International Student !Survival Guide – Undergraduate Edition!

Primary Authors: Genna Bourget + Sohaib Masroor

Compiled in 2013

•  Your years at UCD will be fun, exciting and equip you with a solid medical education, however, do not take things lightly. This is Medical School.

•  Strive always to do your best. No matter what anyone tells you, GRADES MATTER. While it is the standardised tests (USMLE Steps 1/2, MCCEE) which matter most, your grades are still looked over, so always work hard.

•  It is important to be involved in things outside of your class. Play sports, volunteer or get involved in research. On interview day, you want to be able to say more than “Well... I studied for 6 years”.

•  The earlier you figure out what specialty you want to do, the better. Use the years prior to res year/clerkship (i.e. Undergraduate 5/6) to figure this out and orient your future application towards this - e.g. do research, observerships, etc. You won’t know what you like until you get exposed to it. So start early, even if it’s in the Irish system.

•  Lastly, read over this ENTIRE handbook now. It’ll give you an idea of what to expect and a chance to ask questions of those ahead of you. It’s also a good idea to enter approximate dates into any calendars you use. There are many, many deadlines which will creep up on you. Seriously, read through this. It’ll take 5 mins.

IMPORTANT

•  Ignore rumors that Undergrads are at a disadvantage compared to GEMs. You’re here now and you’re both getting the same education. Focus on you – not everyone else.

Undergraduate Survival Tip

Undergraduate – Stage One (Pre-med) This year will cover the basic sciences that would have been pre-requisite courses for med schools in Canada/U.S.A. - Not the most challenging year, but if you put in the effort there is potential to do extremely well.

September - November: Welcome! Enjoy! Join NIMSA! TRAVEL - You will have less & less time for this!

Throughout the Year: Look for volunteer opportunities, join athletic clubs, get involved!

Christmas Break (1): Figure out what you want to do in the coming summer

The undergrad program has more free summers than the GEM program– spend them wisely. Don’t forget, that when applying to residency programs, your CV will be compared to that of people who have +4 years post-secondary experience on you.

•  Suggestions for this summer include: research, volunteering and observerships

•  Contact Doctors in North America regarding summer clinical research opportunities - Try your best to do research in a field you’re interested in - If you’re not sure what you want to do, do research in something broad, like internal medicine -  If in the Toronto area, the UHN Network is a great resource to identify doctors and their research interests: www.uhnresearch.ca/researchers/index.php

Summer (1):

•  If you plan to take an easy summer, this is the summer to do it. Suggestions for this summer include: research, volunteering and observerships

•  If doing research, this is also a great time to shadow doctors in fields you may be interested in. Observerships don’t hold the same weight that clinical electives do (can only be done starting in clinical years), but are a great way to get a feel for what the job really entails

•  Ask your supervisor in advance if they will have observership opportunities or are willing to give you time off to do some.

Undergraduate – Stage 1 (Pre-med)

Undergraduate – Stage 2 (First Med) This year focuses on the physiology of the major systems. It is quite a bit more challenging than pre-med. In order to maintain the same grades professors expect much more from you. Similar to the GEM survival guide, getting a copy of the USMLE First AID would be advantageous – draw connections between what you’re learning and what will be expected for the USMLE Step 1 exam. (It will also help demonstrate to UCD examiners that you

have done supplementary reading!)

September – December: •  Again – do well. Grades do matter. Physiology lays down fundamental principles for future years, and a good, solid understanding will help make the rest of the program a lot easier. •  Continue to find ways to get involved – a residency program wants to see a well rounded person.

Christmas Break (2): •  Figure out your summer – make connections, do some reading and investigations about what is available to you (research / observerships / volunteering).

January – May: •  Physiology continued: Biochemistry has become incorporated into most subjects (it used to be an independent module). Know and understand your biochemistry very well – it makes up a substantial part of the tedious, complicated knowledge you’ll need for the USMLE Step 1.

Summer (2): •  This is a really good time to get involved in research, observerships, or volunteering if you haven’t already.

•  These experiences should have been sorted and locked down over Christmas or over the last semester.

•  Some students do research through UCD’s Student Summer Research Awards (SSRA). This experience counts towards the mandatory 10 credits of electives that are required each year. (This can relieve a lot of stress in 2nd med – one less course/semester!) – Check with SSRA to see if you’re eligible.

Undergraduate – Stage 3 (Second Med) Pathology by systems. Having done well in 1st Med will definitely pay off here!

Throughout the Year: Volunteer, play sports, and stay involved! This will not only keep you sane, but it’s something to add to your applications.

September - December: •  Continue to use the USMLE book in conjunction with your course work. Do not only focus on the USMLEs. UCD grades are important too!

Christmas Break (3): •  Again, get your summer sorted early! Get everything you want done – this is your last summer before the USMLEs!

January – April: Do well and stay involved!

Summer (3): •  Last summer before USMLEs! Try to stay well rounded. Get involved and make connections. Students in the past have filled this summer with research, Observerships and volunteer work (local or missionary trips abroad).

Undergraduate – Stage 4 (Third Med) This is the last semester of pre-clinical classes. It focuses more on pathology, pharmacology and treatment within

the various systems.

Throughout the Year: Volunteer, play sports, and stay involved! This will not only keep you sane, but it’s something to add to your applications.

September - December: •  You will have relatively few class hours – take advantage of the time off because there is a high work load. •  Begin Applying for your USMLE Step 1. It’s a hassle and takes awhile. The earlier you start the better. [Please see next page for Instructions]

Christmas Break (4): This is your last full Christmas – Enjoy! (Finish ECFMG requirements if necessary) •  Begin thinking about additional resources to use for the USMLE Step 1 (Kaplan Videos, PASS/DIT Program Videos and USMLE World Question Bank). You should start using these, even if it’s just once a week.

January – April : Clinical 1 – Beginning of the merge with GEM 2s. You will be in some, but not all, classes with them. This 9-week block makes

up the foundations of clinical skills, and is mainly comprised of lectures, workshops and hospital seminars.

•  Begin thinking about additional resources to use for the USMLE Step 1: Kaplan Videos, PASS/DIT Program Videos and USMLE World Question Bank. You should start using these, even if it’s just once a week. 

April -June: Hospital rotations begin, and there is a continuation of the merge with current GEM 2s.

Things to remember: • If you are planning to apply for a 2-week elective (time slot: upcoming Christmas), apply by March - April. Most elective programs begin accepting applications no less than 4 months prior to the elective start date, and no more than 9 months from it!

There are 2 parts to the exam application. 1.The on-line part of the application AND II. Either the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) OR the Certification Statement (Form 183).

ECFMG must receive both the on-line part and the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186), if required, or the Certification Statement (Form 183) in order to process your application.

www.usmle.org/apply Choose “outside of U.S.A. and Canada” Redirected to ECFMG Website First Time User: Establish an Account Complete Biographical/School/Contact Information

When you begin an on-line application, your application will be assigned an Application Identification Code. (The Application Identification Code is different from, and should not be confused with, your USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number.) You should write down the Application Identification Code and keep it in a safe place.

As you move from screen to screen, the information you provide will be saved. If you are unable to answer all application items in one session or you are disconnected from the application, you can return to it later by clicking the link to your saved application after logging into IWA.

Although you do not have to answer all items in one session, you must complete all on-line application items within 14 days of the date you last saved the application. Otherwise, the application will no longer be valid, and you must start another application

When you have completed the on-line part of the application, you will have the opportunity to review all information for accuracy and make any necessary corrections or changes before submitting it. As the last step in the on-line part of the application, you will print your Certification of Identification Form (Form 186), if required, or Certification Statement (Form 183).

USMLE Step 1 Registration “I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” "

2. Certification Form Both the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) and Certification Statement (Form 183) must be completed by you and an

authorized official of your medical school. The on-line part of your application will be transmitted to ECFMG only when you click on the link to proceed to the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186)

The signature of the medical school official who signs your Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) must be current; the official must have signed the form within four months of the date that it is received at ECFMG. The form must be sent to ECFMG directly from the office of this official. If the form is not sent to ECFMG from the office of the medical school official, it will not be accepted.

To complete the processing of your application, your medical school must verify your status through EMSWP. ECFMG will make your record available to your medical school and request verification typically within three weeks of receipt of a complete application. The time needed to complete the processing of your application is contingent upon your medical school's response to the EMSWP verification request. You will not be registered for examination until your medical school verifies your status.

Processing Time for Applications:

ECFMG processes exam applications typically within three weeks of receipt of the on-line part; the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) and any other required documents. Eligible applicants are registered after the processing of their applications is completed.

You will then be given the opportunity to choose a location and date to write your USMLE Step 1.

**Note: You may have to call the Health Science Office multiple times in order for them to verify your status and keep things moving** Make sure the time period you select to write it in (the 3 month block) starts after you are done 2nd year (likely after mid-June) or you

may get declined

USMLE Step 1 continued

Summer (4): You’re going to need 8 weeks MINIMUM to study for the USMLE Step 1. Go somewhere quiet, isolated, and with minimum distractions (friends/family). You don’t need too much outside of USMLE World, Goljan (Audio/High-Yield Notes) and the First Aid book.

•  This score is your foot in the door for U.S.A. residency interviews. WORK. YOUR. BUTTOCKS. OFF.

Do NOT extend this into Stage 5. You’ll be too busy, overwhelmed and distracted to get a better USMLE score than if you wrote in the summer

**Note: The U of T electives lottery (for a January elective) deadline is in Mid-August Look into and submit for this**

•  Also, during this summer, get a police record check and all your vaccination records: DTAP, MMR, Polio, HiB, Hep B, Anti-HbS, and a fresh Two-Step TB (Mantoux). Flu vaccine can be done in Winter. You will need these before you’re allowed to schedule electives.

Undergraduate – Stage 4 (Third Med)

•  You’re going to need 8 weeks MINIMUM to study for the USMLE Step 1. ���Go somewhere quiet, isolated and with minimum distractions ���(aka friends/family). ��� ** Make yourself a schedule, this is invaluable to keeping yourself on track!! **

•  Use USMLE World QBank, Goljan (Audio/High-Yield Notes) and the First Aid book. Some find flashcards helpful. More than this is superfluous.

•  Finish the QBank. Doing some every day, or every other day will go a long way towards this.

•  Having a study partner helps – They keep you sane, and are a good source of motivation

•  The NBME Practice tests tends to be a decent indicator. Many score within a few +/- points of their NBME scores.

•  Remember: YOU NEED A GREAT SCORE here as most U.S. Residency interview invites are based on this!��� ** Once you get your score report, SAVE THE PDF! You will need this later and they remove it eventually **

-USMLE Step 1 TIPS-

•  August: Welcome Back! You’re in hospitals full-time now and have officially merged with the GEMs! Recommendation: Buy “Toronto Notes”. It’s quite in-depth, but has everything you’ll need for your rotations and exams in the future. ���**Note: The U of T electives lottery (for a January elective) deadline is in Mid-August. Look into and submit for this**

•  August/September: Look into applying for Canadian electives. Every school has its own application process, so apply as early as possible. Most deadlines commence October 1st. Be on top of this!

** Med 1: Do NOT underestimate the MCQ. Having written the USMLE gives nothing more than a MINIMAL advantage. This MCQ is very clinically based (and difficult) **

•  Christmas Break: Begin applying for American Electives, although deadlines are generally around March.

•  January: Apply for the MCCEE (long, complicated process) ��� Apply for the USMLE Step 2 (easy, straightforward)

•  Summer: Work your butt off during electives��� Meet with Program Directors wherever you do electives, seriously ��� Write your Step 2 CS in the U.S.A.

•  August: Begin compiling your U.S.A. Residency Application - opens in September. ���You can expect to put in 50+ hours on this. Personal statements are key.

[see next page]

Undergraduate – Stage 5 (Fourth Med)

•  Go to: http://www.mcc.ca/en/exams/ee/apply.shtml

•  Click on “click here for your application steps” and follow the instructions

MCCEE Registration

• Whereas USMLE is dominated by Internal Medicine, the EE is equal parts Family Medicine, Obs/Gyn, Psych, and Paeds.

•  Canada QBank isn’t a great resource as it doesn’t accurately reflect the type of questions you’re going to encounter, but the general topics it covers are decent. ���

** If you have time, try to cover the Population Health questions – Another approach is to only pay for and write the mock test **

MCCEE Tips

•  Go to your “IWA-ECFMG”

•  Once you log-in, there should be a link to apply for your Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)/Clinical Skills (CS). Very straightforward from here.

USMLE Step 2 Registration

•  September/October: Write your MCCEE��� Write your USMLE Step 2 CK��� Submit your U.S.A. ‘ERAS’ Residency Application���** American applications start being accepted in early September (around the 15th, though this may change). Get your applications in on Day 1, programs start reviewing files immediately **

•  October: Start CaRMS

•  November: Receive MCCEE Results ��� Submit CaRMS (Deadline ~ Nov 23, though this may change) ��� Now apply for MCCQE1. Deadline is in Early Jan. Late fee $460

•  December-February: U.S.A. / Canada Interviews

•  March: Canada Match Day (typically 1 week earlier than the U.S.A.) ��� U.S.A. Match Day (usually around St .Patrick’s Day ;)

•  July 1st: Begin Residency! (awww yeah)

Undergraduate – Stage 6 (Fifth Med)