
Also ang open to foreigners are – IM, pedia, FM .
Pero wag nang mangarap ng Surgery , Derma, Radio or Ophtha.
To make it sound more palatable though, tell your parents that residents in the US
gets 42 thousand dollars per year. And a consultant makes about 200 000 dollars a year. Simpleng consultant pa yun.
But let’s make it more meaningful – promise to pursue something out of passion. Never make it about the money…Yun ang sabi ni Dr. Sjoberg Kho who looks a lot like Colin Firth…. Though kung passion mo ang Ferraris… go ahead. Knock yourself silly in five years. I’ll probably contact you one of these days when we become you know, somewhat loaded, and talk about giving back. God bless. Any more specific questions, just paste a comment here and I will try to answer them or just text me.
> HOW TO APPLY FOR AN EXAM
> 1.Go to ECFMG Home Page: www.ecfmg.org
> 2.Click on IWA (Interactive Web Application)
> 3.Complete the application form online within 14 days (or else you have to start a new one)
> 4.Pay the Exam Fee
> 5.Print out FORM 186 (This will come out after you’ve paid na)
> 6.Download FORMs 344 and 345 from the ECFMG Home Page
> 7.Send your documents to ECFMG: (Form 186, 344, 345, diploma and picture)
> a.Form 186
> b.Form 344 & 345
> c.Diploma
> d.Pictures
> * don’t send your transcript, ECFMG will get it directly from UST
> 8.Wait for your permit. You can track your status on OASIS via the ECFMG Home Page.
> 9.Once you get your permit, schedule your exam with Prometric.
>
> HOW TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCY
> 1.Apply for a Token thru the ECFMG Home Page.
> 2.Use your token to open your ERAS Website (by September).
> 3.Send your documents to ERAS:
> a.White copy of Transcript
> b.Letters of Recommendation (minimum of 4)
> c.MSPE/Dean’s Letter
> 4.Type (or cut & paste, para faster) your Personal Statement onto your ERAS website
> 5.Search programs on ERAS
> 6.Choose the programs you want to apply for by clicking on them and then clicking “OK.”
> 7.Once you’ve chosen everything na, go to Programs Selected, then click “APPLY”.
> 8.Pay for everything.
> 9.Wait for your invitations for interview.
> 10.Once you get your invitations, schedule your interviews na.
> HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MATCH
> 1.Go to www.nrmp.org
> 2.Pay $95.
> 3.Submit your Rank Order List by February.
> 4.Wait for Match announcement in March.
>
> TIPS ON SCHEDULING
> 1.Ideal sched for all the exams:
> Jan-March study for Step 1
> April STEP 1
> May-July study for Step 2
> August STEP 2-CK
> September (1st week) STEP 2-CS
> Nov-Jan Interviews
> January STEP 3
> 2.Apply for your CS as early as possible so that
> you don’t run out of slots.
> 3.As soon as ERAS opens in September, apply to
> as many programs as possible na agad kasi the
> earlier you apply, the better your chances of
> getting invited for an interview.
United States
. Okay if you are reading this, you are prolly one of those great intelligent doctors I know. So here’s the thing, I know the pay we get here is below minimum wage and really, unless you have a practice of patients to inherit, you might as well eat dirt. So promise me, that when we make it big in the US, we will pay it forward to the people who needs our help. You know, those patients we see at charity wards who often die because they have no money to buy the antibiotic that will cure them. I know that we all have a purpose, it’s no secret we will be making oodles of money four to five years from now. I tell you, bawi lahat ng tuition fee natin in just one month. Keep your eyes on the target. Be blessed to become a blessing.
So here’s the deal with the USMLE. A fellow USMLE’er gave me the following time table. I’ll just add some more tips:
TIPS
1. Don’t rush if you can’t. If others can do it in three months and you are more comfortable with four or five months, then take five.
2. Kaplan. Kaplan. Kaplan. You know what I mean. There’s the pro edu manzano version, original and then there’s the not so pro edu.
3. First Aid for step 1 rocks. Yan na talaga.
4. I found the Kaplan books for step 1 to be lacking. BRS and high yield were much better. HY immunology. BRS patho, HY anatomy. BRS physio. KAtzung pharma ang okay. HY cell biology (pang genetics ito). Micro – hmmm parang bahala ka dito. Sabi nila, made ridiculously simple. Ako I stuck with NMS which I found too OA and lengthy. Sabi nila, Kaplan biochem is good. Basically yun ang alam kong books na maganda talaga.
5. Get hold of a book called “Goljan Pathology”. IT’s a lot like first aid but tailored to foreigners like us. Limewire might be able to help you track it down.
6. Answer the Qbank. IT really helps. Wag kang madishearten if you answer a question tapos puro mali mali ka. Your purpose in answering the Qbank is not to get a high score, but to identify where you are weak. MAtuwa ka kung madami kang mali at alamin mo kung bakit ka nagkamali.
7. Pray.
8. Pray. His purpose is much bigger than what you have in mind.
9. Add ko lang… Ting asked me if moonlighting was a good idea during usmle prep. From experience, moonlighting gave me the confidence I needed to handle emergency cases (plug ko ang Ospital ng Muntinlupa). BUT, if napapagod ka sa pag moomoonlight (kagaya ko), then stop and focus on usmle. Your goal is to get a good mle grade, not to be a great moonlighter. Besides, the UShospitals there would primarily look at your usmle grades and not on the fact that you moonlighted… unless of course you worked in WHO.
If push comes to shove, pick mle. Mag moonlight ka na lang after.
10. Breakdown of expenses: Tumaya na sa lotto ngayon pa lang. Roughly half a million pesos? Tips: Pwede rin sweepstakes or kausapin ang nakababatang kapatid na mag OSY muna.
EXPENSES
Step 1 – 825 dollars
Step 2 CK – 825 dollars
Step 2 CS (sa States) – 1200 dollars
Plane ticket – 1000 dollars
ERAS and NRMP – around 800 dollars if you are applying to 40 hospitals… not all offers you interviews. I know someone who applied to 60 hospitals yet got 8 interviews.
Per interview mo you spend around 400 dollars for travel and hotels. Ay sus. So ayan.
Para kang nag UST med uli in one year.
Add na natin if gusto mo talagang mag burn ng money:
Kaplan Review: 42000 pesos per step.
So prepare to sell all your belongings.
Also ang open to foreigners are – IM, pedia, FM .
Pero wag nang mangarap ng Surgery , Derma, Radio or Ophtha.
To make it sound more palatable though, tell your parents that residents in the US
gets 42 thousand dollars per year. And a consultant makes about 200 000 dollars a year. Simpleng consultant pa yun.
But let’s make it more meaningful – promise to pursue something out of passion. Never make it about the money…Yun ang sabi ni Dr. Sjoberg Kho who looks a lot like Colin Firth…. Though kung passion mo ang Ferraris… go ahead. Knock yourself silly in five years. I’ll probably contact you one of these days when we become you know, somewhat loaded, and talk about giving back. God bless. Any more specific questions, just paste a comment here and I will try to answer them or just text me.
> HOW TO APPLY FOR AN EXAM
> 1.Go to ECFMG Home Page: www.ecfmg.org
> 2.Click on IWA (Interactive Web Application)
> 3.Complete the application form online within 14 days (or else you have to start a new one)
> 4.Pay the Exam Fee
> 5.Print out FORM 186 (This will come out after you’ve paid na)
> 6.Download FORMs 344 and 345 from the ECFMG Home Page
> 7.Send your documents to ECFMG: (Form 186, 344, 345, diploma and picture)
> a.Form 186
> b.Form 344 & 345
> c.Diploma
> d.Pictures
> * don’t send your transcript, ECFMG will get it directly from UST
> 8.Wait for your permit. You can track your status on OASIS via the ECFMG Home Page.
> 9.Once you get your permit, schedule your exam with Prometric.
>
> HOW TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCY
> 1.Apply for a Token thru the ECFMG Home Page.
> 2.Use your token to open your ERAS Website (by September).
> 3.Send your documents to ERAS:
> a.White copy of Transcript
> b.Letters of Recommendation (minimum of 4)
> c.MSPE/Dean’s Letter
> 4.Type (or cut & paste, para faster) your Personal Statement onto your ERAS website
> 5.Search programs on ERAS
> 6.Choose the programs you want to apply for by clicking on them and then clicking “OK.”
> 7.Once you’ve chosen everything na, go to Programs Selected, then click “APPLY”.
> 8.Pay for everything.
> 9.Wait for your invitations for interview.
> 10.Once you get your invitations, schedule your interviews na.
> HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MATCH
> 1.Go to www.nrmp.org
> 2.Pay $95.
> 3.Submit your Rank Order List by February.
> 4.Wait for Match announcement in March.
>
> TIPS ON SCHEDULING
> 1.Ideal sched for all the exams:
> Jan-March study for Step 1
> April STEP 1
> May-July study for Step 2
> August STEP 2-CK
> September (1st week) STEP 2-CS
> Nov-Jan Interviews
> January STEP 3
> 2.Apply for your CS as early as possible so that
> you don’t run out of slots.
> 3.As soon as ERAS opens in September, apply to
> as many programs as possible na agad kasi the
> earlier you apply, the better your chances of
> getting invited for an interview.
Tanong ni I Am
hi Dr. Louise Lane!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
humihingi lang po ng advice, tulungan ninyo naman po ako...
i am accepted for IM Residency training in St. Luke's, start na po sa January...
parang gusto ko na po mag-USMLE
eto po ang mga naiisip ko,
ayaw ko po simulan ang MLE tapos magkakaroon ng problemslike ma-delay ako, di pa po ako nagre-review, gusto ko po makahabol para sa 2008 residency, tama ba yun term ko?, and baka delay dahil di ako mabigyan ng visa, di pa po ako nag-tour sa US, or delay dahil di ako ma-match...
magulo po ba yun mga nasabi ko? sorry po!
pwede po ba humingi ng advice...
kaya po ba na March po step 1, June step 2, August-September CS? kakayanin ko ba? makakahabol po ba ko for matching? etc.
pwede po ba malaman ang magandang timetable na ginawa ninyo... ang mga steps, requirements, process, etc... wala po ako mapagtanungan kasi...
thank you very much po!
God bless you po!
respectfully,
i am
iampresurreccion@yahoo.com
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
humihingi lang po ng advice, tulungan ninyo naman po ako...
i am accepted for IM Residency training in St. Luke's, start na po sa January...
parang gusto ko na po mag-USMLE
eto po ang mga naiisip ko,
ayaw ko po simulan ang MLE tapos magkakaroon ng problemslike ma-delay ako, di pa po ako nagre-review, gusto ko po makahabol para sa 2008 residency, tama ba yun term ko?, and baka delay dahil di ako mabigyan ng visa, di pa po ako nag-tour sa US, or delay dahil di ako ma-match...
magulo po ba yun mga nasabi ko? sorry po!
pwede po ba humingi ng advice...
kaya po ba na March po step 1, June step 2, August-September CS? kakayanin ko ba? makakahabol po ba ko for matching? etc.
pwede po ba malaman ang magandang timetable na ginawa ninyo... ang mga steps, requirements, process, etc... wala po ako mapagtanungan kasi...
thank you very much po!
God bless you po!
respectfully,
i am
iampresurreccion@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)