COMLEX results were released to MSUCOM today!
sophiejane said:thanks for the info, Idiopathic. I would love to see where you got it, and if these NBOME "conversion charts" are made available to students. Is this anecdotal info or do you have one in hand?
Thanks.
Bottom line, don't apply to competitive allo programs period, D.O. or M.D., unless you have done well on the USMLE. A good COMLEX score, in that case, is nonsequitur. Am I understanding you correctly? Confidence in your abillity to achieve a good score on the USMLE is one thing, results are something else entirely. Obviously there are no guarantees, especially with standardized examinations. So idio, when you read between the lines are there indeed allo programs that really do "accept" COMLEX scores? Your argument seems to suggest that the really competitive allo programs do not, that you do not have much of a chance uless you have a competitive USMLE score. That being said, perhaps those D.O.'s interested in allo residency programs should limit the pool of programs to those that actually do "accept" COMLEX scores. Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated!Idiopathic said:I have explained this several times, but I believe strongly that you should only take the USMLE if you feel very confident in your ability to do well on that test. Should that not happen, and you only get an average score, I would not report the result. I dont see how an average score could help you at a competitive program. My case is kind of unique, though, and I did well on both exams...hindsight is often 20/20, and if I had not done well on USMLE, I might feel that I shouldnt have taken it.
To answer your first question, I .believe there are some program in some specialties where it is difficult for anyone to get in (rads, for example). If you are looking at specific allo rads programs, for instance, how could you not take the USMLE?
medstud2 said:Bottom line, don't apply to competitive allo programs period, D.O. or M.D., unless you have done well on the USMLE. A good COMLEX score, in that case, is nonsequitur. Am I understanding you correctly? Confidence in your abillity to achieve a good score on the USMLE is one thing, results are something else entirely. Obviously there are no guarantees, especially with standardized examinations. So idio, when you read between the lines are there indeed allo programs that really do "accept" COMLEX scores? Your argument seems to suggest that the really competitive allo programs do not, that you do not have much of a chance uless you have a competitive USMLE score. That being said, perhaps those D.O.'s interested in allo residency programs should limit the pool of programs to those that actually do "accept" COMLEX scores. Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated!
Idiopathic said:All I said was that in an already competitive specialty, I realized that it would be tough enough to get in if i went to a top-10 allo school, and would be even harder coming from a DO school. Therefore, to give the AD's something 'extra' to think about (My USMLE score). ACtually, if I had known how good my COMLEX would be, I probably wouldnt have bothered, but now that I have both available, I feel extra-qualified (even if superficially so)
Now, I believe I already said that hindsight was 20/20 and that if I knew I wasnt going to do well, I wouldnt have taken the USMLE. Obviously you cant know this, but by using NBME tests and QBank, etc. you at least know if you have a fighting chance.
I also wouldnt say that even 1% of allo programs refuse to take the COMLEX...I wasnt worried about someone refusing to take my score, I just wanted to level the playing field (or tilt it my way a little). COMLEX is the most important one for DO's and the only one that really 'matters'. Given that, sometimes a little extra is done to overcome any imaginary hurdles that may be there.
Last thing, I would encourage DO students to do what feels right for them. Dont let not having a USMLE score deter you from applying anywhere you want. My goals and needs are not the same as everyone elses, and my motives are probably a little different as well. As a caveat, I believe it would be next to impossible to be considered at some top programs in specialties other than IM, FP or peds without a competitive USMLE score (and this holds true for both MD's and DO's)
me454555 said:I really don't see why anyone would advise someone not to take the USMLE. Numerous 4th years from my school, now interns, have suggested that taking the USMLE was a HUGE boost to their application in applying to allo residency programs. How can we be expected to be evaluated on a level playing field if we don't have the same credentials? A conversion is just an approximation of what you would do on the USMLE, it doesn't mean you will do it. A good example would be my score and a good friend of mine. She beat me on the comlex by 17 pts and I beat her by 13 pts on the USMLE. Most respectable allo residencies have a plethra of qualified applicants and the line between getting a spot and not is razor thin. Anything you can do to improve your application is probably a good thing.
I barely beat the mean on the USMLE but after talking to a few interns, I am very glad I have it on record to at least say "hey I can compete w/other applicants on a level playing field"
dvc fan said:Long time lurker here.
Used BRS books throughout 1st year, and Lange, Recall, and Robbins Review second year. Looked at Kaplan books last 3 weeks of studying. Went through USMLE QBank during second semester of 2nd year. Took the USMLE a week and half after the COMLEX.
USMLE: 240+/99
COMLEX: 700+/91 (2-digit from NBOME website, still waiting for paper report)
Very surprised by both scores, but definitely no complaints.
kcumbDO said:COMLEX Level 1= 687/89
USMLE Step 1=246/99
Radiology and Dermatology here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Idio. I have to say, I owe a lot of my preparation plan to you and others like BigFrank on this site. You guys are fantastic!Idiopathic said:Excellent scores. Just so you know, that 2-digit from NBOME is pretty sketchy. You will be in the 98/99 percentile with that score, but they do their 2-digit, non-percentile score with a 75 mean and a 7 SD, I think, so it shows you being over 2 SD above the mean. The highest 2-digit Ive seen from their site is a 92. Congrats. Excellent work.
sophiejane said:It's weird, those 2 digit scores. I got a 547, which is only 40 or so points above the average this year, and my 2-digit is 82, while people 100 points above me on the 3-digit are only at 87. (See, not all of us here are boasting these super fabulous scores! Let's hear from the middle of the pack! 😉 )
I guess it makes sense the higher you go on the bell curve the tighter the distance between scores...anyone know if that's how they calculate those?
Idiopathic said:Your 2-digit score will be higher than your percentile score until you reach some number. Your percentile score will be 60-65% or something, but since the 2-digit score on the web is not a percentile, its quirky until you get into the nineties.
Atlas said:I had that exact score and I was ~70th%ile. I know someone with a 538 (64th %ile on the score report). There's no way sophiejane is 60-65%. Sorry. 😛
s42brown said:Has anyone gotten their breakdown of their scores in the mail yet? I hope they come today or tomorrow.
NMH2001 said:Just out of curiosity what would be considered a good percentile score when applying to residencies. Not uber-competitive ones, just moderately competitive spots. 50th percentile or higher, 75th, etc?
Atlas said:I had that exact score and I was ~70th%ile. I know someone with a 538 (64th %ile on the score report). There's no way sophiejane is 60-65%. Sorry. 😛
sophiejane said:🙂
...mediocre score redeemed...slightly.
🙂
realmdo said:Got the mail today. 664/96%. There is no two digit score in the mail report, which is 88 on MBOME. Pretty weird.
kcumbDO said:COMLEX Level 1= 687/89
USMLE Step 1=246/99
Radiology and Dermatology here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cdreed said:Mine came in the mail today, too. 625/90%. It was higher than I expected considering my class rank is mediocre.
Congrats to everyone!! Nice to know we actually learned something those first two years in school. 😉
bla_3x said:Way to go CyndiYou deserve it...you know your Stuff!!
Atlas said:Give yourself more credit than that!! 🙂 You're in the top 30% of test takers. Not too shabby in my opinion. You can still do pretty much whatever you want (within reason). 😀
sophiejane said:Yeah, I'm not too worried, since I want to do IM/geriatrics and work in a small town (I know, I'm weird--what' wrong with me that I don't have aspirations to pop zits or read films all day??). I figure with the baby-boomers hurtling rapidly toward senility, that field should be wide open for some time to come. Plus I like the geris. 🙂
JP2005 said:just curious..am i missing something bc scores of like 689 are in the high 80's?.....yrs ago when i took the test a 639 was a 95........did they change the scoring this yr?.....NBOME once again very shady.......
xXAnksXx said:I'm gettin a complex reading all these reviews, I'm taking this beast on the 11th and 12th of oct. NE one have any words of wisdom for me? I feel like there is no positive advice for this thing?????
Thanks