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Hi
I'm a DO student who is looking to do a residency in Internal Medicine. I didn't take any USMLE's (big mistake on my part but nothing to do now) but got a 591 on my COMLEX 1 and will probably do similar on COMLEX 2. Lots of extracurriculars, decent PS & LOR's (very complimentary but not big name writers), no research.
With everything getting so much more competitive, even though IM isn't traditionally that hard, do you guys think I have a chance at an allo spot in a decent program? University would be amazing but I'd do a community one with a minor university affiliation. I'm looking mainly in Michigan, NY, Philly, Boston, and Chicago. Any advice on specific programs to apply to?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Yeah, I was afraid of that. Unforunately as a naive 2nd year, our school advised us not to take the USMLE if our practice test was under 240..and as such, I'm in this position.
Out of curiosity then, how do so many DO's match allo without the USMLE then? It seems like many are out there. Do you (or anyone else) know of programs that DO accept DO's without USMLE?
I'm a DO that matched to a mid tier university program. I was in the exact same boat as the OP. I think your letters of recommendation will be huge. They do not have to be from someone well known, but someone who knows you well. Some programs will screen you out, but many will not and they will read your entire application and see if anything interests them. The personal statement also plays a role. Your COMLEX score is competitive.
You do NOT have to settle for an allopathic community program. I can't post a comprehensive list tonight, but I will try to tomorrow.
Best of luck and PM if you have specific questions. Will try to post a list tomorrow.
Any idea how IM programs view an applicant with USMLE Step 2 scores only? Members in other forums (EM, Anesthesiology) seem to have been able to match with just USMLE Step 2.
Would it be advisable to apply with just the USMLE Step 2 scores, or do you guys think I should also send the programs my COMLEX 1 and 2 scores. My USMLE is considerably better than both of my COMLEX scores. Looking at university based IM programs.
Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
Like gutonc said. USMLE Step 2 can be very beneficial for a DO application even if you do NOT have a USMLE Step 1 score. I talked to many programs through email that will accept only a Step 2 score if that is all you have. It will help the program directors compare you to a similar applicant without requiring much thought on their part.
Hi
I'm a DO student who is looking to do a residency in Internal Medicine. I didn't take any USMLE's (big mistake on my part but nothing to do now) but got a 591 on my COMLEX 1 and will probably do similar on COMLEX 2. Lots of extracurriculars, decent PS & LOR's (very complimentary but not big name writers), no research.
With everything getting so much more competitive, even though IM isn't traditionally that hard, do you guys think I have a chance at an allo spot in a decent program? University would be amazing but I'd do a community one with a minor university affiliation. I'm looking mainly in Michigan, NY, Philly, Boston, and Chicago. Any advice on specific programs to apply to?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I don't believe that not taking USMLE is as much of a barrier as you think it is. You probably have a fair chance to get into the Long Island IM programs (Stony Brook, Winthrop, maybe North Shore-LIJ). Maybe look into Maimonides in Brooklyn, and Beth Israel, St. Luke's-Roosevelt, and Lenox Hill in Manhattan.
Thanks. I'm a NYCOMer so I'm applying to all those programs with the exception of Maimo
I don't believe that not taking USMLE is as much of a barrier as you think it is. You probably have a fair chance to get into the Long Island IM programs (Stony Brook, Winthrop, maybe North Shore-LIJ). Maybe look into Maimonides in Brooklyn, and Beth Israel, St. Luke's-Roosevelt, and Lenox Hill in Manhattan.
I get asked about to how to find out if a program is DO friendly a lot. First LOOK at the program's website to look for any relevant information to DO applicants or mention of COMLEX score. Then, the best way to find out is to email the program coordinator--NOT program director or to look at the program's website and see if any DOs are there (this is not always entirely accurate though). Most MD programs prefer a USMLE because they don't have to think how to compare two similar applicants. The best way is to email the program coordinator. Explain what school you are from and state that you want to stay in your respective state of interest.
For what's it's worth here is list of Internal Medicine DO friendly residencies that I made. If you have any others to add please do so in this thread. Also if people know for a fact that these programs are NOT DO friendly please add that also, as I know that things change.
Some DO friendly programs:
Providence Portland, Providence St. Vincent-Portland, Emmanuel Legacy-Portland, UC Irvine, UCSF-Fresno, USC (not as friendly in recent years), UNLV, University of New Mexico (require USMLE), University of Utah (require USMLE), Kansas University, Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri-Columbia, Nebraska, Texas A&M-Scott and White, UT-San Antonio, UT-Houston (prefer USMLE), Texas Tech-Lubbock, Texas Tech-El Paso, Texas Tech-Amarillo, Presbyterian-Dallas, Methodist-Dallas, UTMB-Galveston, Mayo Clinic-Rochester require USMLE), University of Minnesota, Hennepin-Minnesota, Aurora Healthcare-Wisconsin, hhWisconsin (prefer USMLE), Medical College of Wisconsin, Iowa-Iowa City, Iowa-Des Moines, Rush-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago, Illinois-Peoria, University Illinois-Chicago (prefer USMLE), University of Chicago-Northshore, Rosalind Franklin University, SLU (Southern Illinois University), Indiana University, Ohio State, St. Vincent Indianapolis, University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, LSU New Orleans and Shreveport, Tulane-New Orleans (require USMLE), OU-OKC, OU-Tulsa, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia CommonWealth (VCU), East Virginia, Michigan State-Kalamazoo and East Lansing, Medical College of Georgia, UF-Gainesville (prefer USMLE, but good COMLEX (>600 have a good chance-also a rotation REALLY helps here; this was directly from the program coordinator), UF-Jacksonville, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial, University of South Florida (USF), MUSC (require USMLE), South Carolina Palmetto, Moses Cone, Carilion Clinic, Cleveland Clinic-Cleveland, Case MetroHealth-Cleveland, Drexel, Penn State, Temple (prefer USMLE), Drexel University-PA, Thomas Jefferson-PA, Albert Einstein-PA, Jefferson Medical College/Christiana Care-Delaware, UMDNJ-NJ, Yale, Georgetown (require USMLE).
.Is there any point that not getting interview offers (I'm starting to get nervous because I only have 1 DO interview out of 12 apps) is a bad sign? At what point do I call the programs about the status of my application?
BUMP
Still haven't heard from any other DO programs after applying July 15. Should I assume I'm not going to hear anymore and there is some red flag on my application I'm not aware of?
BUMP
Still haven't heard from any other DO programs after applying July 15. Should I assume I'm not going to hear anymore and there is some red flag on my application I'm not aware of?
I'm a DO but applying to only Allo programs. I have taken Both COMLEX I/II and Usmle step 1/2....do I have to send the comlex scores to the allopathic programs?
My scores are all good but I just don't see why a PD would care about my comlex is I did well on USMLE.
thanks
Apologies for the delayed response...
When I was applying for residency (the stone age) I recall receiving a slew of interview invites in late October, early November. It has to do with when the programs get around to downloading the applications, as cassrae mentioned.
I'm a DO but applying to only Allo programs. I have taken Both COMLEX I/II and Usmle step 1/2....do I have to send the comlex scores to the allopathic programs?
My scores are all good but I just don't see why a PD would care about my comlex is I did well on USMLE.
thanks