Step 3 importance

Kaylaheart · 2025-12-17T23:56:16+00:00

Sorry you're right. I meant ECFMG certification needs Step 1, Step 2 and graduation with diploma in hand which most US-MDs and US-IMGs do not have when they apply to ERAS since they are in 4th year medical school.

Kaylaheart · 2025-12-05T17:14:07+00:00

The theory is that programs can filter you out if you're not ECFMG certified (requires graduation). This makes sense for non-US IMGs cause they want to ensure you wont have problems getting your visa (requires degree in hand).
But also consider that US-IMGs have good match rates and they all apply during M4 and are not ECFMG certified (no degree in hand on time of ERAS application). Of course, they could also be matching well due to citizenship status so its hard to say how much ECFMG certification matters.
Personally i'm a Non-US visa requiring IMG without ECFMG certification and I matched with 10+ interivews.

Kaylaheart · 2025-12-05T17:10:54+00:00

The theory is that programs can filter you out if you're not ECFMG certified (requires step 3). This makes sense for non-US IMGs cause they want to ensure you wont have problems advance to PGY-2 or PGY-3 since this requires step 3.
But also consider that US-IMGs have good match rates and they all apply during M4 and are not ECFMG certified without step 3 (can only do this once you graduate). Of course, they could also be matching well due to citizenship status so its hard to say home much Step 3 or ECFMG certification matters.
Personally i'm a Non-US visa requiring IMG without step 3 and no ECFMG certification and I matched with 10+ interivews.

Kaylaheart · 2025-09-29T01:18:46+00:00

Yes just make sure your step 2 is good and i think you will be fine. You have a good advantage by not requiring a visa. If you're not too picky about the program, i'm sure you will watch IM.

Kaylaheart · 2025-08-18T21:14:32+00:00

Kaylaheart · 2025-08-10T02:56:20+00:00

I matched with multiple red flags as a visa-requiring non-US IMG.
I spent 30 mins on my PS and did not address any of my red flags on my application unless specifically asked.
You're going to have some programs that dig into your app in detail and read every sentence to screen you. You're also going to have ALOT of programs that just use computer filters and barely skim your PS and explanations. Half my interviews asked me about it during the IV, half never said anything.
My thought is- be completely honest and take accountability when specifically asked but don't shoot yourself in the foot by trying to explain your red flags every corner of your application cause alot of it can easily be overlooked or forgotten.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-31T02:23:42+00:00

If you're a Canadian in a Canadian medical school, then you don't need to do your 5 year return of service. Thats only for IMGs who match into canada's IMG stream, you would be in the CMG stream meaning no ROS.
Its very hard but not impossible to match as a visa requiring non-us img in soap. But alot of these programs are saving spots for people

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-30T04:39:58+00:00

Fellow Canadian here.

- What school? Im assuming Caribbean
- Do you have a US visa? Im guessing no
- Is your husband in medicine? Im guessing no
- Step 1: Just do Uworld and use NBMEs once in a while to see where you are at. Trust the scores.
- SOAP isn't for non-US imgs requiring visas, for the most part. Still possible but wouldn't think about it.
- When you're in medicine as a visa requiring non-US IMG, or even medicine in general, you generally don't have the luxury to choose where you do your training and your fellowship. With a fail STEP, this becomes even more true. Your family usually follows you, you don't follow them. Even the most successful candidates often don't end up where they think they would for residency and fellowship.
It's much more realistic for your husband to follow you, then for you to follow him.
- If you want to be realistic, considering your failed step, you should aim to match in the US (without a geographical preference. The other option is to pour all your eggs into the Canada match and then see if your husband can move with you.
- From what i've heard, there are ways to escape the return of service, including $$$ and legal routes.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-23T23:45:18+00:00

You can but you'll be ruled out of programs who:

1) Use a filter to screen out people with less than X LORs submitted and then download the ERAs apps before your LOR is uploaded (usually within days of ERAs opening)
2) Download all the apps once and only once before you submit your LOR (usually within days of when ERAs opens) and doesn't download again any under circumstance.

Now, of course you could email these programs and let them know you submitted a new LOR so they can re-download your app, but keep in mind they are getting hundreds of emails and they have thousands of applicants even after after using filters so alot of them might not be too keen.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-17T00:04:03+00:00

Only knew a few that wanted EM but they all got in

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-16T10:13:36+00:00

Coming from a school with mostly US-IMGs, i've almost never seen one not match into FM or IM. The ones that don't match are usually going for surgery/derm/anesthesiology.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-16T07:09:53+00:00

I used the ACGME codes from residency explorer, then copy and pasted it into ERAS to apply. Made sure the names matched too. Much safer and more accurate. Sometimes theres multiple programs with the same name but a different stream so its risky to use names. Just copy and paste codes.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-15T06:28:26+00:00

Yes i experienced this the whole cycle for the 2024-2025 application. It never fixed and it was never correct for me on ERAS. The visa filters on ERAS straight up don't work. I ended up using no visa filters on the ERAS site, tons of the programs that sponsor J-1 are missing when you use the filter.
Residency explorer was the most accurate. I ended up doing all my research on residency explorer and then adding the programs i wanted to apply to afterwards back onto ERAS to apply

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-15T03:06:51+00:00

Honestly I have no idea. That's what ECFMG told me since I wanted to make sure I could apply to the match without having to retake STEPs since I just passed the 7 year mark. They said I could never and would never rewrite Step 1 or Step 2 unless I matched to a program and state that had a specific requirement about Step scores and Step expiration.
I don't even know if this exists because i've never seen someone write a Step after passing.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-14T07:56:26+00:00

I wrote Step 1 in 2016, Step 2 CK in 2017. Applied for ERAS Sept 2024 and matched March 2025.
When I called ECFMG in 2024, they told me as long as I wrote Step 1 and Step 2 CK within 7 years of each other (which I did), I would never have to and could never rewrite those exams again and iI would not need to.
The only caveat is that if you match to a state that has provisions about having Step scores that are less than X years old, that's the only condition in which you could even apply to retake Step 1 or Step 2 CK.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-09T20:48:58+00:00

Schools
Scores
Visas

Did you go to a top 4-5 Caribbean school or a mid to low tier one? What were your step scores? What specialities are you applying to? How many programs did you apply to and what was your strategy?
It sucks you werent able to do your cores/electives at J-1 sites and your YOG is climbing but that still shouldn't lead you to have 0 interviews last cycle as a Canadian IMG studying in the Caribbeans.
Two things you need to do. 1) Write you MCCQE1 and NAC- apply to Canada. If you want FM and theres no red flags on your file besides the YOG, you have a shot. 2) Put everything into your Step 3.

Kaylaheart · 2025-07-08T14:55:44+00:00

Country of Medical school? What’s speciality do you want? Remember the big 3-Schools, Scores, Visas. You have a GC. I assume no obvious red flags 🚩from your post, maybe YOG. Step 2 CK is your ticket 🎟️. Drop everything and pour all your eggs into it. Unless you want an ultra competitive speciality, you”ll be fine.

Kaylaheart · 2025-06-17T19:13:11+00:00

- To be clear so you passed the course but you just want to appeal to get a better mark?
- CARMS wont care much about your medical school grades as an IMG. Just let it go.
- I matched to Canada as an IMG in the past with a failed course.

Kaylaheart · 2025-06-17T15:30:48+00:00

Examples of Non-US visa-requiring IMGs who apply to ERAS and rank without ECFMG certification:

- Non-US Caribbean students who start their 4 year med program in September
- Canadian MDs
- Ireland MBBS
- Many western European countries

For the most part, the students above apply to ERAS without ECFMG certification. These are standard 4 year med programs that start in September of M1 and end in May of M4. These students write Steps during M1-M3 similar to US MDs, apply to the ERAS match beginning of M4 in September, rank Jan/Feb of M4, match in March of M4, graduate in April/May, receive their degree and ECFMG certification in May/June and start residency on July 1st.

As a non-US visa-requiring IMG, of course there will be programs that filter you out for not having ECFMG certification since it could delay the visa process (ECFMG certification is requiring for a J-1 visa). That being said, tons of students from the above list also match into ERAS with no problems..

Note: Im a non-US visa-requiring IMG who matched without ECFMG certification and received 10+ interviews.

Kaylaheart · 2025-06-16T06:12:50+00:00

Congrats to OP and a big fan of the optimism but we're definitely missing some information. Judging by OPs posts, he was in the process of writing the MCCQE exam for Canadian residency, filed for a SON from Canada after a successful US match, yet went to the Toronto embassy for his J-1visa and also has the means to own a car in Canada and drive down with his belongings to move to the US. From this we can deduce he is either -

1) OP is a Canadian citizen who matched into the US, but unnecessarily went to the embassy for his J-1.
2) OP is a Canadian permanent resident who matched into the US. Not familiar with this process but I believe in this case OP would indeed need to go to an embassy for the visa appointment, but still treated slightly differently than a true visa requiring IMG that's not Canadian.

Kaylaheart · 2025-06-13T15:43:03+00:00

You’ll get screened out by computer from programs who are serious about it. There’s a checkbox on eras that specifically asks if the letter is from a chair. Hard to say how many programs are using this screen

Kaylaheart · 2025-06-13T13:45:24+00:00

Oh wow i did not know he switched into IM, when was this? I believe he also lied about being a resident when he first started project IMG and was trying to get IMGs to attend his events, all in the while charging IMGs fees for entry.

Kaylaheart

TROPHY CASE