Correcting Your Match Mistakes
- Step 1: 200
- Step 2 CK: 238 [Second attempt]
- Step 2 CS: Pass
- One prior unsuccessful attempt at matching
- Non-US IMG.
- YOG: 2016
Here’s the success story of a non-US IMG with low board scores, a miss on CK due to family issues, and missed match attempt who corrected his mistakes and got his number 1 Choice!!!! Bravo!!!
Hi Dr. Barone!
I managed to match this season to my number one choice in IM!!!! I had a low step 1 score 200 and a failed Step 2 CK score! Here’s my success story…
I began studying for my Step 1 exam and soon afterwards I was given the sad news, that my grandfather had only 3 months to live due to stage 4 lung cancer! Heartbroken I had to leave for the United States to begin studying for my step exams. I went to say goodbye to him at the hospital and he told me he believed in me and that I would stay in the US. Against all odds, he made it past those 3 months. I went back to visit him, but this time he told me I was going to return only for his burial, again, this broke my heart into a million pieces. Unfortunately, this turned out to be true. Devastated, I took my step 1 score and found out I had gotten 200.
I thought to myself, “this will not beat me.” I took my CS and passed with flying colors. As I prepared for my CK, my aunt was diagnosed with metastatic stomach cancer. She stayed at my house while she was getting therapy. She got better so she moved to her place again, one day she called me, told me she was going to come visit me, so we could go grab lunch together right before my exam. Unfortunately, she passed away a few days later. I left and took my exam with sadness in my heart, failing my CK. I knew it had to be a mistake since my assessments where in the 260’s.
I felt bad for two weeks, and decided to book my exam in a month to be able to apply for the 2020 match. I had done numerous medical missions where I got excellent LORs and even got the opportunity of doing observerships in the US. I felt confident that I would receive a couple of interviews, I addressed my flags and wrote a PS, which reflected sadness from my part, what had happened to me and why I had red flags.
Match day came in 2020, I didn’t match and wasn’t able to be part of SOAP. Feeling sad, I allowed myself to mourn everything that had happened. After some time, I decided to get back on track and see what I had done incorrectly…
- I reread my PS, which didn’t reflect who I was. Gave it a 360 degree change, didn’t mention my step scores(they could see it in my CV). Compared medicine with one of my greatest passions.
- Practiced my interviews with someone already in fellowship who helped me prepare. That person was also the one who helped me with my PS.
- Began working two jobs so I could demonstrate I could handle working hard.
- Wrote to my friends so they could recommend me in their programs.
- During the interviews I was genuine, when asked about the scores, I told them it was not an excuse for my low scores, explained my family experience. How it had affected me emotionally, paying a toll on my exams. How my dream has always been to practice medicine in the US, no matter what bumps I find in the road, I will always get back up!
S. A.
March 20, 2021