GUIDING IMGS TO MATCH INTO THEIR DREAM US RESIDENCY
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Sarthi Students share their USMLE experiences

3/3/2017

6 Comments

The Art of Possible- Pre-matched in third try!

 
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​Right after I got the call offering me prematch!

​I am Ihtesham from Hyderabad, India (Go Sunrisers!!). I grew up in the middle-east, did a majority of my schooling there before going to Hyderabad for my med school. I am a regular guy with normal everyday problems. I get depressed when Virat Kohli loses form and get happy when my gas tank meter mistakenly shows extra petrol in my car. I also make a killer chicken khorma when in good mood.

My USMLE journey started during the end of my internship year. What about electives? Yes, you guessed it- probably too late. I already graduated by the time I could make up my mind about electives. We weren’t well informed about proper USCE and there was a prevailing tradition in my med school- Marry a US citizen and you’ll be fine. Ofcourse that never happened, I fell in love with my childhood friend and got married a year later. I started preparing for my step 1, gave it 3 months and then my first NBME. I scored 218. Quickly lost confidence and then got stuck in the dreaded limbo of being forever unsure if I should give the exam. I started working at a super specialty hospital in my city so I would feel more productive and that’s how I probably wasted a year or so in trying to get the perfect 240 plus score everyone desires. I eventually gave my Step1 much later and I didn’t score any more than if I would’ve given my exam immediately in first place. I realized wasting more time for my CK didn’t make sense and gave CK and CS off as soon as possible so I could be in time for my match season.

So at my first match season I was a 3 year old Grad with average scores and some meaningless observerships at private practices. I got 2 interviews. Step 3 also happened in the middle of my season, cleared that. Come March 15th- I didn’t match. Well, what was I expecting with 2 interviews seriously? I then thought getting some legit externship plus hospital observerships would boost my profile for next year. If I got 2 interviews last year I am definitely on course for atleast 5-6 this time I thought. My second match season resulted in just one interview sadly. I had no clue what went wrong. Come match day, I didn’t even have the courage to check the NRMP email if I matched. My wife checked my email and guess what? Her expression said it all. I didn’t match again. Feeling depressed doesn’t even begin to describe my situation. My situation was the definition of hitting rock bottom.
 
I knew one thing though - NEVER EVER give up. If I decide that I want something I never stop until I freaking get it. People told me research with publications was my last resort. I emailed tons of places and finally got a research fellowship in Cardiology at a pretty decent University- unpaid, but whatever. I worked on a review paper from day 1 and with some pestering got an opportunity to present a poster. My research mentor- the sweetest Chinese lady around was very helpful and wrote me a killer 2 page LOR. Not the generic hardworking, punctual etc  BS that every letter seems to have. It had very specific instances of what I did and how I did. But this being my third time around, I was not all confident about getting interviews. Heck, average scores and a 5 year old grad isn’t exactly what most programs are looking for.

September 15th happened again for the third time. First 2 weeks were quite. Then I was flooded with interviews. I couldn’t believe having 7 interviews in just the first month. I finally could relate with all those people on the forums posting about their interviews who I so wanted to smother badly in their sleep all these years haha. I ofcourse proudly posted my first few interview invites too then stopped because I realized no one is really interested. Attending the interviews and constantly travelling was the best part of this season. I used AirBnb for lodging and that helped me meet some really cool people along the way.  By the end of December I was sitting nice and sweet with 13 interviews, 2 of them being prematch interviews. 13?? Unlucky number? Read ahead and let’s find out.
​
Last day to make the ROL was approaching, I made the ROL for my 11 programs. Hardly got any positive responses for the “Thank you” or my “I will rank you high” emails. My attempts at asking for a “second look” were either politely declined or got no response.  Yes, I had the number of interviews to match but also heard plenty of stories of people with those many invites not matching in the previous years. I was anxious as hell. Then on Monday Feb13th (one day before Valentine’s day) I got a phone call that changed my life forever. It was a phone call from Chicago asking if I would like to accept a prematch position for IM at their hospital. HELLL YEAAHHHH!! was my response. I was at my research lab when I received this call. I am glad my camera obsessed lab mate was there to capture this moment of pure ecstasy (SEE POSTED PIC). They apparently really liked my Cardiac stem cell research project that I was involved with and said that they would be glad to have me.  I quickly called my wife to give her the good news. Tears rolled. She wanted me to confirm if it was a prank call. Hmmm, good call!! Why didn’t I think of that? I checked my caller ID number with ERAS to confirm it wasn’t one, Phew!! She said it was the best Valentine’s gift ever. I concurred.
​
I have definitely learnt some valuable lessons through this hard-fought journey. Never ever give up. With enough persistence one can always achieve what they desire. I could have easily given up after my second match season and hated myself for dreaming big. My future goals include becoming a cardiologist and hiding my credit cards from my shopaholic wife. Both seem equally hard from this point. But hey, I know I’ll never give up. Good Luck everyone and I hope this story inspires you to be an achiever even in the direst of situations.

​Yes, you can also do it! Click here to see how we can help  
6 Comments
mohammed raasiq
3/3/2017 06:10:05 am

this is such an awesome journey that you have been through. A positive vibe glows in me after having read your experience.my hearty congratulations to you dr.ihteshaam.may your future endeavour come out fruitful. Apne hyderabdi me boleto.... Kirraaakkkk...

Reply
Jamal Khan
3/3/2017 07:01:02 am

A little more persistence, a little more effort and what seemed like hopeless failure may turn into glorious success. Such is your success story, a story of persistence. Surely it will inspire many to never give up! Congratulations! This is the first of many more to come.

Reply
Sreedhar Reddy
3/3/2017 07:52:31 am

Its a beautiful and inspiring story of success... All the best for your future... I pray, you get into cardiology fellowship...

Reply
Dr Fahd Shaikh
3/5/2017 05:04:55 am

Love this guy to pieces!!! Such an inspiration. There is never usually a dearth of extremely hard working type nerds, who crack any exam effortlessly. They are an inspiration ofcourse, but we fail to relate to them most of the times.

But this guy! He is a package. He has always shown what smart studying can be, and how one can do long hours of focussed hardwork and also not miss watching Virat Kohli hit ton after ton. Always admired that about him.
Cliché as it may sound, he always chose the road less traveled. Always. And of course that has made all the difference. :-)

It is a proud moment to see you Ihtesham, achieve the first step towards your bigger dream and to see you restore faith and confidence in all the students who might have just started their preparations, and to those whose step scores aren't really dazzling. Wish you all the success in your future endeavors. Maybe you reach greater heights. And may you not forget us lesser beings. :-D

You deserve it!!!

Reply
Dr Fahd Shaikh
3/5/2017 05:06:58 am

May*

Reply
Sowjanya
3/18/2017 04:11:39 pm

Congrats Ihtesham! great story

Reply



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