COMLEX Level 1 is now pass/fail

[Gonzalo de Montalvo]

Scores & Reports — NBOME

www.nbome.org

Discuss.

Also, class of 2024, do we cram and take it before May 1st for a score or wait, take the load off, and get P/F? I imagine some who want a competitive specialty would be tempted to get that numeric score. Obviously either way Step2/Level 2 importance goes way up as has already been established in all the USMLE pass/fail threads.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

RIP. Step 2 or bust.

 

[drpb&j]

Honestly, as a part of the class of 2024 I'm very unhappy with this. I would like a competitive specialty and was really hoping to have a COMLEX score (with a percentile) to differentiate me when it comes to the match. I feel like this really will hurt my chances now that I won't have that score/percentile.

 

[ReaDoc]

Looks like Step 2 is king for our class, I was aiming on doing anking moreso for a good COMLEX 1 score after step 1 P/F but now it's limbo

Should I still go about doing anking for Step 1/Comlex 1 so that I can build a good base for Step 2/level 2?

 

[Cath Up]

They keep remembering to copy NBME with the bad stuff but not the good stuff

 

[medschoolapplicant123]

Yay! I'm an OMS1 hoping to match in competitive, traditionally allopathic places. It seems like a high COMLEX score was never going to mean anything to traditionally MD programs, so a numerical score could only hurt not help. I feel like this gives more freedom to focus on leaderships and research experiences.

 

[Cath Up]

Yay! I'm an OMS1 hoping to match in competitive places. It seems like a high COMLEX score was never going to mean anything to traditionally MD programs, so a numerical score could only hurt not help. I feel like this gives more freedom to focus on leaderships and research experiences.

Wrong!

A high comlex 1 could get you into competitive specialties at programs that were historically part of the AOA match. Regardless, this change doesn't matter nearly as much as step 1 going P/F and maybe on average the stress reduction it will contribute to combined with the fact that most DO students wouldn't benefit from historical AOA programs makes this better than worse, at least in the context of step 1 already being P/F. I dunno.

 

[FutureDoctor5000]

Wrong!

A high comlex 1 could get you into competitive specialties at programs that were historically part of the AOA match. Regardless, this change doesn't matter nearly as much as step 1 going P/F and maybe on average the stress reduction it will contribute to combined with the fact that most DO students wouldn't benefit from historical AOA programs makes this better than worse, at least in the context of step 1 already being P/F. I dunno.

Well wouldn’t those former aoa programs now start using comlex level 2/step 2 like traditional MD programs?? As well as put more weight on research?

 

[Cath Up]

Well wouldn’t those former aoa programs now start using comlex level 2/step 2 like traditional MD programs?? As well as put more weight on research?

Good question. I'm a 3rd year. I don't know!

 

[FutureDoctor5000]

Good question. I'm a 3rd year. I don't know!

Same here haha i am a third year glad I dogged all this stuff. I suspect it will be all the same among former aoa and md, more weight will be put on step 2/level 2 scores and research and extra cirriculars.

 

[Lawpy]

Get rid of COMLEX immediately.

 

[Lawpy]

Well wouldn’t those former aoa programs now start using comlex level 2/step 2 like traditional MD programs?? As well as put more weight on research?

DO schools still need faculty to do research. Established DO schools have this but new DO schools? RIP

 

[FutureDoctor5000]

DO schools still need faculty to do research. Established DO schools have this but new DO schools? RIP

Yep... although i don’t know if this impacts anything for specialties that don’t put heavy emphasis on research. Aoa programs even in competitive specialties didn’t put too much weight on it, so I bet level 2/step 2 becomes very important along with your audition/sub I

 

[Lawpy]

Why aren't Step 3 and Level 3 P/F already?

 

[MedDoc305]

I wouldn't be surprised (Im expecting it actually) if they made Step 2 pass/fail for the 2024 class as well. They still have a whole year to make that announcement

 

[Neopolymath]

Why aren't Step 3 and Level 3 P/F already?

It effectively is P/F.

 

[Dame_Maggie]

So as someone who fully intends to do community FM in the middle of nowhere, this doesn’t matter to me, right?

 

[MedDoc305]

So as someone who fully intends to do community FM in the middle of nowhere, this doesn’t matter to me, right?

No

 

[Lawpy]

It effectively is P/F.

Yeah but why not change it to reflect that?

 

[Neopolymath]

Yeah but why not change it to reflect that?

I think we both know the answer. It requires work and is mostly for the sake of aesthetics. Of course, I would formally change it like you said.

 

[Cornfed101]

so PDs will be using this now?

 

[drstranger]

Has anyone heard about the COMLEX reporting a quartile still? I recently talked to a PD at an AOA surgical subspecialty and he said he thought it would be reported that way. I don't think that's true though...

Also, how do programs determine which students they take for Sub-I's now? Since I know lots of the former AOA programs were COMLEX heavy and really relied on that for determining who they would let rotate with them.

 

[Kingman123]

So how much does this affect someone interested in non-surgical programs like IM, neuro, anesthesia, etc?

 

[Ho0v-man]

 

[MedDoc305]

Is this really to be expected? That will be a sad day...

I guess the only meaningful things we would have left in our control at that point would be research and connections.

It's speculation so if you're the hopeful type keep on hoping lol. I'm a pessimist and with all the changes occurring it doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't stab us a few more times to make sure there's no chance of recovery. <3

 

[Fat_Albert]

Hope co 24+ like rural family med (jk but not really)

 

[gullu101]

DO schools still need faculty to do research. Established DO schools have this but new DO schools? RIP

Lol which established schools have research besides maybe MSU? Our schools don't even have departments for all the specialties to put in a good word for students who want to go into those fields. Local MD schools won't take outside students this year and maybe next due to COVID, so we're left high and dry

 

[Goro]

Scores & Reports — NBOME

www.nbome.org

Discuss.

Also, class of 2024, do we cram and take it before May 1st for a score or wait, take the load off, and get P/F? I imagine some who want a competitive specialty would be tempted to get that numeric score. Obviously either way Step2/Level 2 importance goes way up as has already been established in all the USMLE pass/fail threads.

About f'ing time!!!!!

Just do well on Step 2. DO and MD students are on a more equal footing for that

 

[calivianya]

Looks like Step 2 is king for our class, I was aiming on doing anking moreso for a good COMLEX 1 score after step 1 P/F but now it's limbo

Should I still go about doing anking for Step 1/Comlex 1 so that I can build a good base for Step 2/level 2?

OMS-III who lazied through my first two years and crammed for step 1/level 1 here... and yes, you should do AnKing or whatever deck works best for you to prep for step 2. I keep finding “new“ things in my step 2 study materials, I’ll mention them to a classmate, and they’ll be all, “yeah, I remember that from studying for step 1!” Well, I don’t - it‘s new to me.

Study hard for step 1. Step 2 builds on it. You’re tripling your third year workload, when you’re already busy with rotations (far busier than during OMS I/II for me personally), if you chintz out on your step 1 prep.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Scores & Reports — NBOME

www.nbome.org

Discuss.

Also, class of 2024, do we cram and take it before May 1st for a score or wait, take the load off, and get P/F? I imagine some who want a competitive specialty would be tempted to get that numeric score. Obviously either way Step2/Level 2 importance goes way up as has already been established in all the USMLE pass/fail threads.

I would definitely wait and not at all go for the score. As is, the COMLEX is considered low value. Do you think anyone will value a 600 COMLEX when most PDs have no idea how the tests works AND they are judging all MD candidates by their step 2? No way. Getting a score on COMLEX 1 is a bad move IMO

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

So as someone who fully intends to do community FM in the middle of nowhere, this doesn’t matter to me, right?

Just keep that pulse going. You'll match

 

[Gonzalo de Montalvo]

I would definitely wait and not at all go for the score. As is, the COMLEX is considered low value. Do you think anyone will value a 600 COMLEX when most PDs have no idea how the tests works AND they are judging all MD candidates by their step 2? No way. Getting a score on COMLEX 1 is a bad move IMO

I agree, not worth it. But... if you could be sure that you'd get a 600+ I think there's a possibility it would help with former DO programs especially surgical subs still with mostly/all DOs and DO PDs. It would be a neat feather in your cap at interview to say "Yea I'm really serious about this specialty so I studied hard and took it early and still got this score." Still, not for me maybe, but I bet you there are people who will do it, not to mention people who did a prelim/didn't match and will have stellar scores at interview when my class has all P/Fs.