This is a lengthy and costly (for you) and lucrative (for the USMLE), process
STEP 2 CK
STEP 2 CS
Do not underestimate the STEP 2 CS!
It may seem simple (and it is) but there are some things that you absolutely must do during your encounter with the 'patients' and which they are obligated to assess and check on their checklist
STEP 3
Step 3 is becoming increasingly diffifult - don't underestimate it as we used to in the past!
The Scramble
The following information is straight from the 'horses mouth' (ECFMG, http://www.ecfmg.org/eras/index.html):
'NRMP Post-Match Scramble
This general information about the post-Match Scramble may answer many of your questions. Please be aware that the Scramble also involves the three following organizations:
- ERAS Support Services at ECFMG
- The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) administered by AAMC
- National Resident Matching Program (NRMP, or “the Match”)
All applicants who did not match with a residency program may participate in the post-Match Scramble. If you have any outstanding fees with AAMC ERAS or with ECFMG, you must make the necessary payment(s) to clear these outstanding balances; otherwise, you will be prohibited from participating in the Scramble.
The Scramble starts on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time in the United States, when the list of programs with unfilled positions is posted on the NRMP website, and ends on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time in the United States. Once the list has been posted, you may apply to any program with an unfilled position. You will not have access to the list of unfilled programs if you did not register with the Match; refer to the NRMP website for its policies. The Match Agreement prohibits applicants from sharing NRMP’s List of Unfilled Programs with individuals who did not register with the Match.
During the Scramble, you may apply to a maximum of 30 new programs and up to 15 programs to which you applied during the regular ERAS season. There is no charge for applying to programs during the Scramble.
If you reapply to programs, you cannot retransmit or make any changes to your application; if you need to make changes to document assignments, you must do so before reapplying.
Important Information
Regardless of whether you have registered with NRMP, you should not contact any programs before noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. It is important that you understand the terms and conditions of the Match Agreement; therefore, please read the agreement found on the NRMP website. Programs will take note of all applicants who violate this Match rule and may report them to NRMP. Programs as well as applicants are bound by the Match Agreement.
We also urge you not to engage services that, for a fee, claim to help you by flooding programs with unsolicited applications from applicants, either by e-mail or fax. Instead of being helpful, in most cases they are detrimental to your application. Therefore, be sure to register with NRMP by the late registration/rank order list certification deadline. After having consulted the list of unfilled programs on Tuesday of Match Week, go to MyERAS and apply to some of those programs. Be sure to assign your LoRs and USMLE transcript to the programs, so that we can transmit them accordingly.
It is important to know that programs may participate in ERAS but not in the Match. The reverse holds true; programs may participate in the Match but not in ERAS. You will need to research this information on your own.
ERAS Support Services at ECFMG during the Scramble
During the Scramble, ERAS Support Services will log into the ERAS PostOffice several times each day to retrieve your document assignments and program selections. We will process those selections and transmit your documents to the ERAS PostOffice shortly thereafter. Programs are responsible for downloading the documents from the ERAS PostOffice.
The Scramble is an intense 48-hour period during which ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will transmit thousands of documents. There will be no time to scan and upload documents once the Scramble has started. Therefore, in order to use ERAS to apply for unfilled positions, you must have your ERAS supporting documents processed before the start of the Scramble. This means:
- Two weeks before the Scramble, you must apply to at least one program at MyERAS.
- If you are sending new or replacement LoRs, they must arrive at ECFMG at least two weeks prior to the Scramble. If you have a new or additional LoR, assign it immediately to one of your original programs. This gives us time to attach it before the Scramble.
- If you are sending a replacement LoR from the same writer, attach a note to it that reads, “This replaces the previous LoR.” Otherwise, we might mistake it for the LoR we have already scanned and discard it without scanning.
- You must also make sure that all of your documents have been received and assigned, so that we can attach and transmit them before the Scramble.
- You may reassign Personal Statements and LoRs.
- If you are planning to apply during the post-Match Scramble only, you must still apply to at least one program about two weeks before the Scramble.
- You cannot make changes to your CAF; however you can update your Profile at any time.'
State-Specific USMLE Completion Time Limit
Many states have a 7-year limit from the time you take the first Step to the time you pass the last Step
However, there are exceptions to this, depending e.g. on whether you are doing a M.D./Ph.D. program
Yet other states (like NY) have no time limit!
Online Resources
Visit www.usmleforum.com, one of the oldest and best forums on the USMLE
