This document provides information to help someone decide whether to pursue residency in the United States and how to do so successfully. It discusses the pros of the USMLE licensing exams, an overview of the exam steps and requirements, costs, preparation tips, and the residency application process. Key details include requirements to have a high USMLE score, building a strong resume with research and clinical experience, and emphasizing interpersonal skills in interviews to secure a residency position.

1. Page 1

2. My Role For Today
 Help you decide if you want to Pursue
Residency In United States or Not ?
 And If Yes, What Should you do to Stand
Above rest of the World and show You are the
BEST 
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3. AIPGMEE USMLE
Page 3

4. PROS OF USMLE
• Approach of Education/Training
• Compete on International Standards
• Quality of Life
• Considers your Overall Personality
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5. TIME
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6. Time2
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7.  Passport
 Correct/Prevent Name
Errors
 Avoid stupid
discussions
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8.  Step 1 - Basic Sciences ( 1 st and 2nd year
subjects + lil bit of PSM & Psychiatry )
 Step 2CK - Clinical Knowledge ( Final
year subjects + lil bit of 3rd year Part 1
)
 Step 2CS – Clinical Skills: Much
different from our clinical approach
Only above steps are required for admission
in Residency
 Step 3 – Resident Level Exam usually
given during residency but Required if you
want H1BVisa Page 8

9. USMLE STEPS
• Multiple Choice Exam ( MCQ’s)
• Around 300+ questions in 8-9 hours
• Blocks of 1 hour each
• Test taken in Prometric Center
• Step 1, and Step 2 CK can be taken in India
• Step 2 CS, and Step 3 in USA.
• Tests your ability to concentrate for longer time
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10. What is this 2 digit and 3 digit score?
 On the 3-digit scale, most Step 1, 2 CK, or 3 scores fall between
140 and 260.
 NO UPPERLIMIT/ NO OUT-OF MARKS
 The 2-digit score is derived from the 3-digit score and the
current passing score.
 Percentiles are not provided in connection with USMLE scores.
So 2-digit scores are not percentiles.
 Recently they reduced 2-digit scoring and henceforth it is not
humanly possible to get 99 on 2-digit score.
 All that is going to be considered is a 3-digit score.
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11. Cost?
 Step 1 - ~920 $ = 51000 INR
 Step 2Ck - ~935 $ = 52000 INR
 Step 2CS- ~1355 $ = 75000 INR
 Step 3- ~ 745 $ = 41000 INR
 Total Approx cost of exams = 220k INR
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12. EXAM PREPARATION
• Step 1 needs around 6-8 months preparation
• Read Kaplan material atleast 2-3 times
• Practice lot of questions – 2500 to 3000 questions
• USMLEWORLD questions are most important
• Make study groups of 2-4
• Join USMLE forum and engage in discussions
• Books: Kaplan Notes (off course photocopied), First
Aid series
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13. Important Websites
ECFMG.org -basic site for all operations
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates- Our Dean’s Office
USMLE.org –resource for all steps
NBME.org for self assessment exams
National Board of Medical Examiners
FSMB.org for step 3
Federation of State Medical Boards
AAMC.org and also AAMC.org/services/ERAS
Association of American Medical Colleges
Electronic Residency Application System Page 13

14. ECFMG
 Our Designated Dean’s Office
 Register for USMLE/ECFMG ID- first step
 Use Passport while entering details
 IWA- Interactive Web Applications
 OASIS- Online Applicant Status and
Information System
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15. Page 15

16. Page 16

17. Terminologies you need to know
 Program  hospital where you will do
residency
 Program Director  like HOD, decides to
give you residency
 Residency Co-ordinator  person who deals
with clerical work regarding residency
 Chief Resident  Head of Resident group
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18.  ERAS : Online website where you will submit all paperwork
 Interview Day: When you go for usually a full day interview
at the hospital who invites you for residency.
 Match Day: Day when you get an Email saying you
have got Residency
 Post-Match : If you miss 1st chance, you can try again.
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Savannah River Bridge

20. Residency Cycle
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21. Page 21

22. What Residency Can I apply for ?
Position No of Position No of Position
Filled by IMG Available
Internal Medicine 1339 4999
Family Medicine 400 2608
Pediatrics 286 2428
Neurology 140 660
Psychiatry 134 1091
Prelim Surgery 143 1165
Prelim Medicine 97 1863
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23. How you would go to US ?
• Visitor/Tourist Visa B1/B2 – easier if
you already have it, or get for giving your
Step 2 CS.
• Student Visa – F1
Apply for Masters program – in public
health, business, health administration etc.
• Visitor f/b J1 or H1 provided by USA.
• Shortcut- Marriage

24. Now you will Say “ I like the MPH idea”
• It’s a great Idea
• Definitely helpful in getting residency and
long run both.
• Need to take GRE and TOEFL
• Apply for graduate schools in US- at least
5-8 depending on your GRE score.
• Easy to get admission
• Aim for expense of $ 20,000 -$ 25,000
• Time commitment 1-2 years

25. H1 or J1 ?
• H1B sponsored by • J1 sponsored by
Residency Program ECFMG
• Expiry of 6 years • Expiries in 7 years
• After 6 years, go back • J1 waiver job after
to any country for 1 residency
year which resets • After 7 year come
• Green card can be back to India for 2
processed year and re-apply
• Dependent of H1  • J1 dependent  J2;
H4 NOT allowed to can work and even
work get residency.

26. Page 26

27. Applicants
Page 27

28. How Good Are My Chances?
Number of Active Applicants and % Matched
Page 28

29. How Many Residency Positions are there
and where do I stand ?
Approximately: 4 out of every 10 seats is filled by an IMG

30. What do you need the most to get
Residency Position ?
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31. Good Score is the KEY !!
Page 31

32. How to make them LIKE you !!
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, PROFESSIONALISM, COMMUNICATION
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33. Does Anything Else Matter ?
Page 33

34. Grand
Canyon, Arizona
Page 34

35. My Fav Soft
Drink’s HQ ,
Atlanta
Page 35

36. WHAT CAN I DO WHILE I AM IN
INDIA ?
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37. HomeWork
 Start thinking what field of Medicine are you interested
in !!
 Make an Excel Sheet with main info:
 Eg: Name of Program, Visa Offered, Contact
information, Requirement –Score, Work, Other, Look
up the residents in program
 Join USMLE forum online and discuss with people
 Keep on reading for your Steps – try to do in groups
 Crack you USMLE, it’s a KEY.
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38. Personal Statement
 A kind of Essay which depicts why you
decided to choose a particular field.
 It is not your Resume
 Give at least 1 month for it
 Get it checked by your professor and other
friends.
 Start making in early April-May
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39. Build Your Resume
• Publications  think of writing up
interesting cases in our local journals
• Do Poster presentations at conference
• Try going to National level conference
and meet more physician from around
the globe
• Ask for help, mentors, friends here and
abroad
• Be pro-active
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40. Type of Clinical Experience
 Clerkship/Elective: Can only be done during your
internship period in India.
 Observership: Shadow a physician and see how
health-care system works, its not a hands on work,
usually free; though paid once available too
 Externship: Hands on work, do physical exam,
interact with patients, build your skills.
 Research work: Basic Science v/s Clinical trial v/s
community research.
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41. How to get them ?
• Clerkship/Elective: apply before you are
about to start Internship. FRIEDA has all the
information. You need atleast 4-6 month for
processing. Discuss with DEAN and Clerkship
office
• Observership: Can be done any time, usmle
forums has a lot of information. Also contact
your friends see if their hospital gives it.
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43. Page 43

44. Research
• It’s a totally different field and before going
there think of committing at least 1 year.
• Its not as easy as cutting mice and things are
done!!
• Two options: Clinical v/s Basic science
• There is no real posting on one website, but
think what you are interested and look at each
university and email the Admin Office with your
request.
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45. Apple Store 5th
Avenue, NYC
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46. Words of Wisdom
• Crack Your USMLE
• Nothing is Impossible if your Decision is Strong
• Its okay if you spend 1or 2 year in research or other
work, everything in life ADDS ON
• Be prepared to go over and above to achieve your
GOAL.
• Stay Connected, Work as a team, Stay focused.
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47. AIM HIGH
NewYork
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