COMLEX vs. STEP

[LUCPM]

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Sorry if I sound like a tool for asking this kind of question as a premed but do people usually use the same prep materials for both exams? If they choose to take both, which exam do they take first? Lastly, is starting board prep from day 1 feasible? TIA.

 

[randomusername]

A lot of people tend to use USMLE material and then just incorporate the Savarese OMM book for COMLEX. Most people I know have or will take USMLE first, then take COMLEX within about a week of taking it.

 

[cliquesh]

Sorry if I sound like a tool for asking this kind of question as a premed but do people usually use the same prep materials for both exams? If they choose to take both, which exam do they take first? Lastly, is starting board prep from day 1 feasible? TIA.

The prep books are pretty much the same for both exams. Everyone uses First Aid for both the USMLE and COMLEX, and then people use an extra OMM book for the COMLEX. I took the COMLEX first to use it as a warm up for the USMLE. You cannot really board prep day 1 because all of the board review books assume you know something about medicine. You should use First Aid during your courses throughout first and second year and, if you want to be a true gunner, you could buy a question bank, such as usmlerx or kaplan, early in your second year and do questions throughout the year. The key to the usmle/comlex is to do as many practice questions as possible.

 

[Dissected]

Sorry if I sound like a tool for asking this kind of question as a premed but do people usually use the same prep materials for both exams? If they choose to take both, which exam do they take first? Lastly, is starting board prep from day 1 feasible? TIA.

Solid USMLE prep + Savarese OMM book/COMLEX directed qbank will do the trick

It doesn't really matter which you take first, but many take USMLE, study OMM facts for a few days and then take USMLE. I don't think it makes much sense to do it the other way around.

Don't "board prep" from day one. Do well in your coursework first year and consider that laying a foundation. Second year learn the material backwards/forwards (use resources like Robbins, review books, qbanks) and annotate first aid. Pick up the board study around March (with USMLE World and First Aid in tandem) and don't look back.

All that said....don't worry about it yet, you've got some time 😉

 

[AlabamaPop]

Do people take USMLE first because they might feel USMLE holds more weight due to the favoritism in allopathic residencies?

 

[cliquesh]

Do people take USMLE first because they might feel USMLE holds more weight due to the favoritism in allopathic residencies?

that's why I did it, but most people take the usmle first.

 

[AlabamaPop]

that's why I did it, but most people take the usmle first.

do you feel that USMLE was harder than the COMLEX?

 

[cliquesh]

do you feel that USMLE was harder than the COMLEX?

nope. I thought the usmle was easier. I scored around the same percentile on both, however.

 

[Dissected]

I thought the USMLE was harder. It was easier to prepare for though because they don't have a whole lot of random, poorly worded questions that you will see on the COMLEX. The basic science and pathophys on COMLEX was a breeze but there are a lot of "wtf" head scratchers.