3rd year DO student

[Osteoforever]

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hey guys,
Just got my comlex score back today and it was a horrendous 410, just wanted to know what my chances are for peds in the east coast. havent taken USMLE and probably wont

 

[SurfingDoctor]

I don't really review residency applicants, so take this with a grain of salt, but I do look at fellowship applications. Now I'm not the one who decides to interview or not interview an applicant, other colleagues of mine decide that, but when I look at an interviewee's application, I do look at board scores. Of course, this is only a part of the package, but it is an objective measurement for comparison among applicants. Specific to DOs, having not gone through the process, I can't really interpret a COMLEX score. Compounded to that the fact that most other applicants take USMLEs, if one applicant chooses to do only COMLEX and not USMLE, I really have no way to compare them to their peers and thus, I don't really think strongly of their application. Now, that may be just me, and I don't want to speak for others. I guess my point is, since again I don't know how to interpret a 410 score, why not take the USMLE? What happens if you do well? It could only help you.

 

[zafonte86]

You are not going to meet the requirements from some places for minimum level 1 score and will not get some interview invites. However, PEDs can be more forgiving and some programs will look at other factors on your app. Make sure to have some good audition rotations set up in places you are interested in possibly attending and apply broadly. I think when all is said and done you will match PEDs somewhere so just work on doing better on level 2. Best of luck!

 

[Mad Jack]

I don't really review residency applicants, so take this with a grain of salt, but I do look at fellowship applications. Now I'm not the one who decides to interview or not interview an applicant, other colleagues of mine decide that, but when I look at an interviewee's application, I do look at board scores. Of course, this is only a part of the package, but it is an objective measurement for comparison among applicants. Specific to DOs, having not gone through the process, I can't really interpret a COMLEX score. Compounded to that the fact that most other applicants take USMLEs, if one applicant chooses to do only COMLEX and not USMLE, I really have no way to compare them to their peers and thus, I don't really think strongly of their application. Now, that may be just me, and I don't want to speak for others. I guess my point is, since again I don't know how to interpret a 410 score, why not take the USMLE? What happens if you do well? It could only help you.

A 410 is not indicative of someone that will pass the USMLE. The COMLEX is more forgiving, so there isn't a way to directly compare it, but it's the COMLEX equivalent of getting a 193 on Step 1, essentially- barely passing. Using the old formula out there that was derived from comparing the scores of students who had taken both exams and creating a correlated score, it would predict a USMLE of 181, failing.

 

[pedspedspeds#1]

curious about what could be the best programs that I could reach would be:
DO student top 5% of class
USMLE Step 1-238, step 2-249 applying for the 2017 match

Would choose better academic program to become the best pediatrician possible over geography but would prefer to stay on the east ish coast
Thanks!

 

[zafonte86]

curious about what could be the best programs that I could reach would be:
DO student top 5% of class
USMLE Step 1-238, step 2-249 applying for the 2017 match

Would choose better academic program to become the best pediatrician possible over geography but would prefer to stay on the east ish coast
Thanks!

Your scores will get you a lot of interviews but they aren't going to guarentee you any residency spot. You need to blow people away with your interview. You also will get a good education anywhere you go so you should see how you mesh with the residents and faculty. No point going to CHOP if you interviewed there and hated all the residents and disliked the way the program was set up even if they are one of the top pediatric programs in the country. See what you are looking for in a program and start applying to places that meet what your requirements are.