Using a Preliminary IM Position as a Stepping Stone to Match in a Neurology Residency
- YOG: 2016
- Step 1: 224
- Step 2 CK: 213
- Step 3: 226
- Visa: Didn’t need one, i am immigrant/green card
- Publications: 0
- Failed to match in Neurology on 2 prior attempts
Here’s the success story of a US IMG with low board scores and language difficulties who used a preliminary position in internal medicine to reach her dream residency in Neurology! There's always a way!
Dear Dr. Barone,
I finally matched on my 3rd Match cycle. Just want to share my journey because I read this kind of posts to help me keep going when when I was losing hope in my journey. I hope one of you find this helpful or encouraging. Just keep going. Don’t give up. It’s not easy but this is something you can boast in interviews, that you are persistent and you can say your whys.
Med school: I came from a school that is not so well known and in fact people in my country are also not aware that my school has medical school, so I feel so alone at times and was insecure but i realized they don’t specifically look at your school. There might be advantage if you have a network and some programs already have grads from your school. But that's not what I have. I created my own network and realized if you made known to medtwitter/fb group your intentions, people will message you and will try to help out. Don’t limit your world. Go out and talk to any doctors and request for rotation, even in noon conference if you are rotating in universities.
1st Match cycle: I had 4 IM and 4 FM interviews and I did not match. I think I had poor interview skills and at that time not actively doing clinical rotations. They told me I was quiet, in fact 1 resident said I need to improve my english - that was heartbreaking. But yeah i struggle with my communication. I’m one of those people who struggle with language- sometimes I speak with wrong grammar and I have a thick accent.
2nd Match cycle: I had 2 neurology/ 1 prelim/1 transitional interviews. This is the year I followed my passion. I failed on my first cycle, might as well fail on something I am passionate about- neurology. This time, i have been active clinically. I looked for free clinical rotations, traveled as far as Chicago, Orlando,Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. Got better letters of recommendations and honed/personalized my PS. I matched in a preliminary internal medicine. Still happy I ended up somewhere. No prior network or connection with the program. I guess the PD and attending who interviewed me liked my answers. I just showed them who I am and was not stiff in answering questions. I didn’t made up stuff, I signaled them because of location and what I like about southern culture and she was ok with it -that my answer was not specific to her program. She asked my nursing career (my premed), what will be my advantage. She also asked what is my weakness. I told her point blank communication based on the feedback on my first cycle and that’s what I wrote on my ps and added what i did to improve. More clinical rotations and there was a time I worked as medical assistant at that time - I need money. Rotations are not cheap.
3rd cycle: 9 neurology interviews and I finally matched to my number 1 program as a 2nd year resident. Being an intern makes you attractive to programs because in their eyes - you are experienced. Still don’t have great interview skills- i didn’t have time prepping. I just keep in my mind 3 main points in most commonly asked questions and I just let it be spontaneous. I discovered that if i have memorized set of answers - I get more nervous and that I usually become monotone. So I decided to have it spontaneous- I am more animated when I speak and it felt like Im just talking to another person spontaneously. I didn’t have time to publish articles. I was working on 1 case report.
In interviews, I just showed them my personality, I looked interested and also- i was no longer shy or afraid to show my personality during the interview. I told them what’s on my mind and I just enjoyed the process. So keep going and pray hard. God really helped me with my battles and He made it clear in my life that he calls the shots.
Also made them known that I care a lot about my patients- and tell them what I have to do to advocate for them especially patients who can no longer make decisions for themselves and family are making the decisions which sometimes- are hard for family members to make and usually say the default thing- do everything. It is our job as medical doctor to give them the big picture and the pros and cons and whats your honest opinion- so they can have informed decision
Not all my interviews went well- but i prayed a lot. I did not send post communication email because I was disheartened in my first cycle. PD/programs lie. :(
I made an effort to be seen by my prelim PD. I talked to my PD at the beginning and what are my goals are. I was blessed that I ended up in a program that is supportive - let you have entire day as day off oninterview day. My PD gave me pointers in my PS and gave me a very good LOR. She advocate for me to get a real experience in neurology rotation- she talked to the neurology PD. i had a chance to work alongside neurology residents and i literally worked like them. Really did my best that they get to know me and will like me. It was not easy, they were initially cold but I made extra effort. Joined their extra curricular activities - i really felt an outsider but I kept pushing. In the end, some residents did invite me for dinner. I had a wonderful time with them in the end.
There were 2 options i had for getting a LOR from Neurology attending…. 1 well known in her field- but i only worked with her for a week vs 1 who i get to interact with a lot and spent with her for 2 weeks- so i picked the 2nd one. Also the Neurology attending I asked for the LOR was a sweet and very kind doctor.
That’s all the pointers i can give them. Gook luck!
L. S. March 2023
Related Links:
Photo credit: ©2021 Robert Linder unsplash.com