Category: Electives

1/6/2019

Difference between types of USCE for IMGs

Externships, Observerships, Electives and their significance.

What is the difference between electives, observership and externship for an IMG as you prepare for your USMLE journey and eventually a residency spot?
Which one should you prefer, if you have the option?

If you have these questions then read on.

Electives are done prior to receiving your final degree, mostly done during the internship period. The main advantage of an elective is that it will give you a hands-on US experience, which is highly sought for by many programs.
Electives significantly increase your chances of matching into that program if you meet the criteria. Be assured if you really shine during your elective and prove your mantle, there is a high likelihood of being offered an interview.
Observership, on the other hand, is done after getting your final degree, they also show a significant US Clinical Experience (USCE), remember you may get a Hands-on experience (externships) after the graduation as well. Many hospitals offer it (paid as well as free).

Hospital based experience is always preferable to clinic based.

There are two approaches for researching an observership, Paid vs Free.
One key criterion when seeking a free observership is approaching the right faculty, many programs allow shadowing of their physicians only if the physicians accept to have a shadow, and many are willing to as well. They understand the system well and know its importance.
The key is finding programs which have offered in the past and then selectively approaching physicians by mailing them, you may need to send many emails prior to being successful. But many have been successful. another approach is asking for a meeting with the doctors in person.
Our team at USMLESarthi has collected the list of hospitals/clinics that can help you with electives, hands-on and observerships, which you can download here http://letshelpimgs.com/index.php/download/usce2018list/

Don’t forget to check your spam folder once you register
Our team can also help you with hands on experiences, please see our current openings.

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1/6/2019

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Step-by-step, checklist: Applying to clinical electives as IMGs

Applying for clinical electives can be a tedious process. Different programs have different requirements. Some of them accept online applications whereas others ask for an offline application form to be sent directly to their office along with other documents. Hence many people find it hard to have all the documents in hand quite early so that they can apply to the programs as soon as the applications start being accepted. Dr. Shahin Isha, USMLESarthi’s campus ambassador, has shared this must-read step- by-step, one-stop checklist for the clinical electives.

1. USMLE Step 1 Score
This can be a game changer. Although there are several programs which don’t require USMLE Step 1 score, with USMLE Step 1 score in hand, the options available for you will be twice the number of programs which don’t require Step 1 score.
Plus for those programs which don’t ask for Step 1 score, you’ll have more chance to get selected if you show the score (needs to be competitive) in your CV.

2. TOEFL score
Just like Step 1 score, having a TOEFL score opens up a lot of opportunities. There are quite a few colleges which don’t ask for a TOEFL score, few others waive this requirement if you provide a letter from your college mentioning that the medium of education in your college is English. But a good TOEFL score can be another major game-changing factor. It makes your CV more attractive. Different colleges have different requirements but a score of 100-105 out of 120 with 23-26 in the Speaking Section can help you meet most of the program’s requirements.

3. CV
This should be your absolute masterpiece – almost all programs ask for this. The CV/Resume should enlist your academic and non-academic accomplishments, awards, professional memberships, volunteer works, extracurricular activities etc. Normally a CV doesn’t contain a photograph (better to omit adding a photograph unless mentioned to do so).

4. Personal Statement
This should mention about yourself and how you developed an interest in medicine, your career goals and the specialty of your interest.

5. Letter of Intent
Like Personal Statement but this letter is addressed to the clerkship coordinator. This letter should describe the reason for your interest in their program, your unique abilities (i.e. why they should choose you), your long-term career goals.
Only a few programs require this letter.

6. Transcripts
This enlists the clinical experience you had at your medical school ( 2nd,3rd,4th, and Final year wards). Ideal transcript should contain the duration of each rotation and grades obtained in each of those. The transcript should be printed on a Medical School Letter Head paper and properly stamped, signed by the authority.
Few programs ask for original transcripts to be sent via mail. Hence, it’s better to ask for multiple copies from the college.

7. Dean’s letter
Things get a bit tricky here. Although a few college administrators are aware of the clinical electives, most of the IMG (non- Caribbean) colleges are not aware of the electives. Hence the student has to convince them to write a permission letter like “Mr. X is a final year student at this institution, He/She is in good standing in his academic year and will have completed the required core clerkships before the elective start date. He is permitted to take part in an elective course at your institution during this period – (mention the months) “.
This Dean’s letter will not only act as a document to meet the program’s requirement, but it can also be used as a No-Objection Letter during the visa interview.

8. Immunization
Following immunizations are required along with appropriate proof (like doctor’s letter):

Measles (2 doses after 1 yr age)
Mumps
Rubella
Influenza vaccine (latest)
Hepatitis B vaccine 3 doses
Varicella vaccine or proof of titer if one has suffered from chicken pox in past
Tdap within past 10yrs
Polio vaccination
BCG vaccination along with IGRA (quantiferon gold) or TST done recently
Meningococcal vaccine (very few colleges require)

If exact dates of past immunization are unknown, one can get serology done to provide proof of adequate titer.

9. Proof of health insurance
Sometimes a letter addressed to clerkship co-ordination mentioning your intent to purchase health insurance after getting selected is accepted. However, if you have already decided that you are surely going to the USA during a period, it’s better to purchase an insurance. It might shorten the processing time for your application.

10. Proof of Malpractice insurance
Just like Health insurance, you can write a letter to the clerkship coordinator. Most of the colleges accept it. Purchase it once your spot is secured at that institution.

11. Criminal Background check
A few programs require a criminal background check reports from the local Police station. For Indian students, it can be easily ordered via Passport Seva Portal website here.
However, a few other colleges do require a criminal background check done by the agency they recommend. Their policy regarding this will be mentioned on their website.

12. Basic Life Support (BLS) training
Only a small number of programs require this.

13. HIPAA and OSHA training
These courses are available online. You’ll receive certification on course completion and payment. These certificates are accepted by all institutions.

14. Urine Drug Screening report
Negative urine drug screening reports are required for some programs. However, these reports expire in 3 months. Hence you may write a letter addressed to the clinical coordinator that you will send the latest reports as soon as you get accepted at the institution.

And Finally,

15. Application fee
The amount varies from $0 to $1000 per college. You can expect total cost of $1000 to $2000 for applying to 10-15 programs.
If you’re going to attend paid electives, additional tuition fee will be required after confirmation ($500/month -$5000/month).

Additionally, some programs may require a green card, prior affiliation with your home school, home school’s participation in VSAS etc. There is no reason to worry if someone doesn’t meet these requirements because there are a lot of other programs where you can apply using the 15 requirements mentioned above.

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1/6/2019

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How to search for electives for your USMLE journey

Top tips to search for electives for USMLE Residency preparation- from my personal experience

Start early- If you are planning to go for electives in your internship year, start searching for the electives in your third year. It’s better to start searching as soon as you can.
Excel Sheet – In your final year you should be ready with an excel sheet which should columns according to you but should atleast have the university name, date when they start accepting elective applications from IMGs, last date to apply, link to the elective page, email sent or not (by you) , if they replied to your email or not, application fees, tution fees, location etc. This excel sheet is really going to save your time in future (trust me on that) otherwise you will have to start searching from zero whenever you plan to search and if you have an excel sheet you will definitely add something new to the sheet whenever you search for them. Update this excel sheet whenever you send an email or receive any email from the university. This excel sheet should be your own, dont rely on anyone to make it for you or give you a copy of their sheet.
Smart search – It includes searching for the already available excel sheets or lists online. You can find a lot of such sheets in the docs section of various Facebook pages, a list was provided by USMLESaarthi. Read all these sheets and make a sheet of your own.
Elsevier and research papers – If you are really interested in rotating under a specific faculty member, you can look up for their research papers online and you can find their e-mail ids through research websites/ elsevier etc. Once you get their email, keep emailing them, show them why you want to rotate with them and lastly ask them to recommend you for an elective position under them. This also works if you have seniors at a particular university, you can always reach out to them and ask for their guidance on how to get electives. Staying in touch with universities is very important as this keeps you updated.
Update regularly– Keep checking the elective links you had put in your excel sheet every month and update the list accordingly. Also send repeat emails to the universities if you don’t hear from them. Email should be sent once a month, you should give them time to reply as well. This way you will be updated as well as remain in touch with the university. Also be ready with the immunization requirements and other requirements of various universities beforehand because this also takes a lot of time and having this ready keeps you ahead of others.

These are the five tips that really work!

Dr. Nikita Garg
Lady Hardinge Medical College, India.

Dr. Garg is a Campus Ambassador for USMLESarthi.

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USCE - Step by Step Guidance

Difference between types of USCE for IMGs

Step-by-step, checklist: Applying to clinical electives as IMGs

How to search for electives for your USMLE journey

Electives, Observerships and other USCE

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Categories

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About us

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Other resources

​USCE - Step by Step Guidance

Difference between types of USCE for IMGs

Step-by-step, checklist: Applying to clinical electives as IMGs

How to search for electives for your USMLE journey

Electives, Observerships and other USCE

Archives

Categories

Our services

About us

Contact

Other resources

USCE - Step by Step Guidance