D.O. student failed usmle step 1

[Wyclef]

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A friend of mine unfortunately failed the USMLE step 1, but did okay on the COMLEX. He really wants to go into anesthesia, and is about to set up his elective rotations. Should his next step be to:

1. Retake USMLE Step 1 and hope to show great improvement
2. Take the USMLE Step 2 and try and rock it
3. Forget about the USMLE and only show his COMLEX scores to programs
4. Go into Internal Medicine

I'm kinda leaning towards number 3, but he is leaning towards option #1. Any advice from people on interview committees would be especially helpful, thanks,
Wyclef

 

[Idiopathic]

The answer is #3, even though its tempting to say #1 or $2. the thought process behind this is that he should have already tried to "rock it" and theres nothing to suggest that someone can go from failing to beating the mean by 1-2 SD, which is what would be needed.

I tell people not to waste time and energy on this test unless you seriously plan on getting 230+ and you have the prep time and practice tests to show that you can accomplish that.

 

[803]

a "friend"

 

[inmyslumber]

I vote for #1. I think your friend should take USMLE Step 1 over. Find out why he failed the first time and really be disciplined to study.

Can you even take Step 2 if you failed Step 1? If programs ask about why he only has COMLEX scores, he will have to admit that he failed Step 1. Otherwise he can apply to the DO anesthesia programs. They will most likely not ask about USMLE.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

#3

Even if he re-takes it, it won't matter, a fail is a fail, and is a red flag.
I keep hearing, 220+ is what's needed, although 230+ likely solidifies your chances at where you may want to go.

DO programs, depending on which ones, may or may not ask about USMLE scores. I went on 2 of them, and 1 of them asked about it. I told them my score, and they immediately asked if I was going to go allopathic and the repercussions of matching into a DO program. I simply told them I understood, but given the limited number of DO anesthesiology programs, I had to maximize my chances.

Don't release your USMLE, apply to MD and DO anesthesia, and MD IM programs - that's what I recommend. Don't tell the DO programs anything about USMLE, they may not rank you as a result, but (I don't advocate lying) don't bring up having taken the USMLE (if it's brought up by the interviewer, then don't lie) ...

 

[Consigliere]

Tell your "friend" to apply to osteopathic anesthesiology residency programs only and bury the USMLE fail.

 

[DocInProgress]

Tell your "friend" to apply to osteopathic anesthesiology residency programs only and bury the USMLE fail.

👍

 

[chfo]

Bury the Step 1 failure. It's toxic.

 

[scudrunner]

Tell your "friend" to apply to osteopathic anesthesiology residency programs only and bury the USMLE fail.

Yup.

 

[desijigga]

Wasn't there a change to the rule couple years ago, don't we have to release our USMLE score to ACGME programs now?

I agree with others, I think he should just apply to osteopathic programs. I don't know of other programs, but the ones in MI are decent. DMC Sinai-Grace gets alot of trauma, and as a CA-3,4 I was told you spend half the time at receiving hospital working with MD residents.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Not till they make a function on ERAS that requires it

 

[cchoukal]

Tell your "friend" to apply to osteopathic anesthesiology residency programs only and bury the USMLE fail.

This is good advice. The data on re-takers for USMLE step 1 are pretty abysmal (you can find some relevant stats in First Aid and, probably, on the USMLE website). Unless there was some specific reason s/he failed, there's not a good reason to expect to do much better.

Of course, if s/he had his/her heart set on an MD residency, s/he will need to pass the USMLE (and, as others have pointed out, s/he'll need to do much better than just pass, unless s/he has a bunch of publications and the proverbial African AIDS clinic on the CV). In that case, your friend will need to figure out exactly why the test was failed and a way to improve dramatically, against the odds.

 

[panetrain]

I don't think there is time to re-study for STEP 1. Right now, you should be focusing on your third year core rotations, studying for the shelfs, studying for the end of the third year exam, studying for step 2. Besides, the goal should not be to obtain a passing score, you should perform well on the exam. Going from a failure to an average (210-20) or high score (> 225) or ace (> 240) is very rare. If you dedicated all this time in re-studying and received a low pass (<200), your odds of obtaining an MD residency are still super duper low. Having said all this, if it were me..I would take the chance and repeat the exam with the goal of > 225.

A friend of mine unfortunately failed the USMLE step 1, but did okay on the COMLEX. He really wants to go into anesthesia, and is about to set up his elective rotations. Should his next step be to:

1. Retake USMLE Step 1 and hope to show great improvement
2. Take the USMLE Step 2 and try and rock it
3. Forget about the USMLE and only show his COMLEX scores to programs
4. Go into Internal Medicine

I'm kinda leaning towards number 3, but he is leaning towards option #1. Any advice from people on interview committees would be especially helpful, thanks,
Wyclef

 

[karizma098]

I don't think there is time to re-study for STEP 1. Right now, you should be focusing on your third year core rotations, studying for the shelfs, studying for the end of the third year exam, studying for step 2. Besides, the goal should not be to obtain a passing score, you should perform well on the exam. Going from a failure to an average (210-20) or high score (> 225) or ace (> 240) is very rare. If you dedicated all this time in re-studying and received a low pass (<200), your odds of obtaining an MD residency are still super duper low. Having said all this, if it were me..I would take the chance and repeat the exam with the goal of > 225.

you can't withhold usmle scores from MD programs, so that is out..and retaking it and passing is probably a waste of your time..being a DO , and then having a failed attempt on top of that, will make it insanely hard to match MD anesthesia..if you really want it i'd say you'd need to get to a program that has a solid traditional year or prelim surg year and an anesthesia residency as well..work your butt off and see what happens. stranger things have happened but i doubt you'd match even if you pass step 1 on your next attempt...try and hustle for DO anes. but honestly i've heard they are tough to match and not the best training either...doing a prelim year and eventually retaking step 1, and doing very well on step 2 and step 3 might be your best shot.

 

[DAN325]

I would like to add my personal experience and advice which hopefully will be some help to you. I also failed USMLE Step 1 but I am from an allopathic medical school. I failed my first attempt largely due to life challenges and lack of study time. I studied intensely for six weeks and my retake exam score was >230. I also took my Step 2 early enough so that my scores will be availabe to submit on September 1st. My Step 2 score was also >230. So far I am extremely grateful for 11 anesthesiology interviews, but I definitely had to apply to more programs than the average candidate. I had to explain my failure on each interview so far, but I was happily eager to do so. Hopefully, I will match to a program that I liked.

I have seen many people end up in anesthesiology by different routes. I have seen residents from medicine, surgery, etc. switch specialties and obtained CA-1 positions. Serveral programs reserve spots just for that specific purpose. I agree with those who said that your road will be very difficulty. I would still recommend retaking Step 1 and doing the best you can. Study your butt off. If you end up doing well on both Step 1 and 2, it will then give you a better chance to apply to MD residency programs, especially internal medicine.

 

[inmyslumber]

I would like to add my personal experience and advice which hopefully will be some help to you. I also failed USMLE Step 1 but I am from an allopathic medical school. I failed my first attempt largely due to life challenges and lack of study time. I studied intensely for six weeks and my retake exam score was >230. I also took my Step 2 early enough so that my scores will be availabe to submit on September 1st. My Step 2 score was also >230. ...

DAN325,
Nice of you to share your failed attempt and then, what I would call, major successes! Sounds like you really set your mind and schedule to doing well on USMLE Step 1 and 2. Great story, I hope you match at a great program!
-IMS

 

[Wyclef]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My "friend" (yes, this thread was for a friend, i've already matched) appreciated the advice. I'm still not sure what he's gonna do though.