Another USMLE question

[HarveyCushing]

Just curious about a osteopathic med-student who might want to match into an allopathic residency. Do you have to take the USMLE step 1,2 and, 3 inorder to do that?

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[toothless rufus]

From what I understand so far...no. COMLEX is good. Unless you want a more competitive specialty, and then I think just Step 1 of USMLE is good enough, although may not be necessary across the board. Although I have looked into some programs that would also like to see USMLE Step 2 also. Sorry to confuse you even more! I'm sure someone better informed will expand on this.

 

[HarveyCushing]

From what I understand so far...no. COMLEX is good. Unless you want a more competitive specialty, and then I think just Step 1 of USMLE is good enough, although may not be necessary across the board. Although I have looked into some programs that would also like to see USMLE Step 2 also. Sorry to confuse you even more! I'm sure someone better informed will expand on this.

I use to think that the COMLEX was good enough as well, but someone told me that you had to take the USMLE as well. Not sure if they really knew what they were talking about?

 

[mshheaddoc]

Ok, simple short.

Many people will take COMLEX 1 and Step 1 because you are too soon in your training to know if you want to do osteo or allo match.

If you want to do allo, then most will take comlex 2 and step 2. All schools will require you do pass COMLEX 2 for graduation as of next year (including PE). Some allo programs will accept COMLEX scores, but that isn't true across the boards (yet).

Now, for those who don't take USMLE 1 but want to take USMLE 2, I "believe" that you can do it. BUT if you want to be board certified USMLE 3 you need to take USMLE 1 as well ... see USMLE website:

Do the Steps have to be taken at particular points during my medical education and career?
You must pass Step 1 and Step 2 before you are eligible to take Step 3. In LCME-accredited medical schools, although Step 1 and Step 2 can be taken in any order, most students will take Step 1 at the end of their second year and Step 2 in their fourth year; Step 3 is usually taken during the first or second year of postgraduate training. Students and graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada should contact the ECFMG for information on ECFMG certification and Step 1 and Step 2 eligibility.
Most medical licensing authorities require completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3 within a seven-year period, which begins when you pass your first Step. Check the FSMB website for further information on such requirements.

So that is the reason you will hear that most osteo grads take at least USMLE step 1 ...

If you know you want to do an osteo residency then you don't need to worry about USMLE step 2.

Hope this helps.

 

[novado]

I took the USMLE and I am extremely grateful. I am going for a competitive specialty. The osteopathic match pretty much shunned me; my COMLEX I score is not 95th percentile or above. This specialty mainly looks at boards scores. They do not seem to consider extracurricular activities, class rank (as long as it is not too low), LOR's. If you want to live in a warm climate or get into something competitive, take the USMLE. The South is not very DO friendly. I know other people in my class with higher COMLEX scores who did not take the USMLE who received 1/8 of the amount of interview offers that I have received in the same specialty.

 

[toothless rufus]

I took the USMLE and I am extremely grateful. I am going for a competitive specialty. The osteopathic match pretty much shunned me; my COMLEX I score is not 95th percentile or above. This specialty mainly looks at boards scores. They do not seem to consider extracurricular activities, class rank (as long as it is not too low), LOR's. If you want to live in a warm climate or get into something competitive, take the USMLE. The South is not very DO friendly. I know other people in my class with higher COMLEX scores who did not take the USMLE who received 1/8 of the amount of interview offers that I have received in the same specialty.

Soooo, what does "not DO friendly" translate into with good USMLE scores? Enough grudging DO respect to get interviews? Do you think it will it be equally unfriendly in terms of offers, or is the playing field then leveled? Thanks!

 

[HarveyCushing]

While I don't know if I will specialize, I have always had an interest in neurosurgery. Is NS a field where it is recommended that you take the USMLE as well? Seems very difficult for a DO to get into an MD slot. Aren't there quite a few DO slots that go unmatched?

 

[mshheaddoc]

Neurosurgery = yes from what I've heard as well as most I know go through the Neurosurg match (there is a separate match for that profession at the moment - actually there are a few).

 

[wook]

You do not need to take the USMLE to match into an allo program. However, as has been mentioned, some programs do not recognize the USMLE (usually the more competitive specialties) so folks do take both.

Regarding neurosurgery...that is one specialty that if you want to match allo, you will have to take the USMLE or you could try matching at an osteo program.


Wook