TOEFL ibt Test

1. The Exams

The USMLEs (United States Medical Licensing Examinations) are a set of medical exams designed to evaluate your readiness to safely enter the American medical system. The organisation that watches over the application of foreign nationals to the American Medical system is the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) and they administer the USMLEs outside of the USA. USMLE are multiple choice exams that are now only held on computer. There are three steps to completing the USMLE exams. Your nearest testing center can be found on www.prometric.com

The first part, USMLE step 1, is a multiple choice exam consisting of about 300 questions taken over eight hours in one day at the test center. The step 1 covers all of the basic sciences – Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, statistics, Behavioural science, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology and ethics. 66% of international medical graduates pass this exam with each sitting, while 91% of US medical students do.

The second part was recently divided into two parts, USMLE step 2ck (clinical knowledge) and USMLE step 2cs (clinical skills). USMLE step 2ck consists of a similar one day computer based examination, and covers all of the clinical sciences including medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, forensics, emergency care, ENT, ophthalmology, tropical health, ethics. 75% of international medical graduates/students pass this on first sitting, while 95% of US medical students do.

The USMLE Step 2cs examination is a newer requirement for ECFMG certification. The USMLE step 2cs is an expensive ($1200) examination is held in only a few American cities throughout the year. It brings examinees face-to-face with ten simulated (‘standardized’) patients – ie actors pretending to have specific complaints. You are tested on your ability to rapidly assess a patient, communicate your thoughts to them, and to write a note about your assessment and plans.

2. The ECFMG Certificate

The ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certificate is a document proving that you have fulfilled the education requirements needed to practice medicine in the USA. The Necessary components are to have
1. – your medical degree and transcript verified by ECFMG (can take a long time)
2. – passed USMLE 1 and 2ck
3. – passed the clinical skills assessment (or step 2cs)
4. – passed a TOEFL english examination (or step 2cs)
5. – paid ECFMG in full
All of these components must be valid at the time when you apply for final certification. This certificate testifies to the fact that you have fulfilled the requirements for entry into clinical training in the USA. 3. ERAS

The electronic residency application system (ERAS) is a method of centralised, computerised application for residency. After you have paid the required application fee and requested a ‘Token’ via the On-line Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS), ECFMG will send a unique identification number (‘a Token’) by e-mail. This Token will permit the applicant to access the AAMC’s ERAS website to complete his/her ERAS application on-line. Simultaneously, you’ll have to mail photocopies of your supporting documents to ECFMG. On this online site you have to
a. enter your personal details in a standarised curriculum vitae
b. enter a personal statement (click here for advice about creating your personal statement) and…
c. designate the residency programs you wish to have your application sent to.

The supporting documents that you have send in the mail include
1. your photograph
2. your examination transcript and
3. your letters of reference
4. your dean’s letter /medical student performance evaluation

 Foreign medical graduates send these paper items to the ECFMG who act as your “dean’s office”. They scan your paper documents and photo, match it to your online application items and e-mail the lot to the residency programs you selected. You should complete all of the ERAS application procedures as soon as possible, but by December 1st in your year of application at the latest.

4. Interviews

The most difficult part in your application will be securing an interview.
There are no guaranteed methods to getting an interview at any of the top hospitals. However you can increase your chances by

- doing an elective
- getting good USMLE scores
- doing well in your own medical school
- having a research publication
- having very strong letters of reference from your dean and referees

5. The Match
What happens in the Match is …..
(1) You apply to the programmes in the hospitals that interest you
(2) those programmes that are interested in you will invite you for an interview
(3) after the interview, the hospital ranks you among all those they’ve interviewed
(4) After all your interviews, you rank the programmes that you want and
(5) on a certain date in March, all of these preferences are chewed on by a computer and the hospitals are matched with the applicants.

You will optimise your chances of matching by…
(1) Being organised and ready
(2) having good grades, USMLE scores and references
(3) performing well at interview
(4) having done an elective at the hospital you’re applying to
(5) knowing about your visa plans

You can obtain a position before the match too. This happens when programs are sufficiently impressed with you (or sufficiently desperate for applicants) that in the days or weeks after the interview, they offer you a position directly, providing you agree to withdraw from the match right there and then, and sign the paperwork. This works well for less competitive candidates who are very unsure about their potential to match through the ranking process, and are happy with the offer.

Why the United States?

Consider this

(1) The U.S is the birthplace of the M.B.A and continues to innovate in management education, includes a thorough, rigorous case study driven format with lectures who are not “plain o’l theoreticians” but practicing consultants (Often the MBA will give you exposure to live consulting assignments that not only bring in knowledge but also bring in valuable U.S experience on your resume!)

(2) A U.S degree opens up doors worldwide – other than the U.S itself, you will be recognized in any other country in the world – be it Timbuktu or the UK! Conversely, a degree from say, New Zealand, may carry value in New Zealand but may not be well recognized/immediately recognized beyond New Zealand! That does restrict your choices to the single country! Figures indicate that the United States hosts the most number of international students than any other country in the world. U.S. MBA programs are well recognized and MBA schools in US constantly top world rankings. An MBA degree from a University in US is highly sought-after by employers worldwide.

Which one of the top MBA schools in US should I choose?

To make it simpler for aspirants we have divided the MBA schools in US into four clusters in order of their latest rankings. Depending on various factors such as your GMAT score, professional profile and experience, scholarship goals and other specific-to-you details, you can plan to apply to a given cluster/group.

Top 10 and Ivy Leagues

Top10: This group includes The University of Chicago (Booth), Harvard University, Northwestern University (Kellogg), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), University of Michigan (Ross), Stanford University, Columbia University, Duke University (Fuqua), MIT (Sloan), and UC Berkeley (Haas) Ivy League Member Institutions: Dartmouth College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University and Brown University

Top 11 – 30: This group includes Cornell University (Johnson), Dartmouth (Tuck), NYU (Stern), UCLA (Anderson), Indiana University (Kelley), University of Virginia (Darden), UNC – Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler), Southern Methodist (Cox), Carnegie Mellon (Tepper), University of Notre Dame (Mendoza), Texas – Austin, Brigham Young (Marriott), Emory University (Goizueta), Yale University, University of Southern California (Marshall), University of Maryland (Smith), University of Washington (Foster), Washington University (Olin), Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt University (Owen)

Top 30 till ranked: This group includes Arizona State University (Carey), Babson, Boston University, UC Irvine (Merage), University of Connecticut, George Washington University, Georgetown University (McDonough), Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa (Tippie), Michigan State (Broad), University of Minnesota (Carlson), Ohio State University (Fisher), Purdue University (Krannert), Rochester (Simon) and Thunderbird.

Other reputed U.S. Programs Also Considered for Ranking: This group includes American University (Kogod), University of Arizona (Eller), Boston College (Carroll), University at Buffalo, UC Davis, Case Western University (Weatherhead), University of Florida, Florida International University, Fordham University, University of Georgia (Terry), Howard University, University of Miami, Northeastern University, Pennsylvania State University (Smeal), Pepperdine University (Graziadio), University of Pittsburgh (Katz), Rice University (Jones), Rutgers University, University of South Carolina (Moore), Syracuse University (Whitman), University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Texas A&M, Texas Christian University, Tulane University (Freeman), Wake Forest University, William and Mary (Mason), and University of Wisconsin-Madison

What do I need to make it to a top MBA school in US?

The following are key eligibility criteria for applying to top MBA Universities in the US:

Minimum education criteria of 16 years i.e. four years of education after Junior College/High school GMAT score of 650 and onwards Good TOEFL score / Essays Stable Work Experience with good position/designation/responsibility and salary growth (preferred 2 years+) Good/stable/consistently performing academic record Really well done and well presented admissions essays, recommendation letters and a US Pattern resume

The whole essence of MBA universities in US preferring aspirants with good prior work experience is that such students can easily apply their experience to the theoretical concepts they meet in the classrooms. As management is no hard science, the most essential quality that all MBA schools in US try to groom students in – is to make right decisions by choosing the best options available. Most top MBA schools in US believe that experienced professionals offer specialized perspectives along with professionalism and maturity to the program. Thus the quality of work experience also matters while your selection in top MBA programs in the US.

What is the process I need to follow?

Your admissions are supposed to get tougher as you go higher up the rankings. In order to get a top MBA school in US, you must have attained strong academic records with high test (GMAT) scores; obtained sufficient financing, developed good command over English and stellar work experience. The admission process is a long one and usually begins quite a few months before you start your MBA program in the US.

Immigration: The Immigration and Naturalization Department (INS) holds the authority to grant you the permission to enter US legally. There are various requirements from good health to your duration of stay etc which needs to be satisfied before your entry into an MBA university in US.

How should I Finance my dream?

One should have a clear idea about the cost he is going to incur for a MBA program in the US beforehand. This is because you are required to prove you have the necessary financial resources in order to obtain an international student visa. The cost can be high but be rest assured that an MBA in US is an investment that will benefit you for the rest of your life. One can apply for scholarships for international students or even international students loan to finance his MBA program in the US.

What after MBA in the US?

The American MBA works as an entry ticket to great companies across the globe. The United States is a diversity driven economy that rewards (a) Hard Work (b) Focus. Assuming that these criteria are met, you will reap the finest rewards for your talents, efforts and investments on American shores.

Getting a high score on the TOEFL iBT demands much more than reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Discover all the indirect skills you must master in order to do well on this important English proficiency exam. Visit www.GoodLuckTOEFL.com for more information on the TOEFL iBT, and http for all of my free English lesson videos.