Plan to Match
- Non-US IMG
- Step 1: 250
- Step 2 CK: 259
- Step 2 CS: Pass
- Step 3: 238
Here’s the success story of a non-US IMG who followed her plan to get her categorical position in Surgery!
Hi Doctor Barone!
I was told recently that you liked to know stories about your students matching so here I go. I am a non US-IMG from CES university in Medellin Colombia. I did about 7 rotations in the US during medical school. When I finished I started in the Kaplan live lectures of Miami. You were my teacher around September 2019. I took my step 1 on February and got a 250!!!
Then I started research in Mayo Clinic on the vascular surgery department, at the same time I took step 2CK and step 3 (with a score of 259 and 238 respectively). I had already taken CS back in 2018 so that was set.
I applied this match season and got a spot in Categorical General Surgery. Even though my path seems straight forward it required 6+ years of planning. I hope my story is helpful for IMGs who are pursuing surgical specialties and believe the only way is through a prelim year. Stay safe and have a nice day!
M. N.
March 2021
Dr. Barone: “What do you think was the key for you matching in such a great spot?”
I would say the most important thing is to have a plan and stick to it. No matter how hard it gets, you work towards that plan, every single day even if some days it’s just a little.
Dr. Barone : “Is there anything that you would have wanted to know at the beginning of the process that might have made it easier?”
I would’ve liked to know that there are great networking opportunities in Twitter. I did network since the beginning but I never tried Twitter and I am just realizing now how amazing the network groups are (ex: association of women surgeons, Latinos in medicine, etc). There are great mentorship/research/rotation opportunities that I would’ve liked to join earlier.
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