Decent COMLEX 561, but low step 2 (226) should I still submit both?

[Viper3175]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Had a pretty disastrous Step 2 score at 226 which was like 20 points lower than my practice scores. My COMLEX was decent at 561. My question was should I submit only COMLEX or submit both step 2 and COMLEX Level 2 scores to programs. My top program I want to interview at is UMass (did research there for years) and UConn (UConn is desiganted as DO friendly on ERAS). Any advice is appreciated

 

[s5260205]

I was about to recommend submitting both until I realized that the new percentiles for Step 2 means a score of ~225 is at 7th percentile given mean of 249 in the past year. This is a tough call as having both COMLEX and USMLE would certainly help but having a low step score can be harmful as well, and decision whether to release USMLE would be based on the programs you are applying to. In programs that are familiar with DO students and COMLEX scores, I think having COMLEX alone is okay. In programs that are not as familiar, having USMLE albeit lower may be more beneficial. If your mix of program is primarily DO friendly, then releasing only COMLEX score could be more beneficial.

 

[Captain_Falcon]

Passing step 2 means something. I would submit it to get passed any filters. Places that won’t interview you because of a low step 2 score are the same ones that won’t interview you for not having one. The other hand is not true - you will likely gain interviews for having a passing step 2

 

[DrStephenStrange]

You need that boost that comes with you passing Step 2. You cannot release individual scores. Once you transmit your USMLE transcript all your scores are disclosed all at once. So you can either disclose all of them or none of them. I would advise disclosing them rather than applying with just COMLEX scores. It’s been proven before that you are in a better place than any COMLEX only applicant even if you had barely passed USMLE scores.

Reposting from another thread with similar question. Ignore the parts that don’t apply to you.

 

[Sidus1011]

With Step 2

Without Step 2

Don't go off anecdotal evidence, the data is available. Taking step at all gives you quite the boost.