Can the D.O.'s on the board tell where they matched and stats

St. Luke's Roosevelt in NYC. they took 6 D.O.'s total this year, a new record!!

Forgot my stats: USMLE I 232, II 262
COMLEX I 704, II 748

Matched at University of Kansas. USMLE Step 1 210, USMLE Step 2 243, COMLEX Step 1 620, COMLEX Step 2 638, Top 15% of class

univ of cincinnati - my numbers aren't great, but i just did a month there and worked hard

bump

Matched at Einstein Beth Israel in NYC! :love: :love: :love:

Can't remember my Board scores for EITHER COMLEX OR USMLE (took both for both), but I know that my COMLEX was NOT higher than 525 in either, and I did not crack 200 in either USMLE.....YES....they are THAT BAD!!!!!

If you look at my grades, they are very good, and the LORs were excellent....I also have a JD which helped ALOT....I have TONS of extracurriculars (w/ some high positions including representing physicians on an state level) and some research but no publications....

I had to explain my Board scores to almost everyone, and I think I did a good job of it since I matched at one of my fav. places....


I CANNOT TAKE A TEST FOR MY LIFE (and law school didn't help either since I overthink questions now :laugh: :o :scared: :laugh: )

Going to Temple in philly...They also took a handful of DOs this year...usually it's been just one per year.

USMLE I 219
COMLEX I 583
COMLEX II 560

Dr. Chris--stop bumping threads you didn't start!

I matched Loma Linda - my stats and everything are on another thread about interview stats.

I'm really a lazy fourth year! :D

Going to Temple in philly...They also took a handful of DOs this year...usually it's been just one per year.

USMLE I 219
COMLEX I 583
COMLEX II 560

Dr. Chris--stop bumping threads you didn't start!


hey man....leave DR. Chris alone....just tryin' to revive a thread....no harm...just some good ol' fashioned DO love....(havin' visions of barry white) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Going to Temple in philly...They also took a handful of DOs this year...usually it's been just one per year.

USMLE I 219
COMLEX I 583
COMLEX II 560

Dr. Chris--stop bumping threads you didn't start!


Whats your deal with him making a bump....? You should worry more about that 219 then people bumping threads.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for defending me! However, Larry is my roommate and I think he was kidding!

dcp

I heart you Larry Renal

Whats your deal with him making a bump....? You should worry more about that 219 then people bumping threads.

I obviously don't have to worry about it since I already matched, dummy.

Thanks for looking out for the prudent and appropriate use of the boards though. What would we do without you?

Lar

UMASS also took a record 5 DO's/25 in the categorical intern class this year. Also, interestingly enough, a record # of US allopaths from 9 different schools, including, of course, UMASS. Looking forward to working with y'all :D

so is it hard for d.o.'s to match into allo im? what if one wants to do cards as a d.o., and that person does an allo im residency, is it still hard for the d.o. to get the allopathic fellowship? Also, what kinds of things do internists typically see? help me!

Thanks!!!!!

My impression (at times somewhat limited, I'll admit) is that it can be a bit tougher for DO's to get spots at the supercompetitive IM residencies like BWH, MGH, etc (before anyone jumps on me, I do acknowledge that these programs are tough for anyone to match at), and a very, very few places will not take DO's at all. Cards (probably the hardest fellowship to get in general) may be more difficult as well for DO's than US MD's, but it is not hard at all to match into an allopathic residency as a DO. A handful of DO's have matched into Cards from my program in the past few years, 1 at UMASS and the other at Cincy that I know of, not bad! and nearly everyone matched into their fellowship at choice in other fields.

As a medicine resident, you will be exposed to just about everything, from bread and butter pneumonia, UTI's, COPD exacerbations, acute MI, GI bleeding, etc, to more complicated problems like treating opportunistic infections in patients with HIV or just about any kind of malignancy, hypotensive/hypertensive crises, patients in critical care requring urgent intubation and mechanical ventilation.... That is the beauty of IM in my opinion, and even if you specialize in cards (I'm thinking of it myself, after leaning toward primary care for a while), you will never be too limited in what you see. Yes, I have my frusturations with medicine at times, but I would definitely pick IM if I had to do it again. Best of luck..

My impression (at times somewhat limited, I'll admit) is that it can be a bit tougher for DO's to get spots at the supercompetitive IM residencies like BWH, MGH, etc (before anyone jumps on me, I do acknowledge that these programs are tough for anyone to match at), and a very, very few places will not take DO's at all. Cards (probably the hardest fellowship to get in general) may be more difficult as well for DO's than US MD's, but it is not hard at all to match into an allopathic residency as a DO. A handful of DO's have matched into Cards from my program in the past few years, 1 at UMASS and the other at Cincy that I know of, not bad! and nearly everyone matched into their fellowship at choice in other fields. ..

Cards isn't the hardest fellowship to match. GI is more competitive than cards at the moment and I would go so far as to argue that allergy is more competitive than cards too.Remember that half of all Internal Medicine residents are not U.S. M.D.'s so that means there is a good chance that both DO's and IMG's can match in competitive fellowships as long as they go to programs that offer these fellowships in-house. Your best chance of matching is at your own program.

More people apply to cards than GI. In our program (a very strong NYC university program), 9 people applied to cards and 4 to GI. 3 out of 9 cards people are chiefs next year. None of GI people are chiefs. The GI people got interviews at places with better names in terms of prestige (IVY league), while almost nobody from cards group got any invitations from IVY places.

Cards is more competive.

More people apply to cards than GI. In our program (a very strong NYC university program), 9 people applied to cards and 4 to GI. 3 out of 9 cards people are chiefs next year. None of GI people are chiefs. The GI people got interviews at places with better names in terms of prestige (IVY league), while almost nobody from cards group got any invitations from IVY places.

Cards is more competive.

Uh, no

More people may apply to cards but there are far more cards positions as well. There are far less GI spots. And it might be more competitive at your program but at my program(top 20), we historically accept 2-3 in-house residents for cards positions while we take at the most 1 in-house candidate for GI despite having almost the same number of Cards and GI positions. The selection process for chief residents depends on the program. At our program, chief years are offerred to people after they find out their fellowship status so our chief residents are generally those who failed to match in their fellowship of choice and do the chief year to improve their application. The reason GI is more competitive is because it offers a significantly better lifestyle with similar income potential. Only interventional cardiologists earn more than GI docs on average. In GI, you are fully trained to perform procedures after fellowship whereas with cards, you have to pursue additional training to perform the bulk of cardiology related procedures such as stents and caths. That's also considered a drawback to cardiology. This is a big reason GI has overtaken cardiology in terms of competitiveness.

GI is more competitive

dude

From my experience, cards is way more competitive. I am not talking about in-house positions, but about difficulty to get even an interview at a more competitive program, while GI people had no problems in doing that.

dude

From my experience, cards is way more competitive. I am not talking about in-house positions, but about difficulty to get even an interview at a more competitive program, while GI people had no problems in doing that.

And from my experience, GI is way more competitive. We only offer one GI position in-house becaue the type of candidates we have applying are much more competitive than our cards applicants so we limit the number of GI candidates to one in-house. And how do you know the GI people were not more competitive applicants with better numbers? You can't just assume because those people matched at Ivy programs that GI is easier to match. If I wanted to do cards at my program, I would have had a lot easier time matching in it.

What numbers? We do not have any numbers. In fact 3 of cards applicants are chiefs while no GI applicant has anything to do with being a chief. In fact, the cards group is way more competitive.

no numbers!

What numbers? We do not have any numbers. In fact 3 of cards applicants are chiefs while no GI applicant has anything to do with being a chief. In fact, the cards group is way more competitive.

no numbers!

Ever heard of USMLE scores and In-service exam scores? Did you just ignore the part about my section on chief residents? I will repeat myself. You just made my point for me. The weakest candidates tend to be the chiefs because they were the ones who failed to match in fellowship the first time and thus are forced to doing a chief year to improve their application when they apply the second time.

I have a feeling you will respond so I thought I would paste something from one of your own posts regarding the "no numbers"

Enjoy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, i thought that step 3 did not matter. However, I am applying for cardiology fellowship and several interviewers commented on my execellent USMLE scores, including step 3. In fact, one cardiology program (I personally know PD) got 600 applications and prescreened by using USMLE scores. Anybody who scored less than 90% on any of 3 steps was eliminated without even looking at their application.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=3532417#post3532417

Well everybody has high numbers, including myself (all 3 steps>95%). however, i doubt usmle steps play any major role in deciding who gets an interview, although scoring low may possibly hurt you. Most of cards programs had >500 applications for 2-4 spots.

Well everybody has high numbers, including myself (all 3 steps>95%). however, i doubt usmle steps play any major role in deciding who gets an interview, although scoring low may possibly hurt you. Most of cards programs had >500 applications for 2-4 spots.

Well everybody has high numbers, including myself (all 3 steps>95%). however, i doubt usmle steps play any major role in deciding who gets an interview. however, scoring low may possibly hurt you. Most of cards programs had >500 applications for 2-4 spots.

You just said one PD screened people based on USMLE scores so you are contradicting yourself. And how can everyone have high numbers? This is internal medicine not radiology. Half of all total IM residents are IMG's. Do you really think the only people who apply to cards and GI are people with average scores over 95% on all 3 steps. If everyone has high scores, why would a PD feel the need to screen people based on USMLE scores? I have never heard of screening people according to what the majority of applicants have in common; you screen people based on criteria that would eliminate a majority of the applicants ie. high board scores.

You just said one PD screened people based on USMLE scores so you are contradicting yourself. And how can everyone have high numbers? This is internal medicine not radiology. Half of all total IM residents are IMG's. Do you really think the only people who apply to cards and GI are people with average scores over 95% on all 3 steps. If everyone has high scores, why would a PD feel the need to screen people based on USMLE scores? I have never heard of screening people according to what the majority of applicants have in common; you screen people based on criteria that would eliminate a majority of the applicants ie. high board scores.


Dude,

I am talking about my program which has no FMGs. Those are experiences from my program and I think it may apply to the application process in general.

Dude,

I am talking about my program which has no FMGs. Those are experiences from my program and I think it may apply to the application process in general.

Exactly, you are applying what you know of your program to the entire application process which is the weakness in your argument. There are many IMG's and others with low USMLE step I scores that match in these fellowships (albeit at their own programs) due to having great letters, research and personality. Plus, I highly doubt that every person in your program has 95% average or higher on the all 3 Steps...heII, I don't think every person in your program has 90% average or higher.

Exactly, you are applying what you know of your program to the entire application process which is the weakness in your argument. There are many IMG's and others with low USMLE step I scores that match in these fellowships (albeit at their own programs) due to having great letters, research and personality. Plus, I highly doubt that every person in your program has 95% average or higher on the all 3 Steps...heII, I don't think every person in your program has 90% average or higher.


Dude,

I am not saying that I or anybody in my program will have any trouble matching into cards (or GI for that matter). I personally got invited to more than 20 interviews. All I am saying is that higher caliber residents from my program applied to cards and, to my surprise, they got invited to less prestigous (but still solid university) institutions as compared to GI folks. For this reason, I feel competition for cards fellowship is more competitive.

The match is June 21st. We will see.

This thread seems to have been hijacked. But based on the numbers and the IM residents that I talk to, I'd say Allergy > GI > Cards

Dude,

I am not saying that I or anybody in my program will have any trouble matching into cards (or GI for that matter). I personally got invited to more than 20 interviews. All I am saying is that higher caliber residents from my program applied to cards and, to my surprise, they got invited to less prestigous (but still solid university) institutions as compared to GI folks. For this reason, I feel competition for cards fellowship is more competitive.

The match is June 21st. We will see.

What occurred at your program is irrelevant since we are talking about programs in general.

This thread seems to have been hijacked. But based on the numbers and the IM residents that I talk to, I'd say Allergy > GI > Cards

I could agree with this notion. Allergy has the fewest number of spots so it would make sense why it was the most competitive numbers-wise.

As a 3rd year DO student interested in IM, I have the option of releasing my USMLE score on ERAS. I rocked the COMLEX but only scored 2 points above the average on the USMLE. While it is above average, it would definitely detract from my great COMLEX score. So do I release it and hope it doesn't matter, or keep it my little secret and hope I don't get asked "So did you take the USMLE" during interviews (if I get any)

i'd report the step I grades and take Step II early and do well on that...although you would think a high COMLEX would take you a long way, it really doesnt. some programs will not even invite you for an interview w/o USMLE..

dcp

This may seem like a dumb question, but I’m going to ask it anyway: If a D.O. applicant was just as competitive on paper as a M.D. in terms of board scores, grades, glowing LORs, honored clinicals, research pubs out the A, etc. and the only difference was the degree, would the D.O. have as good a shot at a top allo IM program? (i.e. MGH, Cornell, Hopkins) as the MD? I realize that the most likely reason that there are zip-o osteopathic docs in these programs is because so few apply for these few spots and it may just be a statistics thing, but I guess I am wondering if all things being equal, do the letters really influence adcoms one way or the other? I don’t know the success rate of D.O.s matching in these programs but I would think there would be some D.O. applicants that are more competitive than some of the M.D. apps each year. Why no love? :cool:

This may seem like a dumb question, but I’m going to ask it anyway: If a D.O. applicant was just as competitive on paper as a M.D. in terms of board scores, grades, glowing LORs, honored clinicals, research pubs out the A, etc. and the only difference was the degree, would the D.O. have as good a shot at a top allo IM program? (i.e. MGH, Cornell, Hopkins) as the MD? I realize that the most likely reason that there are zip-o osteopathic docs in these programs is because so few apply for these few spots and it may just be a statistics thing, but I guess I am wondering if all things being equal, do the letters really influence adcoms one way or the other? I don’t know the success rate of D.O.s matching in these programs but I would think there would be some D.O. applicants that are more competitive than some of the M.D. apps each year. Why no love? :cool:

The reason so few DOs apply to competitive programs is that many of these programs have NEVER had a DO resident. And why should MD programs give DO students love, its not as if MD students can match into DO derm or plastics?

The reason so few DOs apply to competitive programs is that many of these programs have NEVER had a DO resident. And why should MD programs give DO students love, its not as if MD students can match into DO derm or plastics?

The very reason that DO derm and plastics is limited to DO's is because MD's discriminated against DO's for no reason other than their initials. Therefore, DO's responded by limiting their spots to osteopathic students otherwise DO's would be like IMG's and have no real chance of attaining these competitive fields.

Dude,

I am not saying that I or anybody in my program will have any trouble matching into cards (or GI for that matter). I personally got invited to more than 20 interviews. All I am saying is that higher caliber residents from my program applied to cards and, to my surprise, they got invited to less prestigous (but still solid university) institutions as compared to GI folks. For this reason, I feel competition for cards fellowship is more competitive.

The match is June 21st. We will see.


After extensive literature search, i have found an article in a reputable journal that will settle this cardio vs GI dispute once and for all.

Quoted from this article: "After completing our retrospective and cross sectional study of 1356 female subjects of all ethnicity, we have concluded, with statistically significant values, that 93.6% subjects prefer to date and have physical relationships with gastroenterology fellows and physicians rather than their cardiology counterparts. This is due solely to the GI specialists' expertise in maneuvering their instruments from the backside." (1)


(1) Booty, Bumpen, Griind, et al. The GI vs Cardio Debate. Maxim 2006; 5:55-62.

The very reason that DO derm and plastics is limited to DO's is because MD's discriminated against DO's for no reason other than their initials. Therefore, DO's responded by limiting their spots to osteopathic students otherwise DO's would be like IMG's and have no real chance of attaining these competitive fields.

If the difference between an MD and DO is just the initials then I guess 100% of DO applicant personal statements are BS. And what is worse discrimination, allowing DOs into MD programs (and at least giving them a shot), or not even letting MDs apply for DO programs? So lets do the math, some DOs in MD programs versus no MDs in DO programs. Who is discriminating against who again? I thought so... :rolleyes:

If the difference between an MD and DO is just the initials then I guess 100% of DO applicant personal statements are BS. And what is worse discrimination, allowing DOs into MD programs (and at least giving them a shot), or not even letting MDs apply for DO programs? So lets do the math, some DOs in MD programs versus no MDs in DO programs. Who is discriminating against who again? I thought so... :rolleyes:


I completely agree. I just think it sucks that now that I’m in school and starting to figure out what I want to do, I’m going to be shut out of some amazing opportunities at places like those simply for the letters after my name (even if I was a stronger applicant on paper). I realize this is the same situation for an M.D. looking at a potential D.O. program, and I agree that it is complete bull crap. They don’t tell you this stuff as a pre-med, and I would have seriously considered the M.D. route had I known. :cool:

If the difference between an MD and DO is just the initials then I guess 100% of DO applicant personal statements are BS. And what is worse discrimination, allowing DOs into MD programs (and at least giving them a shot), or not even letting MDs apply for DO programs? So lets do the math, some DOs in MD programs versus no MDs in DO programs. Who is discriminating against who again? I thought so... :rolleyes:

You're delusional. Believe it or not, we didn't all write bs PS's with DO-praise. No more than MD applicants trump up their fake mask of altruism.

Program by program, there are more MD programs who will never take a DO than the other way around.

Program by program, there are more MD programs who will never take a DO than the other way around.

Math Review:

Some MD Programs take DO students.

No DO program takes MD students.

Thus, it is impossible for your statement to be true as I said above.

It is possible for the statement to be true. Simply because there are so many MD programs, some of which don't take DO's. There are significantly fewer DO programs and even though none take MD's it is still possible for their to be more MD programs that dont take DO's.
Math Review:

Some MD Programs take DO students.

No DO program takes MD students.

Thus, it is impossible for your statement to be true as I said above.

It is possible for the statement to be true. Simply because there are so many MD programs, some of which don't take DO's. There are significantly fewer DO programs and even though none take MD's it is still possible for their to be more MD programs that dont take DO's.


This thread is giving me a headache.

Think percentages. What percentage of MD programs allow allow DO students?
Lets say 50% (a total guess, I have no clue, but for my point it could be 1%).

What percentage of DO programs allow MD students?
0%

So based on percentages, clearly the DO programs are much more discriminatory.

This is sooooo stupid. For one thing, very few people (from NYCOM at least) do DO IM residencies. My feeling on the Uber competitive MD residencies is that these spots are hard for DO's and FMGs because the "tier" of the school is important in the application process. I've said this before, but the highest tier residency programs usually draw from the highest tier medical schools. Sure there are snooty, elitist PDs that think DOs will hurt their status in the upper echelon, but i think it's more of the former. For me at least, I'd rather be recognized for my quality as a resident than the letters after my name.

The bottom line is that as a DO, you can still match at a strong university program or a very good university affiliate. in the end you're as good as what you put into it.

ok....i think the original thread was supposed to be DOs matching the allo match...NOT some rediculous, beaten to death topic of MD vs. DO match, and who's harder, and this and that....

bottom line: yes, on a GENERAL level, it os harder for DOs to get into allo residencies...some allo programs are more reluctant (i.e. Cornell, Columbia, Mt. Sinai...it seems like a NYC thing) to give spots to DOs than others (i.e. B&W--note, NOT MGH, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo)...the latter programs have enough security in themselves to know that initials after your name means nothing, and a lot of it has to do with Board scores and how good you are as an intern/resident...c'mon man, whether or not you are a DO or an MD, if you can't diagnose a PE, then you can't dx a PE...it has nothing to do w/ initials...anyways, my guess is that some of these places refuse to take DOs because of a) old school mentality (in which they probably secretly think that women don't belong in medicine either....anecdotal note...while I was at UPenn doing research/masters, some of the docs there were joking about women in medicine...I know....I know....these few do NOT accurately reflect the whole institution) or b) they have NEVER taken a DO and do not know what/how to react, or c) they wanna maintain strictly an "MD" appearance to their patient population....

In any case, the ONLY thing this SHOULD do is to make us DOs work harder and better and more professionally to overcome some of the negative stereotypes that may exist....sitting there and b@%#hing about these things is gonna do jack....

In all honesty (and speaking as a fellow DO), I am shocked and appalled to see some students (whether from PCOM, NYCOM, UMDNJ-SOM, or whereever) and realize that they are med students....they look like crap (shirt has a stain ketchup stain on it, the tie is haphazardly done, etc.)...they behave like dumbasses, and in general, they look VERY unimpressive....

I don't mean to sound like a egalitarian snob (actually, screw that..in SOME ways, I do), but this gives a really bad impression of us as future physicians to the general public....

Yes...yes...I realzie that there are many MDs who look and behave this way, but if you think that then you are ENTIRELY missing the point....who the hell cares how they act and behave...it's the classic "if they jump off a bridge" scenario....if THEY do that, then let them...it's bad enough that as DOs, we have to face certain stereotypes anyways....I mentioned this in another post somewhere a long time ago, but if there is a bad MD (bad in the sense that he/she is academically dumb), he/she can "get away" with it, but if that same student happens to be a DO, then you get the "what do ya' expect...he/she's a DO!"

Anyways, my point is that realize that we are ALSO professionals like other colleagues (whether they are US MDs, FMG MDs or whatever)....

LEARN TO ACT LIKE ONE!!!

And can we PLEASE STOP THIS non-sense on this thread over residency crap....

Word up Medlaw!! :thumbup:

ok....i think the original thread was supposed to be DOs matching the allo match...NOT some rediculous, beaten to death topic of MD vs. DO match, and who's harder, and this and that....

bottom line: yes, on a GENERAL level, it os harder for DOs to get into allo residencies...some allo programs are more reluctant (i.e. Cornell, Columbia, Mt. Sinai...it seems like a NYC thing) to give spots to DOs than others (i.e. B&W--note, NOT MGH, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo)...the latter programs have enough security in themselves to know that initials after your name means nothing, and a lot of it has to do with Board scores and how good you are as an intern/resident...c'mon man, whether or not you are a DO or an MD, if you can't diagnose a PE, then you can't dx a PE...it has nothing to do w/ initials...anyways, my guess is that some of these places refuse to take DOs because of a) old school mentality (in which they probably secretly think that women don't belong in medicine either....anecdotal note...while I was at UPenn doing research/masters, some of the docs there were joking about women in medicine...I know....I know....these few do NOT accurately reflect the whole institution) or b) they have NEVER taken a DO and do not know what/how to react, or c) they wanna maintain strictly an "MD" appearance to their patient population....

In any case, the ONLY thing this SHOULD do is to make us DOs work harder and better and more professionally to overcome some of the negative stereotypes that may exist....sitting there and b@%#hing about these things is gonna do jack....

In all honesty (and speaking as a fellow DO), I am shocked and appalled to see some students (whether from PCOM, NYCOM, UMDNJ-SOM, or whereever) and realize that they are med students....they look like crap (shirt has a stain ketchup stain on it, the tie is haphazardly done, etc.)...they behave like dumbasses, and in general, they look VERY unimpressive....

I don't mean to sound like a egalitarian snob (actually, screw that..in SOME ways, I do), but this gives a really bad impression of us as future physicians to the general public....

Yes...yes...I realzie that there are many MDs who look and behave this way, but if you think that then you are ENTIRELY missing the point....who the hell cares how they act and behave...it's the classic "if they jump off a bridge" scenario....if THEY do that, then let them...it's bad enough that as DOs, we have to face certain stereotypes anyways....I mentioned this in another post somewhere a long time ago, but if there is a bad MD (bad in the sense that he/she is academically dumb), he/she can "get away" with it, but if that same student happens to be a DO, then you get the "what do ya' expect...he/she's a DO!"

Anyways, my point is that realize that we are ALSO professionals like other colleagues (whether they are US MDs, FMG MDs or whatever)....

LEARN TO ACT LIKE ONE!!!

And can we PLEASE STOP THIS non-sense on this thread over residency crap....


good words, but unfortunately i don't think that the do vs. md debate will EVER be dissolved. do's will always appear to be "inferior" to type A's md's. but honestly? who gives a flying fuk wat these people think anyways, ure patient's opinion counts most! take this for example...lets say you're a d.o. and ure working in a major hospital where there are mostly md's and for the sake of it, the chair of your speciality is also an md. let's say that Dr. Schmo tells mr. chair that he doesn't think you're cutting it and blames ure d.o. degree, but than a patient that you just took care of went to the chair and said spoke extremely highly of you, who's words will have more influence on the chair's opinion of you? exactly.

of course the complaining md above is far and few, but this is just an example. in my opinion the md/do only matters in the inital stages. i.e. getting residency. afterwards it's pretty much the same thing IMHO.

i'd report the step I grades and take Step II early and do well on that...although you would think a high COMLEX would take you a long way, it really doesnt. some programs will not even invite you for an interview w/o USMLE..

dcp

the only reason I can think of holding back my USMLE score is the idea that some places have a cut off score for who is invited for an interview. If my score is above that for the majority of places, then no problem, I'd put it on my ERAS app. But if there was a chance that I wouldn't make the cut, I could just leave it out, show them my great COMLEX score, and hope that gets me the interview. Then during the interview, if they ask about USMLE scores, I could just play the "I didn't know you needed it" card, but I would probably tell them my score anyway

I completely agree. I just think it sucks that now that I’m in school and starting to figure out what I want to do, I’m going to be shut out of some amazing opportunities at places like those simply for the letters after my name (even if I was a stronger applicant on paper). I realize this is the same situation for an M.D. looking at a potential D.O. program, and I agree that it is complete bull crap. They don’t tell you this stuff as a pre-med, and I would have seriously considered the M.D. route had I known. :cool:

They really didn't tell you?