A few things here.... read on.
Nevertheless, the NBOME could take a lesson from the NBME folks---the NBME actually pilot tests their questions before putting them on the USMLE to make sure that they're comprehensible and clear.
I'm not a big fan of the NBOME, but this above statement isnt entirely true. The NBOME does pilot questions. There's a number of "trial questions" on every COMLEX that dont count for that particular test, rather the NBOME is "testing the question" for use on upcoming exams. I honestly didnt think the test was written that bad. The USMLE may have been written a bit better, but the main problem with the COMLEX isnt its language, rather its that much of it isnt relative to what was stressed or learned as first and second year medical students. For those first-years-to-be, have hope... the NBOME says in 2004 the test will be computer based, a single day, and half the number of questions. By this September they will also give the definite green light for the COMLEX-PE for fall 2004.
Speaking of which, semi-big news: the AMA recently came out AGAINST their version of the clinical skills test. Allopathic students voiced heavy concerns over the test and the AMA relented a few weeks ago in their House of Delegates and came out against the test. Doesnt really matter though, the ACGME, which writes the USMLE and is an entirely separate entity than the AMA, is planning on going ahead with the test anyway. Hence to the above poster, cptcaver, that spoke of the AMA and AOA and their equality in being allowed into hospitals, your way off when it comes to board exams. Each organization has little to do with board exams. The AOA plans to take the matter up next week in their House of Delegates from what I hear. I suspect they will support the test, which should cause some waves because MDs are officially on paper against more stringent licensing exam protocols for doctors. The press wont like that much, hence if the AOA comes out in support of it, it'll be a big coup for D.O.s
Who the hell knows if MCAT and COMLEX scores correlate?
I actually talked to a member of the NBOME this week and asked him that. He showed me a chart of the correlation. Basically, there is no correlation. In fact, the D.O. school with the highest average MCAT scores was #18 out of 19 when it came to mean COMLEX scores. Before you ask, the schools werent listed there, as the names were masked. What was also interesting was the pass rates vs. average means. For all you premeds out there who live and die by pass rates... dont. The school with the highest fail rate jumped to #12 out of 19 when ranked by means. The school with the highest mean and the school with the lowest mean differed by only about 50 points (national mean being 500, best mean = 530, worst mean = 480). However, the best mean didnt have the best pass rate, they were #4 in pass rate. There were about 8 schools lumped into the middle with means which all were within a few points of one another. Moral of the story... it doesnt so much matter where you go, it's more what you do when you get there.
