Computer based USMLE has had multimedia features for some time now. These features include heart sounds. If you look beyond the stress of the exam itself, these multimedia features are quite cool actually! Only tough part is, preparing for these multimedia tests. For example, getting used to listening to and deciphering heart sounds on a computer as opposed to a stethoscope can be a bit challenging in itself. We recently came across this fairly sophisticated “Virtual trainer” at the 3M website – makers of the famed Littman stethoscopes! Check it out.
If you came to the United States on a B2 (pleasure) tourist visa for USMLE Step 2CS and/or residency interviews, you should pay attention at the immigration desk at the airport as described here. If however, you were busy admiring the surroundings and the officer stamped your I-94 with a two month stay, you might find yourself in a bit of time crunch. You need about four months to do the Step 2 CS and the interviews you say!
Well, you need to extend your stay in the United States then, isn’t it? And here, in short, is how to extend your tourist visa or, to be more accurate, your stay in the United States.
Your first interview in the entire residency process really occurs as soon as you first land in the USA – at the airport!
That’s the interview with the immigration officer. It can have a profound effect on your interviews in the USA especially if you are also planning on taking Step 2CS during the same trip (that’s the most economical strategy as described here).
When it comes to taking USMLE, one of the big stumbling blocks most foreign medical graduates face is that of ethics, or more specifically, medical ethics. Many, if not most, FMGs struggle when it comes to questions about ethics. These questions typically would present a scenario and ask you, as the doctor in that situation, to make a decision. That is where many FMGs trip up.
Does that mean FMGs are unethical? The answer to that must be one the most unequivocal NO’s in my life, ever. Then why is it that many FMGs struggle and squirm when faced with questions about medical ethics?
Who is the foriegn / international medical graduates’ chief competition? Is it the American Graduate? or the other international medical graduates?
Doing well on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is very important, obviously! In applying for residency in the USA, an IMG is up against the American graduates as well as other IMGs.
Now that you know the stiff competition you are up against, it’s time to start preparing for USMLE. As always, information is critical! You need to know:
- when to take USMLE
- how to prepare for USMLE
- which preparation materials to use for USMLE
