Taking STEP 1 Within the Next Few Months?

USMLE Step 1 Passing Score Under Review -- Posted by dkirkby on Tuesday, October 3 2006 12:25 PM

Students are advised that the USMLE Step 1 Committee will meet in mid December of this year. Among the issues most salient to students on Statia is an assessment of the passing score. It is possible, for example, that the recommended passing score will be raised from its current level of 182.

Any change in the passing score stemming from this meeting may affect students writing USMLE Step 1 after January 1, 2007. In other words, students writing USMLE Step 1 in the new year may be held to a higher standard than those writing the examination in 2006. Students are thus advised to consider these possible changes in national standards in relation to their own preparations to write USMLE Step 1.

See http://www.usmle.org/news/step1minpass2007.htm for details.

ERAS Scanning Delays...

ERAS 2007 Scanning Update - ERAS Support Services is currently scanning documents received on Monday, October 2. Due to the high volume of incoming ERAS applications, the current processing time to scan and upload documents is 10 business days. We will continue to diligently process all applications in the order in which they are received. Thank you for your patience.

Applying for the Match

From the ECFMG website:

It is important to understand that your pursuit of a residency position involves three different organizations:

* ERAS Support Services at ECFMG
* The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
* National Resident Matching Program (NRMP, or "the Match")

The AAMC developed and operates MyERAS, the electronic residency application service that provides GME programs with access to the applicant’s on-line residency application materials. Almost all residency programs participate in ERAS. The list of ERAS participating specialties and programs is published on the ERAS website. You must use ERAS to apply to participating programs.

It is important to know that applying at MyERAS and submitting supporting documents to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG does not register you with the NRMP Match. The NRMP matches applicants with available positions in programs. You are required to register with the NRMP in order to be a participant in the Match. Additionally, you must meet the NRMP’s examination requirements, and your exam results must be available in time to participate.

There are fees associated with the services provided by the ECFMG, the AAMC and the NRMP. You must ensure that you satisfy all fee requirements; otherwise, a hold may be placed on your ERAS application activities.

Not For IMGs

a fellow student wrote in that these 2 sites are not ready to accomodate IMG students:

ADVOCATE LUTHERAN in Park Ridge, IL
MAHEC ASHEVILLE in NC

Thanks again to the student who wrote in. If anyone has any other suggestions, comments, or advice, please do not hesitate to write in to statiamed@gmail.com