COMLEX vs USMLE post-merger

[CJhooper123]

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As a pre-med student applying to both DO and MD programs, I am trying my best to educate myself about the residency merger. These might be dumb questions, but I have experienced trouble researching them.

Will DO schools adjust their curriculum to focus more on USMLE prep? What is the purpose of keeping the COMLEX, and what incentive is there to study for this post-merger?

 

[deleted600623]

Post-merger I don't see a logical reason for keeping the COMLEX. There will be no more AOA specific residencies requiring it. But I'm also a lowly premed that doesn't know much about the merger.

 

[GrumpyMS]

It's two different exams. Since COMLEX level 1 contains about 20% omm based questions, I highly doubt they would shift to mroe USMMLE based exams. Also you would see omm in level 2 and level 3 exams

 

[CJhooper123]

It's two different exams. Since COMLEX level 1 contains about 20% omm based questions, I highly doubt they would shift to mroe USMMLE based exams. Also you would see omm in level 2 and level 3 exams

Yes, but this would make DO students less competitive in residency placement.

 

[kamakazi5]

COMLEX is required to be licensed as a DO in the US, not just an exam to get you into residency. I think the push in general has been that DO students will likely want to take both for the most competitive application. DO schools are still going to focus on the COMLEX though because that is the exam required for licensing.

 

[Goro]

COMLEX is required to be licensed as a DO in the US, not just an exam to get you into residency. I think the push in general has been that DO students will likely want to take both for the most competitive application. DO schools are still going to focus on the COMLEX though because that is the exam required for licensing.

This.

SDNers are strongly advised to not engage in the wishful thinking that COMLEX should be dropped and USMLE be the only licensing exam, because that type of thinking isn't helpful (at least for the next few decades).

There are still plenty of PDs who will take COMLEX in lieu of Step I.

Last year my kids scored as well on USMLE as the median MD student. Therefore, at my school, teaching to USMLE is not on my Dean's "to do" list.

And no COMLEX, no DO degree.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

It’s a cash cow, of course they aren’t going to get rid of it. Just plan to do both.

 

[CJhooper123]

This.

SDNers are strongly advised to not engage in the wishful thinking that COMLEX should be dropped and USMLE be the only licensing exam, because that type of thinking isn't helpful (at least for the next few decades).

There are still plenty of PDs who will take COMLEX in lieu of Step I.

Last year my kids scored as well on USMLE as the median MD student. Therefore, at my school, teaching to USMLE is not on my Dean's "to do" list.

And no COMLEX, no DO degree.

True. Not trying to sound arrogant, just generally curious.
If you are a DO student and you know you can pass the COMLEX, wouldn't you dedicate the rest of your time/energy towards USMLE. Is there any competitive advantage to having a high COMLEX score?

 

[Lawpy]

It’s a cash cow, of course they aren’t going to get rid of it.

Yep, that’s the main reason why COMLEX continues to exist even after the merger. AOA/COCA wants to keep as much money and power as they can, so these exams will remain required.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

True. Not trying to sound arrogant, just generally curious.
If you are a DO student and you know you can pass the COMLEX, wouldn't you dedicate the rest of your time/energy towards USMLE. Is there any competitive advantage to having a high COMLEX score?

For a number of years I predict that a good amount of the old AOA programs will still use COMLEX when they look at DO students. Our programs care about it a lot.

This will probably slowly change but not at first.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

True. Not trying to sound arrogant, just generally curious.
If you are a DO student and you know you can pass the COMLEX, wouldn't you dedicate the rest of your time/energy towards USMLE. Is there any competitive advantage to having a high COMLEX score?

Most people study for the USMLE and then take 3-7 days to study OMM and get used to the question style on the COMLEX. Having a high COMLEX if it's your own exam is for obvious reasons advantageous.

 

[Goro]

True. Not trying to sound arrogant, just generally curious.
If you are a DO student and you know you can pass the COMLEX, wouldn't you dedicate the rest of your time/energy towards USMLE. Is there any competitive advantage to having a high COMLEX score?

Now this is a different issue. There are plenty of program directors who will take a comlex without the USMLE. But there are more program directors who will require the USMLE. These will be found in the specialties more often.

At my school, we strongly advise all of our students who have an 80% or better in their preclinical GPA to take the USMLE as well as comlex.

Only struggling students should stick with comlex.