COMLEX and USMILE Question

[WaterDragon]

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I am going to start the osteopathic medical school at ATSU-KCOM with pride and honor next Fall. I have talked a lot of current OMS during my interview day and most of them are planned to take both COMLEX and USMILE. Their simple reason to take both was to be more competitive for the match and possibly get M.D. residency.

I am not still fully understanding of why taking USMILE as DO med students. For example, if I want to get into the general surgery residency in the future, do you highly recommend me to take both boards? Any information is greatly appreciated!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you're interested in a somewhat competitive ACGME program you're going to want to take the USMLE.


Answer: For Gen surgery probably.

 

[WaterDragon]

If you're interested in a somewhat competitive ACGME program you're going to want to take the USMLE.


Answer: For Gen surgery probably.

What kinds of competitive specialties are falling under ACGME program like general surgery? I mean if you are looking to become an internal medicine specialist, do you also consider taking USMILE?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

What kinds of competitive specialties are falling under ACGME program like general surgery? I mean if you are looking to become an internal medicine specialist, do you also consider taking USMILE?

ACGME program: The MD accredited programs
USMLE: United States Medical Licensing Exam

I'm under the impression that many ACGME IM programs will probably accept the COMLEX, however the more competitive ones probably want a good USMLE score.

 

[dbizzy]

I am going to start the osteopathic medical school at ATSU-KCOM with pride and honor next Fall. I have talked a lot of current OMS during my interview day and most of them are planned to take both COMLEX and USMILE. Their simple reason to take both was to be more competitive for the match and possibly get M.D. residency.

I am not still fully understanding of why taking USMILE as DO med students. For example, if I want to get into the general surgery residency in the future, do you highly recommend me to take both boards? Any information is greatly appreciated!

Btw WaterDragon, it's USMLE, pronounced U-S-M-L-E. I just don't want you to go out there saying U-smile, and people not taking you seriously 🙂

 

[YiSheng]

Btw WaterDragon, it's USMLE, pronounced U-S-M-L-E. I just don't want you to go out there saying U-smile, and people not taking you seriously 🙂

Wouldn't it be funny to walk into the exam calling USMLE "U-Smile" and the COMLEX "complex"

 

[cliquesh]

What kinds of competitive specialties are falling under ACGME program like general surgery? I mean if you are looking to become an internal medicine specialist, do you also consider taking USMILE?

Anesthesia, radiology, good IM, and good ER programs.

If you want to do something like orthopedics, urology, neurosurg, optham, derm, ENT, and, even, general surgery, your odds of matching an ACGME program are low and you best bet is an AOA program, which only accepts comlex.

When the time comes to take your board exams you should take the USMLE only if you think you can do well on it. It will give you more options.

 

[oceanillusion42]

Taking the USMLE will give you more choices (assuming you do well) for residency because you will not be limited to AOA residencies. As was said above, you need to take the USMLE if you're interested in a competitive ACGME program.

To check out AOA programs, see: http://opportunities.osteopathic.or...essionid=f0303cbdfa4e1b4022062839c5d796f18623. It has a list of all approved AOA residencies.

 

[Dissected]

Taking the USMLE will give you more choices (assuming you do well) for residency because you will not be limited to AOA residencies. As was said above, you need to take the USMLE if you're interested in a competitive ACGME program.

.

You do not need to take the USMLE for competitive ACGME programs. There are competitive programs in primary care fields, ob/gyn, anestheisa, ER, etc.. that do not require it. Plenty of students (that I've personally spoken to) did fine with just a comlex score when applying to ACGME programs in various specialties.

If we're talking about ortho, gen surg, ent, etc...then you had better destroy it. Even then a lot of programs are closed minded.

Generally speaking, it will open up some options if you get a strong score but it's not the end all/be all.

 

[El Dooderino]

You do not need to take the USMLE for competitive ACGME programs. There are competitive programs in primary care fields, ob/gyn, anestheisa, ER, etc.. that do not require it. Plenty of students (that I've personally spoken to) did fine with just a comlex score when applying to ACGME programs in various specialties.

If we're talking about ortho, gen surg, ent, etc...then you had better destroy it. Even then a lot of programs are closed minded.

Generally speaking, it will open up some options if you get a strong score but it's not the end all/be all.

Maybe we have different definitions of "competitive," but most of the competitive anesthesia programs take very few DO's if any at all. The ones that do sure as hell require the USMLE. Not sure why you'd make your life harder and not take it

 

[Dissected]

Maybe we have different definitions of "competitive," but most of the competitive anesthesia programs take very few DO's if any at all. The ones that do sure as hell require the USMLE. Not sure why you'd make your life harder and not take it

I'm not saying it wouldn't make your life easier, because it certainly can. I'm just saying it's not required for all competitive ACGME programs. And I'm admittedly not very informed about anesthesia..so I stand corrected if you have gone through the process. Have you been told this explicitly by PD's at competitive programs?

 

[El Dooderino]

I'm not saying it wouldn't make your life easier, because it certainly can. I'm just saying it's not required for all competitive ACGME programs. And I'm admittedly not very informed about anesthesia..so I stand corrected if you have gone through the process. Have you been told this explicitly by PD's at competitive programs?

yes, to even give yourself a puncher's chance you'll need to take USMLE. This is reference to top 25ish programs

 

[WaterDragon]

yes, to even give yourself a puncher's chance you'll need to take USMLE. This is reference to top 25ish programs

Sorry for misspelling USMLE. I wouldn't make that mistake, again.

A majority of you said that to get into the "competitive" residencies, taking USMLE is reasonable. Also, the decision on taking USMLE seems to be dependent upon which residency program you are interested in.

However, AOA approved the most of residencies you can find under the ACGME program. Few of you above mentioned that ACGME has more options than AOA does...but I noticed that AOA pretty much has every specialty that I am interested in. I am not sure how diverse ACGME program is, but if someone believes that he or she wants to get into the 'competitive' AOA residency program, why not just taking COMLEX?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Sorry for misspelling USMLE. I wouldn't make that mistake, again.

A majority of you said that to get into the "competitive" residencies, taking USMLE is reasonable. Also, the decision on taking USMLE seems to be dependent upon which residency program you are interested in.

However, AOA approved the most of residencies you can find under the ACGME program. Few of you above mentioned that ACGME has more options than AOA does...but I noticed that AOA pretty much has every specialty that I am interested in. I am not sure how diverse ACGME program is, but if someone believes that he or she wants to get into the 'competitive' AOA residency program, why not just taking COMLEX?

Yes, however some of these residencies are in unfavorable locations and then AOA residencies limit your chances at getting into fellowships and academic positions.

 

[WaterDragon]

Yes, however some of these residencies are in unfavorable locations and then AOA residencies limit your chances at getting into fellowships and academic positions.

Hmm, I didn't know about that...is this why ACGME has more options than AOA does in general? Also, the limitation on fellowships, locations and academic positions are not applying to all the residencies in AOA, right?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Hmm, I didn't know about that...is this why ACGME has more options than AOA does in general? Also, the limitation on fellowships, locations and academic positions are not applying to all the residencies in AOA, right?

Well there are more ACGME Fellowships and they are more favorable to ACGME graduates. I think it applies to most residencies, and if a new legislation by the ACGME goes by, then AOA graduates will be 100% unable to go to ACGME fellowships.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Yes, apparently to do an acgme fellowship you have to go through an acgme residency. Doing a DO residency would limit your fellowship options I believe.

 

[WaterDragon]

Yes, apparently to do an acgme fellowship you have to go through an acgme residency. Doing a DO residency would limit your fellowship options I believe.

That is why most people take both COMLEX and USMLE...now I see.

Are these two boards test the same materials except COMLEX has OMM?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

That is why most people take both COMLEX and USMLE...now I see.

Are these two boards test the same materials except COMLEX has OMM?

I think the COMLEX has no Biochem on it.

 

[WaterDragon]

Well there are more ACGME Fellowships and they are more favorable to ACGME graduates. I think it applies to most residencies, and if a new legislation by the ACGME goes by, then AOA graduates will be 100% unable to go to ACGME fellowships.

I hope that the new legislation by ACGME will not pass (or did it pass already?). This act will basically brings down the AOA's graduates...

 

[WDeagle]

I think the COMLEX has no Biochem on it.

Wrong! I had plenty of biochem on COMLEX step I

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I hope that the new legislation by ACGME will not pass (or did it pass already?). This act will basically brings down the AOA's graduates...

For more information go to Osteo. But yah, well it does a number on AOA grads, but many DO grads don't pursue fellowships and especially the ones who do likely attended more stronger ACGME programs.


[Edit]: I meant to say that DO graduates who go towards fellowships usually are probably attending strong ACGME programs to begin with.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Wrong! I had plenty of biochem on COMLEX step I

Curious... hmm I remember hearing like a million years ago when I was a freshman that the COMLEX was devoid of biochem, which is why many DO students neglected the subject. Huh, well you learn something new every day.

 

[WaterDragon]

For more information go to Osteo. But yah, well it does a number on AOA grads, but many DO grads don't pursue fellowships and especially the ones who do likely attended more stronger ACGME programs.

I see...thanks for the information! Now, I am convinced to take both boards...it will be fun 👍

Maybe last question in my head...first two years in DO school will basically help you to prep for both exams, right?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I see...thanks for the information! Now, I am convinced to take both boards...it will be fun 👍

Maybe last question in my head...first two years in DO school will basically help you to prep for both exams, right?

They teach you the material on the exam if that is what you're asking, however prep you for the test? Eh, I think that's your job.

 

[costales]

I see...thanks for the information! Now, I am convinced to take both boards...it will be fun 👍
Maybe last question in my head...first two years in DO school will basically help you to prep for both exams, right?

The knowledge base is the same for both exams because MD and DO students share the same curriculum (save for OMM). Many DO students take both exams within a few days of each other.

 

[jinobi]

Yep, my DO friends just take USMLE Step 1 first and then study for the OMM parts of COMLEX before taking it.

When applying ACGME, take USMLE whenever you can. Most of the good ACGME programs will receive applicants from a crapton of MD students who have all taken the USMLE. Program directors can only compare apples to apples, so a DO student with USMLE scores will be much more comparable to a fellow MD student. COMLEX scores are accepted by some ACGME residencies, but aside from a crappy outdated conversion scale, PDs would not have have a good way to compare a DO applicant with a MD applicant on that metric.

Anesthesia is a field where you want to be particularly careful on where you do your residency. Kaiser Permanente, for example, will only take ABA board certified (hence ACGME-residency trained) anesthesiologists; they will not take a AOA board-certified (hence AOA-residency trained) anesthesiologist.

 

[cliquesh]

I think the COMLEX has no Biochem on it.

I had more biochem on my comlex than usmle

 

[Dissected]

For more information go to Osteo. But yah, well it does a number on AOA grads, but many DO grads don't pursue fellowships and especially the ones who do likely attended more stronger ACGME programs.

Many DO grads do pursue fellowships though..especially in surgical sub specialties at ACGME programs after coming out of AOA residencies.. Which is why this legislation is so silly.

 

[WaterDragon]

Many DO grads do pursue fellowships though..especially in surgical sub specialties at ACGME programs after coming out of AOA residencies.. Which is why this legislation is so silly.

Did this legislation pass already? I was lazy to search about this all the way.

 

[willen101383]

Just registered for the USMLE today in fact! COMLEX 1 week later.

 

[cliquesh]

Just registered for the USMLE today in fact! COMLEX 1 week later.

I thought you were in the class of 2013 at pcom?

 

[willen101383]

I thought you were in the class of 2013 at pcom?

2014. I wish i was 2013!